Easy Hamburger Helper Recipe Made From Scratch

Homemade hamburger helper is a one-pot meal that I repeatedly make because even my picky eaters love this childhood staple. Fill your skillet with extra veggies, and then only worry about one pan at the end of the night during cleanup.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Ingredients

• 1 pound extra lean ground beef
• 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni or egg noodles
• 1 onion chopped
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3/4 minced carrots
• 3 cups beef broth
• 2 tablespoons of Italian seasoning
• 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
• 1 8 oz can of tomato sauce
• 5 garlic cloves – minced
• 1 teaspoon chili powder or smoked paprika
• Salt and black pepper to taste
• 1/3 cup heavy cream

Directions

In a large skillet, brown your beef, drain, and then set aside. Then add your olive oil, onion, garlic, and carrots. Cook through.

Add the meat back into the pan. Then toss in the remaining seasoning, broth, paste, and sauce. Bring to a boil, and then add in your pasta. Make sure the pasta is covered with liquid. If your pan is too wide, you might need to add another can of tomato sauce. Be sure to have that on hand.

Cook your dish for roughly 12-15 minutes, making sure the pasta remains al dente. Taste as you go along and stir occasionally. Add the remaining cheese and heavy cream before you turn the heat off. Cook on low heat for another minute until combined.

Tips and Variations

• If you don’t have fresh onion, you could always substitute with onion powder. This also goes for your garlic. Feel free to substitute with garlic powder.
• To store leftover hamburger helper, use an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days.
• Substitute in ground chicken or ground turkey.
• Top with fresh parsley, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, and a dab of sour cream. For a lighter option, you could top with Greek yogurt.
• If you’d like to add in more vegetables, consider bell peppers, asparagus, and broccoli. Just be sure to dice them up and cook through.
• If you are looking for more heat, feel free to add in red pepper flakes to the ground meat when it is cooking. You could also top with hot sauce at the end.

This easy dinner recipe – made with macaroni noodles and a cheesy sauce – is pure comfort food and absolutely perfect for busy weeknights! I love to make it because it’s a great alternative to the boxed stuff. I’m all about using real ingredients.

It’s so nice to cook a complete meal in a single skillet that I know the whole family will love.

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