My easy homemade Hamburger Helper recipe with cheesy pasta and tomato sauce is so delicious you’ll never go back to the box.
I’m not embarrassed to admit it. In our first days of being married, mac and cheese and Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper™ were favorites of my husband and mine. Maybe it’s because my mom rarely made dinner from the box that gave that dang Hamburger Helper version a secret appeal. Or maybe it was just because it was easy comfort food: pasta, hamburger, and cheese sauce. Who doesn’t love that combo?
We always doctored up the boxed version with sliced onion and mushrooms, but when I started reading labels and struggled to pronounce half the ingredients list, the boxed version went by the wayside. But the craving didn’t. That’s why I set out to make my own version of Hamburger Helper (with cheese, of course). My homemade version is still super easy and full of comfort food flavor, but it’s made with real ingredients and it makes such a difference. It’s great on its own but you could serve it up with a simple salad or some veggies if you wanted.
What’s in The BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper
While it looks like a longer list of ingredients, this recipe comes together really quickly. It takes pretty much the same amount of time as using the packet version. But it’s SO. MUCH. BETTER!
Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- Olive oil
- Lean ground beef
- Yellow onion (you could use onion powder if you don’t have any fresh onion, but definitely use fresh if you can)
- Chicken or beef broth
- Water
- Ketchup
- Tomato paste
- Garlic powder
- Kosher salt and pepper
- Rotini (you could also use elbow macaroni)
- Butter
- Flour
- Milk
- Cheddar cheese
Tip: If you wanted to health-ify this a notch, feel free to add some vegetables like spinach or broccoli. Also, a dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper would bring a nice punch of heat if you wanna add spice.
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, and garlic powder. and salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
Cook your noodles. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer and cook for about 10 minutes.
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.
Can I Use Another Ground Meat?
It’s your kitchen, do what you want! Ground beef, ground turkey, or ground pork would all work in this homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.
Can I Use Another Type of Pasta?
You can use any short, sturdy pasta you have on hand. I don’t recommend using longer, thinner pasta like spaghetti since they don’t hold up well to the hearty sauce.
How Do You Make Good Hamburger Helper?
Use good quality cheese. Choose one that’s at least medium in flavor versus mild or a simple American, giving this dish its real cheese flavor.
Add some veg. Adding sliced cremini mushrooms and even some chopped red bell pepper, carrots, frozen peas, corn, or cauliflower to the sautéing process would be great additions.
Noodle around. We typically use rotini noodles, but elbows, penne, shells, ziti, rigatoni, or another short-tubed pasta would work well. Just be sure to choose a noodle where the cheese sauce and burger can hide in each bite.
More Easy Mac and Cheese Recipes You’ll Love
- The Best Homemade Mac and Cheese
- Instant Pot Creamy Macaroni and Cheese
- Stovetop Pesto Macaroni and Cheese
- Skillet Cauliflower Mac and Cheese
- Chicken Divan Mac and Cheese
If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a 
rating on this recipe below and leave a comment, take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.
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
Nutrition
More Quick and Comforting Recipes to Try
- One-Pot Creamy Chicken and Rice Casserole
- 30-Minute Garlic and Herb Rub Pork Tenderloin
- Gnocchi with Pomodoro Sauce
- One-Pot Homemade Sloppy Joe Recipe
- Baked Sausage and Cheese Rigatoni
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I added homemade taco seasoning to the meat, and used Velveeta cheese, because I didn’t have any cheddar, still came out delicious.
Happy you were able to adjust Charles!
I didn’t have enough ketchup, nor tomato paste, so I substituted one can of tomato sauce. It was so delicious. I dreamed about it that night. Thanks for the recipe. It’s going in the vault.
I meant to give it five stars!
Glad you enjoyed Vincent!
Hi Heidi,
Great simple recipe. Absolutely awesome. My 7 year old won’t stop eating it.
Thanks for a simple and delicious meal.
Jason
We’re so happy to hear you and your kiddo enjoyed the is, Jason!
This is so yummy. It’s in our regular rotation. I read another comment about adding peppers and mushrooms- I’ll have to try that!
I made your “BEST Homemade Hamburger Helper” and it was delicious.
tasted fine, but the ketchup and the tomato paste made this far to sweet for our tastes, not savory at all. Not going to repeat this one.
Made this tonight for dinner on a wim. My hubby loves HH Mac N Cheese and I refuse to cook it! I only had a small amount of cheddar cheese so I used colby jack with the cheddar. I must say I would make sure to have enough of the right cheese next time. Also I agree with some of the others who say cooking the noodles first then adding them would help it to be not so startchy. I am not a ketchup person so I will cut back on that as well. Overall it turned out pretty good and the hubby really liked it ☺️ so in my book that’s a win!
I’m glad you both enjoyed it Carol!
This was sooo delicious!!
I made this tonight and it was shockingly delicious! Wasn’t sure if my boys would like it and they loved it. I used 3 cups beef broth vs. 2 plus water and a can of drained diced tomatoes. I loved the ketchup in it but then I love ketchup!
I was looking for something easy to make with ground beef that the kids would like. They loved this! I did have to use a full box of stock but otherwise I completely followed the recipe. Will definitely make this again.
How do you reheat this? We have too much left over and I don’t know how to reheat it properly. Just microwaved isn’t good!
Had to scroll a bunch just to find the freaking recipe, but it was pretty good.
Thanks for scrolling Lides, glad you liked it.
Just made this for the first time. My husband is eating his second helping…and I may sneak in for more too. I’m sure my teen son is going to love it as well. I accidentally used a whole box of pasta (ziti with lines). I had to add a little more water and cooked for 20 minutes rather than 10. I skipped the ketchup and instead added 1 chopped tomato and a 10 oz can of rotel style tomatoes. My cheese “sauce”seemed a bit sticky and I ended up adding a handful of shredded Asiago as the cheddar seemed a bit dull. But when mixed with the pasta, it wasn’t as sticky. Overall very good! And it isn’t very forgiving recipie in that you can add extras to make it your own!
I mean it IS very forgiving! Lol!
Thanks for sharing all your substitutions! I love how you made it your own
I’m so glad you liked it Kristen—and your husband too! Great choice on the ziti.
Super easy and great tasting!!
the ketchup made it too sweet for my liking. but it does make it actually taste like a hamburger, if that’s what you like.
Thanks for the feedback
I just wanted to stop in and say I just made this recipe and my kids love it! It was a definite success!
Thank you Steph!
I have a question I was wondering if this could be done in the instant pot.
Absolutely! Follow IP directions for the Macaroni!
made this last night with my daughter. She is 6 and pretty much did everything (she loves to cook) by herself. I did the simple measuring and cutting the onion, but she gathered the ingredients and poured and stirred and it turned out great. Its not the greatest meal ever but its cheap to make and it makes a lot of food, and only took about 20-25 minutes from start to finish.
Made this on a whim and the hubby loved it! He’s such a picky eater and is always weary of new recipes but he had seconds so this is definitely a must keep recipe!
My husband made this for us for dinner tonight and it was phenomenal! The perfect meal to make when you have nothing in your kitchen after vacation haha!
Paige
http://thehappyflammily.com
Thanks so much Paige!! Glad you loved it.
Okay this is going to sound crazy…but I added cut up pickles to this and it was AMAZING. Thanks for sharing your recipe. Your cheese sauce was incredible.
Pickles don’t sound crazy. That sounds brilliant!!!!!!
I made this tonight for dinner and my husband and I loved it! I replaced the water, tomato paste, and ketchup with a 8oz can of tomato sauce and used 4 cheese Mexican instead of cheddar. I have never been so excited for leftovers. Definitely keeping this recipe.
I’m so glad you liked it Sandy! It’s for sure one of our fave comfort foods too. Thanks for circling back to let us know!
Can you post a nutrition facts . I like to watch my soduim and calories intake
I’ve cooked this four or five times now and this may be my fiancé’s favorite meal! I do want to add, though, that every time, I have had to add a lot more liquid – up to two more cups of water/ broth while cooking the noodles (I use macaroni noodles that are also egg noodles, just because it’s usually what we buy in huge packs – not sure if the egg noodle factor plays a role) and typically about another cup of milk while making the cheese sauce.
Mmmm…sooo ummy good! I only made one small change. Instead of using the tomato paste I used 1/4 c. mustard! Thanks for a great comfort food recipe!!
Mmmmm…so yummy good!! I made only one slight change. Instead of using tomato paste, I used 1/4 c. mustard instead! Thank you for a great comfort food recipe!!!!
Just happened to stumble on this today searching for something different. Added red pepper and mushroom, took a little water out and added a touch more beef broth, perfect liquid content.
This is amazing!!!!
Thank you
Made this tonight! I wanted to make a larger amount so doubled up on everything, and it turned out great! I had a bit too much liquid left over so had to drain a bit before added cheese sauce. Thanks!
Thank you for this, I’ve tried this recipe a couple of times before and I must say, this has become one of my husband’s favourite dishes! I’m a fan of your blog and i always draw inspiration from your recipes! More power to you!
I want to make a vegetarian version of this recipe too! Wish me luck!
I’m not normally a comment-leaver, but I wanted to say how much my family loves this recipe. My husband is gluten free, and this was so easy to convert. Corn starch for flour, and quinoa noodles. My 3 year old loves helping me cook this. I have made this many times, and it is just so easy and delicious. Thank you.
Looks delicious.
Love this recipe. Made it a few times now. I added yellow mustard this last time and it was magnificent. Try it.
Thanks!
I don’t know what happened I followed recipe to exact everything and mine turned into a pot of goo =(
Eating this right now, and I’m in LOVE!!!! As is hisband and toddler :) Yum! Thanks!!
So glad you’re enjoying it!
Can you tell me serving size and carbs. After a stroke I just became diabetic, so am overwhelmed trying to convert recipes.
Hello! How much salt and ground black pepper, exactly? I’m guessing 1/4 tsp tonight but that’s just a guess.
Made this last night, and MAN! This was WONDERFUL! Will most definitely be added to our rotation!
I never leave reviews, but I had to with this recipe! It was delicious! My 1 1/2 year old is being a picky eater and he ate all of it! The only thing I changed was I had to use sharp cheddar because I didn’t have any medium cheddar on hand. Definitely going to make this again!
ok i just made this and my noodles are chewy in a gross way… i think where i went wrong was I stirred it multiple times during the 10 minutes…. was i supposed to let it sit and not stir it? anyway
i also think there is too high of a sauce to meat and pasta ratio, it’s not balanced. I’d add 3/4 the cheese sauce next time, if i do make it again. tastes yummy though! so i might have to try it.
Thanks for your input Angelina. Did you use a smaller noodle? That may contribute to the chewyness. I stirred it as it cooked too.
YUM!!! This is a very good recipe. Simple and you can do things to make it a bit healthier. But I like it just the way it is. :)
Thanks!!
I’m so glad you liked it Tina. ALl the girls loved it too, and still do.
Made this recipe a second time last night with a few changes to adapt to my personal taste/preference. I’ve actually never had Hamburger Helper in my life (I grew up in a bubble – my mom is a healthy home-cook extremist), so I didn’t have much to compare it to.
I followed the recipe exactly the first time around, but I thought it was way too sweet for my liking. This time around, I made the following changes and it was absolutely delightful! I omitted the ketchup all together and reduced the tomato paste by half, but added half a can of fire-roasted tomatoes to make up for the subtle tomato flavor. I also doubled the amount of onions as I love onions, used about 4 cloves of garlic in place of the garlic powder, added two dashes of low sodium Worcestershire sauce, dice half a green and red bell pepper (for crunch and color), a bag of sliced baby Bella mushrooms, reduced the amount of cheese to just a cup and a half and finished it off with a light dusting of smoked paprika.
Super easy, quick and very versatile recipe – thanks for sharing! Cheers!
Thanks for the recipe! Overall I thought it was absolutely amazing (especially compared to boxed Hamburger Helper) but my kids complained that it was a little too cheesy and rich.
I didn’t have any medium cheddar cheese, so I used some shredded sharp cheddar and some aged cheddar, and added some Fontina because I was afraid it wouldn’t melt well. Ended up with 2 cups – about 2/3 cups cheddar and 1/3 cup Fontina. Turned out really smooth, but it was VERY cheesy. Not sure if it was just the flavors of our cheese vs just medium cheddar or if the recipe is just really cheesy, but I’ll definitely be cutting back just a tad on the cheese next time.
I also found that it was a little too sweet, so next time I will switch out the ketchup (we used Hunt’s Natural) for just plain tomato sauce. I will taste as it cooks and add a dash of sugar if needed.
Lastly, in addition to the 2 tsp garlic powder I added 1 tsp onion powder and 1 tsp smoked paprika. I omitted the fresh parsley, just because I didn’t have any at home and this and made this on impulse because the kids were requesting Hamburger Helper.
Overall, I’m so glad to have found a recipe that is a decent substitute for Hamburger Helper! I feel so guilty for occasionally succumbing to my kids because I too love the flavor. At least this way there’s no partially hydrogenated oil or HFCS.
Thanks again, I think this is going to be in regular rotation around here!!
Made this last week and it was a hit for my hard to please family
I made this for dinner tonight. It was just OK…the ketchup made it a little too sweet and it was a bit too saucy. I think next time I would cut back on the ketchup and water…or maybe use 2lbs of ground beef and 3 cups of pasta.
Victoria, maybe cook the pasta in the sauce a little longer so it thickens. And good to see you’re fitting it to your taste!
made this tonight for my 3 kids and it was a big hit! They are big fans of ketchup so they didn’t mind the sweetness. I also sprinkled some warm bacon bits on top before serving :)
I made this tonight for dinner. It is delicious!! Thanks for the recipe, I just added it to my pins on pinterest. PS I used the whole box of pasta and there was plenty of sauce for the whole thing! :)
We love hamburger helper at my house, so I thought I’d give this a whirl and we loved it! I really like the tomato-y flavor it has, and it’s really easy to make too! I featured your recipe on my blog, http://andthewindchanged.blogspot.com/, which I hope is okay. I quoted you as the source and linked your site to mine. :)
My husband loves HH and I love homemade all natural items so when he wants the old box stuff I make up this version! So much better!
Hiya! Tried this for my girls and they liked it, but I think I would cook the macaroni separately next time so that it is not as starchy, and less cheese sauce. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve made this twice, love the taste…I’m a huge fan of ketchup! Any tips to get the pasta to stop cooking, it gets mushy…I even used more pasta than recipe calls for and it soaks up every bit of moisture…even after removed from heat. I’ll be honest I have this same issue when making other recipes, like Pasta Fagoli soup. Just thought you might have a tip.
Cook pasta separate. Just hold back a little pasta water and add to sauce for good flavor. Add pasta just before cheese that way control of pasta . I do this in other recipes too.
This has become one of my favorite dishes to make! I hate onion so I sub with sliced mushrooms, bell pepper, and minced garlic. It’s so cheesy and delicious!
That’s the beauty of cooking at home, we can substitute ingredients to make it work for our tastes to become family favorites. Thanks for the idea on the recipe substitutions.
I actually invented a version of this of my own since the last time I had Hamburger Helper, I got horribly sick years ago. I’m amazed at how closely my version resembles this one. I do use a 14.5 oz can of diced tomatoes and juice as I’m not a fan of ketchup and don’t keep it in my house. I love seeing other people “think outside the box”….Quite literally in this case!
I just made this for dinner. It’s quick, easy, and delicious!! Thanks for sharing a great recipe.
I’m so glad you liked it!
I mde this for dinner last night and it was delish! Hubby went back for seconds :).
Way to much ketchup!!!! Could have drank ketchup straight from the bottle and got the same taste! Threw most of it away.
I just want to say thank you for posting this recipe. I googled “homemade hamburger helper” and found your recipe. I made it with ground turkey and mini penne for my three year old and everyone loved it, including my husband!
I made this for dinner last night and we really enjoyed. My personal liking would be for a little lest ketchup so next time I make this (which will be in the coming weeks) I plan to cut that down some.
But just wanted to say thanks for this great recipe!
Thank you for letting me know! If you feel like it, post a photo to Instagram or Twitter and tag it #foodiecrush :)
This recipe was spot on. My husband hates onions, mushrooms, peppers, casseroles, etc. He loves this. I changed nothing!
Thanks :)
So glad you liked it!
Just made this for supper and it’s good but I definitely will reduce or eliminate the ketchup next time.
Found this recipe and blog on pinterest. And this sounds soooo delicious im already salivating. Going to make this tomm.
Hey There. I found your blog using msn. This is an extremely
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come back to read more off your useful info. Thanks for the post.
I will definitely return.
Silly question but can I just use a pound of pasta or do I need to measure out 2 1/2 cups of dry pasta?
Brilliant!! The cheese sauce is amazing – other homemade recipes just tell you to toss the cheese in. Many thanks!!!!!!!
Made this twice already! My husband loves it. I add a little bit more seasoning to my taste, but it’s perfect other than that. I’m going to experiment next time and try to reduce the calories.
I’ll admit to having a soft spot for Hamburger Helper. Childhood nostalgia, for sure, because my mother made it fairly frequently when I was growing up. This version tastes like the boxed stuff, but in a good way, and it’s better! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
I made this today. It was very easy. It was very good and my husband loved it. I liked the taste, however mine seemed to taste really sweet. Anyone have any thoughts? I am thinking it was the ketchup (not a fan of ketchup). Any other suggestions besides ketchup?
Thanks for sharing your recipe. It’s nice to have options besides boxed food :)
Kellie, I had the same problem. I think next time I make it I will try just plain tomato sauce from a can so there’s no added sugar.
Agree add tomato sauce, garlic, wostershire , and Dijon instead
Mine was very sweet too. Maybe from the ketchup.
Mine was way too sweet also. I had to use a combination of mild cheddar and Colby Jack cheese, as it was all I had. I would not suggest that. We ended up having to crush Corn Chips on top just to get it down. On a positive note, the kids ate all the green beans on their plates!
So glad you liked it! You could try plain tomato sauce to add the tomato flavor, but it will be less sweet.
This was DELICIOUS! Thank you so much for sharing this recipe.
Steph from Girl Vs Dough posted that she was making this on IG today and I had to immediately come over and pin this – I can guarantee this will be dinner later this week! Craving!
I was looking for something that the whole family would like (including out two picky boys aged 8 & 12, and this recipe hit the mark! I already had all these ingredients on hand so it was pretty easy to throw together. It was really yummy! We our definitely going to add this our rotation! Yummy!
Darcy, I’m so glad you liked it! The girls I served it to were over the moon too. Easy, tasty, boom.
Simple, easy, & delicious! Even though I only had almond milk, it still turned out great!
Great recipe! My cheese sauce turned out a little sticky. I think I let it cook too long. Great flavor and very easy. Will make again.
Oh girl, just printed this, it’s on tonight!
Yum! Perfect for a cold, snowy winter night. Comfort food at its best. I added some diced celery and carrots for a bit of extra flavor and veggies. Yummy! Thanks for a great recipe!
Making this for my little one tonight. Looks great
Whenever my oldest brother is in town I make a a recipe so similar to this. It is his all time favorite! Homemade is always better! :)
All I could think when I saw that second picture is “Dat. SAUCE.” Oh man. This looks amazing and totally boy-friendly. I made my fiance eat beets in a cupcake the other day. I owe him this dish.
TOTALLY just pinned this. This was a total childhood staple growing up!
This brings back so many childhood memories of cheesy cheeseburger mac goodness. I’m getting all warm and fuzzy (and hungry) just thinking about it. What I’m trying to say is… this is so happening for dinner this week.
I grew up on Hamburger Helper. I adore this, Heidi!
This is so incredible! I need to make this ASAP
I make something similar but with less cheese and I like to add bell peppers and peas! Yes to the onions and mushrooms.
As terrible as it sounds my parents never had the time to cook me mac and cheese as a kid, so the box kind (chicken flavour) was the thing they prepared with questionable results. Who would think getting the right amount of water was so hard in mac and cheese?
I am simply in love with the cheese factor if this pasta; Friday night meal with great picking potential
Honestly when you first get married who has any money?! A 99 cent box of hamburger Helper is wonderful but then you become educated as you mature. Hopefully you learn about creating homemade foods instead of buying processed foods. This looks delicious and oh so comforting. Thanks for the recipe.
My cousins husband is obsessed with HH and always asks me for a homemade version!! Emailing this to her now!
As a kid we NEVER had boxed mac and cheese. So obviously, as a teen I went ape for it. Now, I have a nostalgic fondness for it. And this looks right up my nostalgia-alley.
My hubs is still kind of obsessed with Hamburger Helper, and if I’m being totally honest, it’s one of my super secret guilty pleasures (along with those Lipton pasta sides). So everyyyy once in a while, I’ll pick up a box, but I have got to try this from-scratch version, still so cheesy and creamy!