My easy homemade Hamburger Helper recipe with cheesy pasta and tomato sauce is so delicious 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 easy and comforting. But over time I started making it from scratch, and my homemade version of Hamburger Helper is way better than the stuff we grew up on. 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). This Hamburger Helper fits the bill when you’re craving something hearty, beefy, and cozy. If you’re a fan of my Mom’s spaghetti and meat sauce, homemade sloppy joe’s, and shepherd’s pie, you’re going to love this Hamburger Helper.
Why You’ll Love It
- This homemade Hamburger Helper only 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 it looks like a longer list of ingredients, this recipe comes together super fast. 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—for sautéing the onion
- Lean ground beef—for the best beefy texture and flavor
- 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—this is the foundation of our savory sauce
- Water–this helps get the sauce to the right consistency
- Ketchup—for that classic umami 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 seasoningng
- Rotini—(you could also use elbow 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 if you wanted 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)
Find the complete recipe with measurements below
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.
Recipe Substitutions and Variations
- 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 would work well. Just be sure to choose a noodle where the cheese sauce and burger can hide in each bite.(any short, sturdy pasta you have on hand will do). I don’t recommend using longer, thinner pasta like spaghetti since they don’t hold up well to the hearty sauce.
- Add some veggies. Adding kale, sliced cremini mushrooms, bell pepper, frozen peas, corn, or cauliflower to the sautéing process 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 won’t overcook.
- Spice is nice. A dash of red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper would bring a nice punch of heat if you wanna add spice to your Hamburger Helper. You could also top this with some 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 like the ones called for in my recipe is the first step, also using good-quality meat. These are simple ingredients, so make ’em count.
- For the healthiest homemade Hamburger Helper, I recommend using ground turkey (or pinto beans), 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.
What to Serve with Hamburger Helper
- THE BEST Garlic Bread
- The Best Roasted Asparagus
- Caesar Salad with Garlic Croutons
- Easy 5-Minute Zucchini Parmesan
- Kale Salad with Parmesan and Pine Nuts
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 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
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