Cheesy Enchilada Hamburger Helper (One Pot Recipe)
Cheesy enchilada Hamburger Helper is a quick and easy one-pot dinner that combines seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, enchilada sauce, and plenty of melted cheese. It’s a homemade version of the comfort food you know and love that is perfect for busy weeknights.
Hamburger Helper basically raised me.
Well, sort of.
Both my mom and grandma turned to the boxed classic frequently on busy nights.
And let’s face it, most nights are busy nights.
I find myself doing the same since I often need dinner on the table fast and nothing beats the comfort of a good old fashioned box of Hamburger Helper.
Except perhaps for this homemade cheesy enchilada Hamburger Helper.
It delivers all the convenience of the boxed classic with even bigger flavor and simple pantry ingredients.
The combination of savory beef, cheesy sauce, and zesty enchilada seasoning creates a creamy, satisfying meal that’s hearty enough to keep everyone at the table happy.
Since everything cooks together in one pot, cleanup is just as easy as the prep, making it a lifesaver on hectic evenings.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Ground beef– I always prefer using leaner beef because it doesn’t cook down as much or get as greasy.
- Onion– Large yellow onion, peeled and diced.
- Beef broth– You can use beef stock if that’s what you have on hand but I don’t recommend substituting chicken or vegetable broth as it won’t have the same beefy flavor.
- Milk– Whole is best, but any cow’s milk works.
- Pasta– Medium shell pasta. You could also use macaroni or even rotini.
- Enchilada sauce– A 28 ounce can of your favorite kind of red enchilada sauce.
- Seasonings– Salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne pepper, and minced garlic.
- Cheese– Shredded Mexican blend. You could also use shredded cheddar or shredded Jack.
- For serving– Fresh cilantro, sour cream, and crushed tortilla chips. All of these are optional but recommended.
How to Make
Making homemade cheesy enchilada Hamburger Helper is so easy!
Just cook the beef and onion in a large Dutch oven or other heavy bottomed pot set over medium high heat, stirring often, until the beef is brown and crumbled.
Once it’s cooked through, strain off grease.
Stir the seasonings and garlic to the meat followed by the broth, milk, enchilada sauce, and pasta into the pot to combine everything.
Bring the mixture to a boil.
As soon as it boils, immediately turn the heat down to low.
Cover the pot and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes to let the sauce thicken slightly.
Then, take the pot off the heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups of cheese until the cheese melts and sauce is smooth.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly out overtop the pasta, cover, and let rest just until melted.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- Want to add some veggies to the meal? Add some diced bell peppers with the onions and beef. You can also stir in drained and rinsed black beans or even some frozen corn just before you pull the pot off the heat. Stir them and let them cook just until warm.
- The cayenne pepper is optional. There’s not enough to make it very spicy but if you are sensitive to spice you can skip it. You can also add more if your family likes things hot and spicy.
- If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it with more beef broth.
Other One Pot Recipes
Cheesy enchilada Hamburger Helper is a deliciously easy, one pot meal.
Make it today and enjoy!
Looking for other easy one pot recipes to enjoy?
Try these:
If you’ve tried this CHEESY ENCHILADA HAMBURGER HELPER, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Cheesy Enchilada Hamburger Helper (One Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion peeled & diced
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 1/2 cups medium shell pasta
- 1 28 oz can red enchilada sauce
- salt & pepper to taste1
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper optional
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese divided
- fresh cilantro for serving (optional, but recommended)
- sour cream for serving (optional, but recommended)
- crushed tortilla chips for serving (optional, but recommended)
Instructions
- Add the beef to a large Dutch oven, or other heavy bottomed pot, and set over medium high heat.1 lb ground beef
- Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until the beef's crumbled and fully cooked through. Strain off grease.1 large yellow onion
- Add the seasonings and garlic to the meat, and stir until fully incorporated.salt & pepper, 1 tsp ground cumin, 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper, 1 tbsp minced garlic
- Add the broth, milk, enchilada sauce, and pasta to the pot. Stir everything together until well combined.1 cup beef broth, 1 cup milk, 1 28 oz can red enchilada sauce, 2 1/2 cups medium shell pasta
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Cover the pot and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-12 minutes.
- Remove the pot from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cups of cheese- just until melted and sauce is smooth.
- Sprinkle the remaining cheese evenly out overtop the pasta, cover, and let rest just until melted.2 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese
- Serve warm & enjoy!
Notes
- Want to add some veggies to the meal? Add some diced bell peppers with the onions and beef. You can also stir in drained and rinsed black beans or even some frozen corn just before you pull the pot off the heat. Stir them and let them cook just until warm.
- The cayenne pepper is optional. There's not enough to make it very spicy but if you are sensitive to spice you can skip it. You can also add more if your family likes things hot and spicy.
- If the sauce is too thick, you can thin it with more beef broth.
Nutrition
