This homemade hamburger helper is quick, easy, and a delicious dinner recipe perfect for any weeknight meal. Made with ground beef, pasta, and a rich, cheesy sauce, this one pot meal is ready in 30 minute. It's time to ditch the boxed stuff and enjoy this homemade version of a classic recipe everyone will love!
I'll be the first to admit that I've always been a huge fan of hamburger helper. It was my "go-to" meal in college and it was so inexpensive. I loved how easy it was to make and I loved the savory flavor in every bite. What I didn't love was the fact that it came out of a box and it contained a lot of additives and preservatives. So...that's why I created my own version! This homemade hamburger helper is made with fresh ingredients and tastes even more savory and delicious than the boxed version!
Full of flavor and super high in protein, it's the perfect weeknight dinner! And, it feeds a crowd so if you have leftovers, it's easy to reheat and enjoy the next day for lunch or dinner! I love pairing this hamburger helper recipe with a side of pinto beans and a piece of buttery homemade cornbread. We're talking the most amazing meal that will satisfy just about anyone!
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Why This Recipe Works
- Uses fresh ingredients and has a ton of flavor in every single bite!
- This is a super affordable pantry recipe.
- Everything is made in one pot, so clean up is easy!
🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
- Butter - Used when sautéing the beef and onions. Salted butter adds flavor to the dish.
- Onion - a flavor enhancer. Use a medium yellow onion and finely chop.
- Ground Beef - since you won't be draining the fat after browning the beef, using a higher fat content makes this dish more flavorful.
- Salt - adds flavor
- Black Pepper - adds a subtle bit of heat to the overall dish.
- Pasta - I use uncooked Cellentani noodles.
- Garlic Powder - provides a subtle hint of garlic.
- Chili Powder - adds a light orange color to the sauce and a layer of flavor to the sauce.
- Ground Mustard - does a fantastic job of binding all the seasonings and other ingredients together to add a depth of flavor in literally every single bite!
- Tomato Paste - helps thicken the sauce and adds a mild hint of tomato flavor.
- Medium Cheddar Cheese - skip the bagged version and use a fresh block of cheese to shred your own. Using a medium cheddar cheese make this hamburger creamy like traditional hamburger helper
- Whole Milk - since it contains more fat, it makes the sauce even more creamy.
- Parsley - an optional ingredient that adds a pop of color when sprinkled on top of the dish.
Be sure to see the recipe card below for the full ingredients list & instructions!
📋 Variations
- Different Types of Cheese - for a bit of added tanginess, use sharp cheddar cheese. Pepper Jack cheese is a little spicy so if you want to spice things up a bit to add some heat, add some in. Some other good substitutions are Colby Jack, Monterey Jack, or Mozzarella. Feel free to use a combination of several cheeses, as well!
- Other Types of Meats - ground turkey and ground chicken are good substitutes for ground beef.
- Pasta Substitutions - any short cut pasta works great when making this homemade hamburger helper recipe. Elbow, corkscrew, penne, shells, and egg noodles are all good choices to use.
- Milk - for even more creaminess, use heavy whipping cream instead of whole milk. To cut the fat, use 2% milk.
🔪 Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions
- Step 1: Start by shredding a block of cheddar cheese.
- Step 2: In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 Tablespoons of butter, chopped onion, and uncooked ground beef. Cook until no longer pink, ensuring you break up the beef as you go. When done, do not drain the meat.
- Step 3: Add in the salt, pepper, chili powder, garlic powder, and ground mustard, and mix with the ground beef until well combined.
- Step 4: Add the uncooked pasta, tomato paste, beef broth, milk and then mix well to combine.
- Step 5: Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat and cook uncovered until the the noodles are done, about 12-15 minutes.
- Step 6: Then, add in the 2 cups of shredded cheese and stir until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
Top with parsley and serve immediately. Let me just go ahead and tell you that after the first bite, I can pretty much guarantee you will be hooked! This is bound to become a family favorite that gets added to the weekly dinner rotation!
🙋🏼♀️ Recipe FAQs
Yes! I've had the best luck when I've added chopped bell peppers, mushrooms, peas, carrots, zucchini, onions, and tomatoes.
Yes! You can boil the pasta for hamburger helper beforehand instead of cooking the noodles in with the sauce. Just make sure to boil them to al dente so they don't become mushy when you add them to the sauce.
Expert Tips
- When browning the ground beef, don't drain the fat from the meat. It adds more flavor to the dish.
- To cut down the fat content, use a more lean ground beef.
- Use low sodium beef broth to reduce the saltiness, as desired.
- To add even more protein, use protein based noodles when making this homemade hamburger helper recipe.
- Skip the bagged cheese and shred it fresh from a block. The difference is absolutely incredible and is guaranteed to taste more fresh and savory. Freshly grated cheese will also melt easier and be more creamy.
- Store any leftovers in a container with the lid and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
- For best results, reheat in a pot on the stove top, adding more milk to make it creamy again. Stir until warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
🍲 More Savory Recipes You'll Love!
If you tried this homemade hamburger helper recipe or any other recipes on my website, please let me know how it turned out in the comments below. I love hearing from you! And, please leave a 🌟 rating while you're there!
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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Equipment
- 1 12-inch skillet with high sides (about 2-3 inches deep)
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons butter, salted
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 1 lb ground ground beef
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon ground mustard
- 1 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 lb Cellentani pasta, uncooked
- 4 cups beef broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 2 cups medium cheddar cheese, shredded
- 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add 2 Tablespoons of butter, the chopped onion, and 1 pound of ground beef. Cook until no longer pink, ensuring you break up the beef as you go. When done, do not drain the meat.
- Add in 1 teaspoon of salt, ½ teaspoon of pepper, 1 teaspoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of garlic powder, 1 teaspoon of ground mustard, and mix with the ground beef until well combined.
- Add the uncooked pasta, 1 Tablespoon tomato paste, 4 cups of beef broth, 2 cups of milk and mix well to combine. Bring to a gentle boil over medium-high heat and cook uncovered until the the noodles are done, about 12-15 minutes.
- Then, add in the 2 cups of shredded cheese and stir until creamy, about 2-3 minutes.
- Top with parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
-
- When browning the ground beef, don't drain the fat from the meat. It adds more flavor to the dish.
-
- To cut down the fat content, use a more lean ground beef.
-
- To add even more protein, use protein based noodles when making this homemade hamburger helper recipe.
-
- Skip the bagged cheese and shred it fresh from a block. The difference is absolutely incredible and is guaranteed to taste more fresh and savory. Freshly grated cheese will also melt easier and be more creamy.
-
- Store any leftovers in a container with the lid and store in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
-
- For best results, reheat in a pot on the stove top, adding more milk to make it creamy again. Stir until warm. You can also reheat it in the microwave.
- You can use reduced sodium beef broth to lower the saltiness, if desired.
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