Homemade Hamburger Helper
Hamburger Helper is an easy one pan dinner that always hits the spot! This homemade version of the classic boxed dinner features ground beef, macaroni noodles, a medley of mouthwatering seasonings and plenty of cheddar cheese. It’s easy to make, picky eater approved, and is the ultimate weeknight comfort dinner!
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It’s about that time of year… The weather is cooling down, so it’s time for all of our favorite comfort food recipes to make a triumphant return! Warm up on even the chilliest of nights with recipes like Beef Tips with Gravy, Chili Cornbread Casserole, Beef Noodle Casserole, and Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole.
Hamburger Helper (Cheeseburger Macaroni)
Dig into a cheesy, beefy, warm serving of homemade Hamburger Helper! This easy dinner recipe comes together in no time and is so much better than the boxed original. Since it’s made with real shredded cheddar cheese and a heaping handful of mouthwatering seasonings, this cheeseburger macaroni recipe is impossible to turn down.
As filling as it is, you’ll likely not have any room for seconds… But it’s such a good dinner that you’ll be craving another serving. If you have picky eaters at your kitchen table, this is a great way to get some protein on their plate that’s not in the form of a dinosaur chicken nugget!
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
You’ll love how easy this one pan dinner is to make! It’s perfect for those crazy weeknights when you need a homemade dinner on the table but don’t have a ton of time to play with.
- Cook the ground beef in a skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease.
- Stir in the tomato paste, mustard, seasonings, elbow noodles, and broth.
- Cover and cook for about 7-10 minutes.
- Remove the lid and stir in the milk, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese.
- Continue cooking for another 3-4 minutes, then serve and enjoy!
Tips and Variations
- You can use any variety of cheddar cheese in this recipe. Mild, medium, sharp, and extra sharp all work well.
- Craving a little heat? You can easily add some spice by sprinkling in some chili powder, cayenne powder, or even a dash of hot sauce.
- For the creamiest, thickest consistency, we recommend using whole milk and full fat sour cream.
- Add diced onion, minced garlic, finely diced jalapeños, or green bell peppers when cooking the ground beef for some extra flavor.
- Make this dish even creamier by swapping out a couple ounces of cheddar cheese for Velveeta.
Storage
Storage: In an airtight container in the fridge, any leftover you have of homemade Hamburger Helper will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
Can I use another type of meat?
Yes! We like to keep things classic with ground beef, but you can swap that with ground turkey, chicken, or even a plant based alternative if needed.
Do I need to shred the cheese myself?
Here’s the deal. You can use a bag of pre-shredded cheese, but you might not get the creamy results we’re aiming for here. Pre-shredded cheese has an anti-caking powder on it that prevents the cheese from sticking to itself and clumping in the bag.
That powder can also prevent the cheese from fully melting together when cooked. For that reason, we always recommend shredding it off the block when making Hamburger Helper.
More Easy Macaroni Recipes:
- Easy Macaroni and Cheese
- Easy Instant Pot Chili Mac
- Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Tuna Mac and Cheese
- Jalapeno Bacon Mac and Cheese
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef, lean
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or more to taste
- 12 ounces elbow noodles, uncooked
- 4 cups low-sodium beef broth, low-sodium
- ½ cup milk
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded off the block
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or pan with a lid over medium heat. Add the ground beef, and cook until no longer pink. Drain the excess grease, and return the beef to the pan.1 pound ground beef
- Add the tomato paste, mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, elbow noodles, and broth. Stir to combine.1 tablespoon tomato paste1 teaspoon Dijon mustard1 teaspoon garlic powder1 teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon smoked paprika½ teaspoon salt¼ teaspoon ground black pepper12 ounces elbow noodles4 cups low-sodium beef broth
- Cover the pan and cook for 7-10 minutes or until the noodles are al dente. Remove the lid, and add the milk, sour cream, and shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to combine, and continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes.½ cup milk½ cup sour cream2 cups sharp cheddar cheese
- Serve warm! See post for tips and storage options.
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Suggested Equipment
- 12-Inch Skillet with lid
This dish tastes very good, exactly like hamburger helper, but the ratio of liquids to solids in this recipe is very off. I made no substitutions and followed every step, but the end product was so liquidy that it was like eating noodles and cheesy meat steeped in a broth. I had to add more noodles than originally called for and simmer it for much longer in order for the texture to become less soupy. If I were to make this again, I would have to cut the amount of beef broth in half for the end result to resemble the texture that hamburger helper is supposed to be. It does make good leftovers, though.
Hi Sam!
Thanks for giving the recipe a try! We’re happy you liked the flavor. The amount of broth can vary a bit depending on the pasta brand and how hot the pan runs, which affects how much liquid cooks off. It sounds like yours just needed a few extra minutes or a little less broth. We appreciate the feedback and will make a note to clarify that in the post! Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
Yummy. Subbed ketchup.
And…. Baby sea shells.
Thank you
Thank you for commenting and rating the recipe Gigi! We’re glad you enjoyed it. Have a great day 🙂
Very good. Actually loved it.
Thank you Wendy! We’re glad you enjoyed the cheeseburger macaroni. Have a great day 🙂
I used Imposible ground pork and vegan cheddar and vegan sour cream. I turned out delicious!
Those are some great substitutions to make this a vegan dish! Thank you so much for sharing. We’re glad you enjoyed it. Have a wonderful evening! 🙂
I subbed a can of Campbell’s tomato soup. Didn’t have an onion so added onion powder. Also a bit of beef consommé. Used some hatch chili cheddar from Aldi. Gluten free Penne. Yum!!!
Hi Julie!
That sounds amazing! We’re so glad it worked out with the substitutions. Have a great weekend! 🙂
I just made this tonight but didn’t have tomato sauce; I subbed with the amount of white sauce instead and it’s JUST as good. Thank you so much!
That’s great to hear, Karen! We’re glad the white sauce worked out in place of tomato sauce. Thanks so much for coming back to comment. We hope you have a lovely weekend! 🙂