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    Posted In: Main Entrees
    March 20, 2022 — by Julie — Leave a Comment

    Home » Delish » Main Entrees » Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Homemade Hamburger Helper

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    This homemade hamburger helper recipe is a blend of macaroni and ground beef in a creamy cheese sauce. The ultimate weeknight meal made in under 30 minutes!

    homemade hamburger helper in a black skillet with chives on top.

    I love quick and easy macaroni recipes made from scratch. Some of my favorites include 4 cheese mac and cheese and crockpot cheesy beef goulash. However, if you’re looking to make something that’s kid-friendly, this beefaroni or this homemade hamburger helper is a perfect choice!

    Why You’ll Love This Recipe

    • It’s creamy, cheesy, and loaded with tender beef and spices.
    • So much better than store-bought boxed hamburger helper.
    • You can adjust this recipe to your liking.
    • It’s a one-pot meal.
    • Even the grownups will enjoy this!

    Ingredient Notes

    • Pasta – Traditionally hamburger helper is made with elbow macaroni but feel free to use any type of short-shaped pasta. Farfalle, rigatoni, cavatappi, or penne works for this recipe.
    • Ground Beef – I used 90/10 lean ground beef but you can use 80/20 beef or ground turkey instead.
    • Cheese – Cheddar cheese works best but you can use whatever cheese you have on hand.
    • Beef Broth – If you don’t have beef stock you can use chicken stock or water.
    • Milk – Use whole milk for best results.
    • Heavy Cream – I like to add it at the end to make it extra creamy!
    • Tomato Paste – Ketchup works too.
    • Salt and Pepper – Make sure to season this very generously with salt and pepper. It will be extremely bland otherwise.
    four photo collage showing how to make hamburger helper.

    How To Make

    1. Start by breaking up and browning the ground beef completely over medium-high heat. This should take about 5-8 minutes.
    2. Add the spices, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and onions. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes.
    3. Stir in the fresh garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add the beef broth and whole milk. Let it come to a simmer.
    4. Once it comes to a simmer, add the macaroni, cover, and cook for 6 minutes while stirring frequently.
    5. Add the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix well, cover, and cook for 1 minute.
    6. Garnish with fresh chives or parsley, if desired, and enjoy warm!
    hamburger helper in a skillet with a wooden spoon.

    Top Tips

    • If your kids are picky eaters and don’t like onions, feel free to grate the onions instead or simply omit them and add onion powder instead.
    • If you want it extra creamy, add more beef broth and whole milk.
    • Place any leftovers in an air-tight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
    • Enjoy this with cheesy garlic bread and a simple salad.
    • Want to make it spicy? Add a generous sprinkling of red crushed pepper flakes.
    hamburger helper in a skillet up close.

    More Recipes You’ll Enjoy

    • Macaroni Tuna Salad
    • Buffalo Chicken Pasta
    • Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
    • Spicy Bow Tie Pasta

    Tried this recipe? Please leave a star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below and/or a review in the comments section further down the page. And consider following me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

    homemade hamburger helper in a black skillet with chives on top.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Course: Entree
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 828kcal
    Author: Julie Maestre
    This homemade hamburger helper recipe is a blend of macaroni and ground beef in a creamy cheese sauce. The ultimate weeknight meal made in under 30 minutes!

    Ingredients

    • 1 lb ground beef
    • 1 lb elbow macaroni
    • 2 cups beef broth
    • 2 cups whole milk
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 2 cups cheddar cheese grated
    • 2 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
    • 1 tsp paprika
    • 1/2 onion finely diced
    • 2 garlic cloves finely minced
    • 1 tbsp tomato paste
    • salt and pepper to taste
    • chives, for garnishing optional

    Instructions

    • Start by breaking up and browning the ground beef completely over medium-high heat. This should take about 5-8 minutes. 
    • Add the spices, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and onions. Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes. 
    • Stir in the fresh garlic and cook for 20 seconds. Add the beef broth and whole milk. Let it come to a simmer. 
    • Once it comes to a simmer, add the macaroni, cover, and cook for 6 minutes while stirring frequently. 
    • Add the heavy cream, cheddar cheese, and season generously with salt and pepper. Mix well, cover, and cook for 1 minute. 
    • Check for seasoning, garnish with fresh chives or parsley, if desired, and enjoy warm! 

    Notes

    • If your kids are picky eaters and don’t like onions, feel free to grate the onions instead or simply omit them and add onion powder instead.
    • If you want it extra creamy, add more beef broth and whole milk.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 828kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 14g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 146mg | Sodium: 663mg | Potassium: 673mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1303IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 439mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @cookedbyjulie or tag #cookedbyjulie!

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    Hi, I'm Julie! I’m extremely fortunate to make a living doing what I truly love – creating and sharing my favorite “can’t live without” recipes with readers from all over the world.

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