American · main

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole

Bacon Cheeseburger Casserole reads umami 8.6, richness 6.6 and salinity 5.5 on Palate's 0–10 flavor X-ray — a American main, about 35 min. Measured from the recipe itself: ingredients and technique.

The flavor X-ray — six axes, 0–10

The measured notes (of 18)

Umami 8.6 · Richness 6.6 · Salinity 5.5 · Allium 3.9 · Sourness 3.7 · Smoke 3.5 · Sweetness 2.6 · Fruity 2.6 · Marine & Briny 2.1 · Funk & Ferment 1.9 · Herbaceous 1.9 · Earthy 1.3 · Warm Spice 1.2 · Bitterness 1.2 · Citrus 1.0 · Heat 0.7 · Nutty 0.7

What's in it (15)

Time & effort: about 35 min (34 min active) · effort: involved

Nutrition (per 100 g, engine-estimated): 164.5 kcal, 11.4 g protein, 7.1 g fat, 13.8 g carbs

Dietary: Contains meat · Contains dairy — engine-derived; double-check anything allergy-critical.

How it's cooked (8 steps)

  1. Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil and cook the elbow macaroni until just al dente, 7 to 8 minutes; drain and set aside.
  2. In a large oven-safe (broiler-safe) skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until crisp and deeply browned, 7 to 8 minutes. Transfer with a slotted spoon to a paper-towel-lined plate, leaving the fat in the skillet.
  3. Add the ground beef and onion to the bacon fat; cook over medium-high heat, breaking the beef into small pieces, until the beef is well browned and the onion is softened, 6 to 7 minutes. Drain off all but about 2 tablespoons of fat.
  4. Stir in the garlic and tomato paste; cook, stirring constantly, until fragrant and the paste has darkened slightly, about 1 minute.
  5. Pour in the beef broth and tomato sauce, then stir in the mustard, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, scraping up any browned bits from the skillet bottom. Bring to a simmer and cook until slightly thickened, 4 to 5 minutes.
  6. Fold in the cooked macaroni and half of the bacon; simmer, stirring, until the pasta is coated and warmed through, about 2 minutes.
  7. Position an oven rack 6 inches from the broiler element and heat the broiler to high. Sprinkle the cheddar evenly over the casserole and broil until the cheese is melted and browned in spots, 2 to 3 minutes, watching closely so it doesn't scorch.
  8. Scatter the remaining bacon, the chopped pickles, and the green onions over the top, and serve straight from the skillet while the cheese is still molten.

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Every number above is Palate's engine-measured estimate, computed from this recipe's ingredients and techniques — not human-tasted ratings or reviews.