Make this easy homemade hamburger helper, one of my childhood favorites, using simple ingredients. Cheesy pasta and saucy ground beef come together in an easy one pot dinner the whole family will love!
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Best Cheeseburger Helper
Hamburger helper has always been a way to help busy parents get dinner on the table quickly on busy weeknights, or help add flavor and heartiness to ground meat with a little effortless creativity.
As much as I appreciate the idea of the store-bought box version, I’m all for making my own homemade hamburger helper using more wholesome ingredients!
The entire one-pot meal is made with just 10 minutes of prep time and ready to serve in 40 minutes. It’s all made in a single skillet and needs nothing on the side except maybe a side salad or a dinner roll. It’s hearty and cheesy which is what we love about this nostalgic comfort food.
Easy to make dinners like this are so great for any night of the week. I think you’ll love this pepper steak, this bang bang shrimp bowls or this shrimp scampi too since they are all so quick to make.
Homemade Hamburger Helper Ingredients Notes
Below is a list of the ingredients you’ll need to gather to make this great recipe. Scroll down to the full recipe card with amounts
- Ground beef: I use lean ground beef. It’s less grease to deal with!
- Aromatics: I use diced onion and minced garlic cloves for extra flavor. You can use 2 teaspoons of onion powder or a tablespoon of garlic powder if you’d like.
- Tomato paste: You can also use tomato sauce if you don’t have paste.
- Cornstarch: To thicken the mixture into a heartier, less runny consistency.
- Seasoning: Paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper. The pepper is optional, and the amount is adjustable depending on your spice tolerance. Salt and black pepper to taste.
- Beef broth: I like using low sodium beef broth.
- Macaroni pasta: You’ll throw it in uncooked. It will cook as the beef mixture simmers.
- Heavy cream: Makes the sauce extra creamy.
- Cheddar cheese: Freshly shredded cheddar cheese melted into everything is a staple in homemade hamburger helper (aka cheeseburger macaroni)!
Variations/ Substitutions
1. For a lighter version, use ground turkey or ground chicken. Then swap the beef broth for chicken broth, turkey broth, or even vegetable broth.
2. Swap the elbow macaroni noodles for another small or medium pasta. Shells, penne pasta, egg noodles, or fusilli would all work well.
3. If cheddar isn’t your favorite, use grated mozzarella, Monterey Jack, or Colby Jack instead. You could also use a blend.
4. Toss in some veggies like green peas, mushrooms, zucchini, or red bell peppers.
5. Stir in ¼ cup of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt for extra creaminess.
6. Substitute ½ teaspoon of basil and ½ teaspoon of oregano for the Italian seasoning.
7. Garnish with fresh parsley for added presentation. Who says an easy meal can’t be fancy?
8. Make it spicier by adding red pepper flakes or any favorite hot sauce.
How to Make Hamburger Helper
This recipe will come together in one pot with just 10 minutes of prep time. This affordable meal will taste even better than you remember it!
Step 1: Cook the ground beef in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Break apart the meat into crumbles with a wooden spoon or spatula as you stir. Once browned, drain the grease and set the meat aside.
Step 2: To the same pot, add the onions. Reduce the heat to medium and sauté the onions for 3-5 minutes until they are soft. Then add the garlic and cook for another minute.
Step 3: Add the ground beef back into the pot and add the tomato paste, cornstarch, and all of the seasonings. Stir to combine and make sure everything is mixed well.
Step 4: Slowly add the beef broth. Increase the heat to high and bring it to a boil.
Step 5: Pour in the noodles, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 12–15 minutes until the pasta is cooked to your desired tenderness. I enjoy it al dente, but you can cook yours a little longer. Stir occasionally.
Step 6: Take the pot off the heat, stir in the heavy cream and cheese until melted, and season with salt and pepper. Enjoy!
Tips
- For the best cheesy flavor and melting, I recommend grating cheese from a block rather than buying prepackaged shredded cheese. The anticlumping agent prevents it from melting as nicely.
- If using regular beef broth, taste before adding any extra salt.
- Have extra broth handy. If you need to add a little more, you can. This can happen if the pasta has absorbed too much liquid too quickly.
- Keep it affordable and use as much as you can out of the fridge or pantry.
- Double the recipe to feed a larger crowd.
What to Serve with Hamburger Helper
All this needs is a side of greens, like a tossed salad, creamy cucumber salad, or roasted green beans. A slice of cheddar jalapeno cornbread or a basket of garlic breadsticks on the table to scoop up the sauce is always a nice touch.
How to Store Leftovers?
Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: When stored in a freezer-safe container, this can be kept frozen for up to 2 months. Thaw it in the fridge overnight.
Reheat: Reheat it quickly and easily in the microwave or on the stovetop in a skillet over medium heat.
FAQ’s
Absolutely! As long as you use your favorite gluten-free pasta, you’re good to go! You might want to check labels to be sure, as gluten is pretty sneaky and can hide in unexpected places. Overall, however, this recipe can easily be made gluten-free.
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Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 onion diced
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper for spice (optional)
- 3 cups beef broth low sodium
- 2 cups macaroni pasta uncooked
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese freshly grated
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a large pot or dutch oven, add the grounded beef and cook over medium-high heat until browned, stirring and breaking the meat apart with a wooden spoon or spatula.1 pound lean ground beef
- Drain the grease into a colander over a bowl and place the drained meat in a bowl.
- In the same pot, add the onions and reduce to medium heat. Sauté for 3-5 minutes just until the onions become translucent and soften.1 onion
- Then add the garlic and sauté for another 1-2 minutes, just until fragrant.2-3 garlic cloves
- Return the cooked beef back into the pot and add the tomato paste, cornstarch, Italian seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, and cayenne pepper (if using). Stir to combine completely.3 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Slowly add in the beef broth and stir until combined.3 cups beef broth
- Increase the heat to high and to a boil. Then add in the macaroni noodles.2 cups macaroni pasta
- Reduce the heat down to a low and simmer for 12-15 minutes until pasta reaches desired doneness, stirring occasionally.
- Remove the pot from the heat and then stir in the heavy cream and freshly grated cheese and stir until melted½ cup heavy cream, 2 cups cheddar cheese
- Season with a little salt and pepper.Salt and pepper
Notes
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclosure
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should only be used as an approximation.
michelle
This recipe is so good and easy, i will say i add about a cup more of beef bone broth and instead of cheyenne pepper i do a tsp of chili powder! very good !
Sherri
I am so happy you enjoy it too!!
Marty Goffigan
I discovered an amazing group where is possible to buy amazing hand made stuffs!