Description
This Cheeseburger Pasta Salad is a delicious twist on a classic summer dish. It combines all the flavors of a cheeseburger in a convenient pasta salad format, perfect for picnics, barbecues, or as a quick meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Salad:
- 8 ounces rotini or elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 pound ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup diced pickles
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes (halved)
- 1/4 cup diced red onion
For the dressing:
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon pickle juice
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil pasta in salted water, drain, rinse, and set aside.
- Cook the beef: Brown ground beef with seasonings, drain, and let cool.
- Make the dressing: Whisk together mayo, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Combine: Mix pasta, beef, cheese, pickles, tomatoes, and onion in a bowl.
- Toss: Pour dressing over salad and mix well.
- Chill: Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a lighter version, substitute Greek yogurt for some or all of the mayonnaise.
- Add shredded lettuce just before serving for a ‘burger-in-a-bowl’ effect.
- This salad can be made ahead and keeps well for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: No-Cook (with stovetop for beef)
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 370
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 510mg
- Fat: 23g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 26g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg
