Description
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is a cheesy, comforting, one-pot meal made with ground beef, pasta, and real ingredients—ready in just 30 minutes. Skip the box and make this quick weeknight favorite from scratch for a family-friendly dinner everyone will love.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a leaner option)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups beef broth (or chicken broth)
- 1 ½ cups milk (whole, 2%, or non-dairy)
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste (or 2 tablespoons ketchup)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon chili powder (optional)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the Ground Beef: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Saute Aromatics: Add chopped onion and garlic. Cook for 2–3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
- Season: Stir in tomato paste, paprika, chili powder, salt, and pepper until the beef is coated evenly.
- Add Liquids and Pasta: Pour in beef broth and milk. Stir to combine, then add elbow macaroni. Bring to a gentle boil.
- Simmer: Reduce heat to low. Cover and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Finish with Cheese: Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and the sauce is creamy.
- Serve: Garnish with parsley if desired and serve hot.
Notes
Add bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach for extra veggies. Use ground turkey for a lighter version. To reheat, add a splash of milk or broth and microwave or reheat on the stove over low heat.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1 ½ cups)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg