Homemade Hamburger Helper blows the kind in the box right out of the water. In just under 30 minutes, your family will be enjoying the creamiest, cheesiest, beefiest pasta ever!
Hamburger Helper is definitely one of those comfort foods I associate with growing up.
My mom used to put in on the table on busy nights when she was too tired to think about dinner.
I do the same, but instead of the kind from the box I make homemade Hamburger Helper.
It’s the same meaty, cheesy pasta concept but heartier and even yummier.
And it’s ready in about the same time kind as the stuff from the box.
Can’t beat that!
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Ground beef– Go for a leaner variety so it doesn’t cook down too much or get too greasy.
- Spices– Garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, ground thyme, dried oregano, and salt and pepper
- Ketchup
- Beef broth– Don’t substitute a different variety of broth.
- Pasta– Preferably elbow macaroni but you can use another short pasta shape if that’s what you have on hand.
- Velveeta cheese– Cut it into cubes.
- Milk
How to Make
Making homemade Hamburger Helper is easy!
To do it, cook the ground beef in a large skillet set over medium heat, crumbling as it cooks.
Let it cook until it is cooked through and no pink is left.
Then, strain off all excess grease.
Stir in all of the seasonings and the ketchup to the beef until evenly combined.
Then, stir in the broth and turn the heat up to bring the mixture to a boil.
Once the mixture boils, stir in the pasta.
Immediately reduce the heat to medium low and cover the skillet.
Let the mixture simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the pasta’s tender.
Once the pasta is tender, turn down the heat to low and stir in the Velveeta cheese until evenly combined.
As soon as the Velveeta melts, take the skillet off the heat and stir in the milk.
At this point the mixture should be smooth and creamy.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to four days.
Keep in mind the cheese sauce will thicken drastically when stored and the pasta will continue to soak up sauce.
Because of this, you will want to stir in a little extra milk when you reheat it.
Tips and Tricks
- You can use cream or half and half in place of milk, for extra thick creamy mac and cheese.
- Don’t have elbows? Use any smaller shape like penne or rotini.
- Want to make it extra creamy? Stir in a tablespoon or two of cream cheese just before serving.
Other Easy One Pot Meals
Homemade Hamburger Helper is one of our favorite quick, one pot meals.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other easy one pot meals?
Try these:
- One Pot Chicken & Rice With Vegetables
- Easy Beef Pot Pie With Canned Biscuit Crust
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta
- Crockpot Chicken Alfredo With Broccoli
If you’ve tried this HOMEMADE 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!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 tsp onion powder
- salt & pepper to taste
- scant 1/2 tsp ground thyme
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 tbsp ketchup
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups elbow pasta
- 12-14 oz Velveeta cheese cubed
- 1 cup milk
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet set over medium heat. Cook, crumbling along the way, until cooked through and no pink remains. Strain off all excess grease.1 lb lean ground beef
- Add all of the seasonings and the ketchup to the beef, stirring until evenly combined.2 1/2 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 1/2 tsp onion powder, salt & pepper, scant 1/2 tsp ground thyme, 1/2 tsp dried oregano, 2 tbsp ketchup
- Add the broth to the dish, again stirring to combine, and increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil. Stir in the pasta until evenly combined.2 cups beef broth, 2 cups elbow pasta
- Immediately reduce the heat to medium low and cover the skillet. Allow the mixture to simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, just until the pasta's tender.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the velveeta cheese to the skillet, stirring until evenly combined.12-14 oz Velveeta cheese
- Remove the skillet from heat and stir in the milk until the mixture's evenly combined, and smooth & creamy.1 cup milk
- Serve warm & enjoy!
Notes
- You can use cream or half and half in place of milk, for extra thick creamy mac and cheese.
- Don't have elbows? Use any smaller shape like penne or rotini.
- Want to make it extra creamy? Stir in a tablespoon or two of cream cheese just before serving.
Nutrition
recipe adapted from Busy Day Dinners
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