My easy homemade Hamburger Helper recipe with cheesy pasta and tomato sauce is ready in 30 minutes and so good you’ll never go back to the box.
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As a newlywed, mac and cheese and Hamburger Helper™ were favorites of my husband and mine. The combination of pasta, hamburger, cheese, and sauce was an easy, comforting, weeknight fave. But when I struggled to pronounce half the ingredients listed on the label the boxed version went by the wayside. That’s when I started making my homemade version of Hamburger Helper from scratch. This Hamburger Helper fits the bill when you’re craving something hearty, beefy, and cozy. The noodles are cooked directly in the sauce to soak up all the rich, beefy tomato flavor. To make it extra cheesy, I add a simple cheese roux, giving it that classic cheeseburger taste everyone loves. If you’re a fan of my Mom’s spaghetti and meat sauce, homemade sloppy joe’s, and shepherd’s pie, it’s time to add this cheesy, flavor-filled Hamburger Helper to your favorites list.
Why You’ll Love It
- This homemade Hamburger Helper takes 30 minutes to make
- It’s made with real ingredients and full of comfort food flavor
- This dish is hearty on its own but you could serve it up with a simple salad or some veggies
What’s in The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper
While this dish is homemade, it takes pretty much the same amount of time as using the boxed version. But it’s SO. MUCH. BETTER!
Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Olive oil—for sautéing the onion
- Lean ground beef—85% lean ground beef for the best texture and flavor without a lot of extra grease
- Yellow onion—chopped red onion or shallots are good substitutes
- Chicken or beef broth—this is the foundation of our savory sauce
- Water–this helps with the saucy consistency
- Ketchup—for a sweet tomato flavor
- Tomato paste—adds umami and builds a flavorful, robust sauce
- Garlic powder—for savory, umami flavor
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper—for seasoning
- Rotini—or try elbow or shell macaroni
- Butter–this is needed to make our roux for the cheese sauce
- Flour–helps thicken our cheese sauce
- Milk–you could also use half and half to make it a bit richer
- Cheddar cheese–essential for making our cheesy sauce (choose one that’s at least medium in flavor versus mild or a simple American, giving this dish its real cheese flavor)
How to Make The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper
This recipe comes together quickly and easily. Here’s how to make it:
- Brown your beef. Then add in the onions and cook until softened.
- Build that umami base. Add broth, water, ketchup, tomato paste, garlic powder, and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Cook your noodles. Bring the beef mixture a boil, add the noodles, then reduce to a simmer, and cook for about 10 minutes.
Say Cheeseburger!
- Make the cheesy sauce. In a separate saucepan, make the cheese sauce using the milk, butter, flour, and shredded cheddar.
- Mix it all together. Pour the cheese sauce into the hamburger mixture and stir to combine.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- Make the sauce less sweet. Swap the amounts of tomato paste with that of the ketchup for a sauce that’s not quite as sweet. You may need to add a bit more broth or water to taste and for consistency.
- Mix up your meat. Try swapping the ground beef for ground turkey, or ground pork
- Noodle around. We typically use rotini noodles, but elbows, penne, shells, ziti, rigatoni, or another short-tubed pasta works well. Choose a noodle where the cheese sauce and burger can hide in each bite.
- Add some veggies. Adding sliced cremini mushrooms, bell pepper, frozen peas, or corn would be great additions. Spinach would also be a great addition, but wait until you’re near the end of the cooking time before adding it so it doesn’t overcook.
- Spice is nice. A dash of red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, chopped jalapeño, or roasted chiles would bring a punch of heat. You could also top with fresh basil or chives for extra color and flavor.
- Try a different cheese. Monterrey Jack, pepperjack, havarti, a smoky cheddar, or even American cheese would all work great here.
FAQ and Recipe Tips
- How do you make Hamburger Helper better? Using real ingredients and good quality meat. These are simple ingredients, so make ’em count.
- For the healthiest homemade Hamburger Helper, I recommend using ground turkey and adding veggies. Mushrooms, spinach (or kale), and maybe some bell pepper would be my picks, but any of the veggies I mentioned above would be delish. Feel free to use a gluten-free pasta or less pasta as well, if desired (just note if you use less pasta you’ll have a saucier Hamburger Helper).
- Leftovers will keep stored in the fridge for about 4 days, or stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
How to Make Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper
To make this Hamburger Helper gluten-free, substitute corn starch for the flour, and try gluten-free or quinoa noodles.
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The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground 85 percent lean ground beef
- ½ medium onion chopped
- 2 cups chicken or beef broth
- 1 cup water
- ½ cup ketchup
- ¼ cup tomato paste
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 2 ½ cups dry rotini noodles
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups medium cheddar cheese shredded
- fresh parsley for serving
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat and add ground beef. Break into chunks with a wooden spoon and cook, stirring often, for about 5 minutes.
- Add onion and cook for another 5 minutes or until beef is cooked through and onion is softened.
- Add broth, water, ketchup, tomato paste, garlic powder, and salt and pepper, and stir to combine. Add macaroni and bring to a boil then reduce to simmer and cook for about 10 minutes or until macaroni is al dente and liquid has reduced.
- Meanwhile, melt butter in another pan over medium-high heat. Add flour and whisk for 1-2 minutes or until flour is cooked through. Add milk and whisk until smooth. Cook until sauce begins to thicken, about 4-5 minutes. Remove from heat and add cheese. Stir until cheese is melted and sauce is smooth.
- Add cheese sauce to hamburger and noodle mixture and stir to combine. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve.
Notes
