Cheeseburger Tetrazzini is a pasta dish that gives you all of the flavors of a cheeseburger with the creaminess of tetrazzini, topped with melty mozzarella cheese! Finished with traditional burger toppings such as diced pickles and tomatoes, it’s a comforting meal that can be ready in about 30 minutes! If you enjoy this flavorful twist on a classic, you will also love my Turkey Tetrazzini and Chicken Tetrazzini!
Cheeseburger Tetrazzini Ingredients & Smart Substitutions
- Spaghetti: Spaghetti or fettuccine is the pasta commonly used in traditional tetrazzini recipes. You could substitute with other types of pasta like penne, macaroni, or pasta you have on hand.
- Ground Beef: To stick with the cheeseburger concept, I used ground beef. You could try this recipe with ground turkey or ground chicken, too. It will be seasoned with hamburger seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Heavy whipping cream (heavy cream) is added as the creamy base of the sauce. For a lighter version, you could use half-and-half or whole milk. But, the texture and richness will be a little different.
- Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup: If you don’t have cream of mushroom soup, cream of chicken or cream of celery would be good alternatives.
- Velveeta: Velveeta is a processed cheese that melts smoothly for an even creamier mixture. If you want to know exactly what is in your Velveeta cheese, make your own!
- Mozzarella Cheese: For even more ooey-gooey cheesy goodness, I added mozzarella cheese to the top of the dish. Feel free to experiment with other kinds of melty cheese like provolone, Gouda, or a blend of cheeses.
Make Ahead Cheeseburger Tetrazzini
If you want a head start on this dish, you can prepare it in advance! Cook the spaghetti, prepare the ground beef with onions and seasoning, and mix in the cream, soup, and cheese as directed. Allow each component to cool completely before assembling. Once assembled in a baking dish, cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For even easier meals, divide it into individual portions. When ready to eat, reheat in the microwave or oven. If you prefer, you can also place it under the broiler for a couple of minutes to brown the mozzarella.
Top Off Your Cheeseburger Tetrazzini With Delicious Garnishes
Just like you could add fixings to your cheeseburger, you can also add your favorites to this cheeseburger tetrazzini! Here are just a few delicious options you could try:
- Diced pickles
- Diced tomatoes
- Green onions or chives
- Cooked, crumbled bacon
- Sliced jalapenos
- Parmesan cheese
- Sauteed mushrooms
- Shredded lettuce
How To Store Cheeseburger Tetrazzini
To store cheeseburger tetrazzini, first, let it cool completely. Then, store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave or oven. You could freeze it for longer storage, but it could affect the texture when reheated.
Cheeseburger Tetrazzini
Ingredients
- 1 box (16 ounces) spaghetti, cooked al dente per package instructions
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (about ½ cup)
- 1 tablespoon hamburger seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups (476 g) heavy whipping cream
- 1 can cream of mushroom soup
- 8 ounces Velveeta cheese, cubed
- 1 cup (113 g) mozzarella cheese, shredded
- pickles, finely diced (for garnish)
- tomatoes, finely diced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- To a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, onion, hamburger seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, and the onions are softened (8-10 minutes). Drain excess grease.
- Reduce heat to low. Add heavy cream, cream of mushroom soup, and Velveeta cheese. Mix until the cheese is melted (about 5 minutes).
- Add cooked spaghetti and toss to combine.
- Top with mozzarella cheese and bake 5-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted.
- Top with diced pickles and tomatoes. (This will really enhance the cheeseburger flavor!) Serve warm.
Did you make this recipe?
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What the Test Kitchen had to say about this recipe:
Autumn
This is a great mix of flavors! It's super cheesy and the beef makes it hearty. I love how the pasta absorbs all the yummy sauce. It's perfect for a cozy dinner!
Elizabeth
This is really good, but very rich! I loved the little bit I had, but I might try it with milk instead of heavy cream when I make it.
Annabelle
I really enjoyed this variety of tetrazzini! It's like having the best parts of a cheeseburger and pasta in one dish. I think it would be a family favorite.
Selena
The combination of beef, cheese, and pasta in this dish is so comforting and delicious. It's a bit indulgent, but totally worth it for a special dinner!
Bella
I thought this was pretty good. The pasta and beef worked well together, and the cheese was nice and melty.
This looks so good!!! What size skillet did you use to make this?
We used a 12-inch skillet. Any large skillet should work great. 🙂