My Cheesy 3-Step Hamburger Skillet Is Super Nostalgic

This easy one-pan meal will remind you of childhood dinners.

By Meghan Splawn
Published October 28, 2025
Meghan Splawn
A top view of a skillet with the Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

A certain boxed hamburger meal was the very first meal I cooked by myself as a kid, and the combination of pasta, creamy tomato and cheese sauce, and beef will always hold a nostalgic allure for me. 

As my kids got older, I wanted to introduce them to this classic meal from my childhood. I knew my take on the nostalgic dish had to be as easy as a box and include a pound of ground beef. That’s how this one-skillet cheesy hamburger pasta came to be one of my family’s favorite recipes. 

This recipe comes from years of experience with one-pot, minimal-ingredient pastas. The base is ground beef and pasta, but it only needs a handful of other ingredients to come together: canned tomatoes, broth, cheese, and a little cream.

Everything cooks in a single skillet and takes less than 20 minutes to cook. The result is an ultra-creamy pasta balanced with acidic tomatoes and a beefy flavor. 

A closeup of Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe pasta

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Simple Substitutions

Ultimately, this is a dinner built on some grocery basics and pantry staples, so here are some substitutions that customize this dinner to what is already in your fridge or cupboard:

  • Beef: Lean ground beef, such as ground sirloin, works really well here because of its beefy flavor. Plus the cheese and cream bring enough richness to this skillet. You can use ground turkey or chicken; I’ve even subbed bulk Italian sausage in a pinch. 
  • Pasta: This dish really is best with small shells, but other short, dried pasta works as well. Macaroni elbows are a great second choice. If you use fusilli, orecchiette, or cavatappi noodles, they take a few extra minutes to cook. 
  • Canned Tomatoes: Crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, and tomato sauce are all interchangeable here. No need to drain the diced tomatoes. Jarred marinara sauce can also be used; just use less salt for seasoning. 
  • Seasoned salt: Your favorite seasoned salt probably works here. I love Beautiful Briny Sea’s Magic Unicorn Salt for this, but Lawry’s is also perfect. If you don’t have any on hand, you can also sub 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, and 1/2 teaspoon onion powder.  
  • Cheese: This recipe calls for a whole 8-ounce block or about 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese. High-quality pre-shredded cheeses, like Tillamook and Cabot, work if you don’t have the energy to grate the block yourself. You can also swap the cheddar cheese for other melty cheese like Monterey Jack or provolone.
Side view of a skillet with the Cheesy Hamburger Skillet Recipe

Simply Recipes / Ciara Kehoe

Cheesy Hamburger Pasta Skillet

Prep Time 5 mins
Cook Time 17 mins
Total Time 22 mins
Servings 4 to 6
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Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 1 pound lean ground beef

  • 2 teaspoons seasoned salt, like Lawry’s

  • 1 1/2 cups beef broth

  • 8 ounces (1/2 pound) dried pasta shells

  • 1 (14.5-ounce) can crushed tomatoes, not drained

  • 8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded (about 2 cups)

  • 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half

Method

  1. Heat a large skillet:

    Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Grab the largest one you own—a 12-inch straight-sided skillet with a lid is ideal, but a large cast iron works in a pinch if you’ve got a lid that works.

  2. Brown the beef:

    Add the oil followed by the beef, breaking the beef into pieces with a spatula. Cook the beef until is browned all the way through, about 4 minutes. Season the beef with the seasoned salt and sauté for 1 more minute.

  3. Add the broth, pasta, and tomatoes and let cook:

    Add the beef broth, pasta shells, and canned tomatoes to the skillet and give it a few stirs to distribute everything evenly. Cover the skillet and cook until the broth mixture is thickened and the shells are tender, 8 to 12 minutes, stirring once or twice.

  4. Finish the dish and serve:

    Turn off the heat and give the skillet a good stir. Add the cheese and pour in the cream and stir until the cheese is melted and creamy. Serve immediately.

    Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
500 Calories
32g Fat
19g Carbs
35g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 500
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 32g 41%
Saturated Fat 16g 79%
Cholesterol 127mg 42%
Sodium 1175mg 51%
Total Carbohydrate 19g 7%
Dietary Fiber 2g 7%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 35g
Vitamin C 7mg 33%
Calcium 327mg 25%
Iron 4mg 22%
Potassium 629mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.