Cheeseburger Pasta Bake

Serves 4

Cooking Time 2 to 3 hours on High

Slow Cooker Size 5½ to 7 Quarts

WHY THIS RECIPE WORKS: For another practically prep-free pasta casserole, we added ground beef, pickles, American cheese, and chopped onion to macaroni for a dish with all the bright, tangy, meaty flavors of our favorite burger. Tomato sauce, with its smooth texture and long-cooked flavor, provided the perfect base for our sauce, which we seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and dry mustard for more savory, meaty notes. Slices of American cheese made the perfect topping. To preserve the cheese’s flavor and texture, we added it at the very end, then covered the slow cooker and turned it to high for just a few minutes so the cheese would melt into a gooey layer. Click here for more information on cooking pasta in the slow cooker and making a foil collar. See the sidebar that follows the recipe.

1	pound 85 percent lean ground beef
1	(29-ounce) can tomato sauce
½	cup chopped dill pickles
2	teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2	teaspoons dry mustard
	Salt and pepper
8	ounces (2 cups) elbow macaroni
2	teaspoons vegetable oil
½	cup boiling water
6	ounces sliced deli American cheese

1. Microwave ground beef in bowl, stirring occasionally, until beef is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Break up any large pieces of beef with spoon, then drain off fat; return to now-empty bowl. Stir in 2½ cups tomato sauce, pickles, Worcestershire, mustard, ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon pepper.

2. Line slow cooker with aluminum foil collar and spray with vegetable oil spray. Microwave macaroni and oil in separate bowl at 50 percent power, stirring occasionally, until some pieces look toasted and blistered, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer hot pasta to prepared slow cooker and immediately stir in boiling water (pasta will sizzle). Stir in meat and sauce mixture, cover, and cook until pasta is tender, 2 to 3 hours on high.

3. Remove foil collar. Gently stir in remaining tomato sauce, adjusting sauce consistency with extra hot water as needed. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Lay American cheese on top of pasta, cover, and cook on high until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Serve.