Homemade Hamburger Helper made healthier in under a half hour! It's easy, cheesy comfort food and always a family favorite!
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Savor Homemade Hamburger Helper in under 30 mins! One-pot wonder with ground beef, macaroni, and creamy cheese sauce. Perfect weeknight family supper!
One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Our easy Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe may look like the classic store-bought cheeseburger macaroni in a box, but this healthier version is much better because it’s made without highly processed or artificial ingredients and contains much less sodium.
Why dirty more than one dish when you can make a copycat of the classic hamburger helper all in one pan? Simply sauté the onions, brown the beef, stir in the tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and seasonings and bring it all to a boil; then mix in the cheese until melted and serve the best homemade hamburger helper!
Cooking this meal from scratch makes a healthy homemade hamburger helper that you can feel good about feeding your family; it’s just as easy to prepare as the boxed hamburger helper version, but ours is filled with more robust flavor and freshness.
This super simple, budget friendly meal won’t break the bank – it’s a hearty, delicious one dish dinner that doesn’t need to be served with a side.
Why you’ll love this Hamburger Helper Recipe
- Quick and easy to make.
- Uses simple kitchen staple ingredients.
- The heavy whipping cream and cheese pair perfectly to create a creamy cheese taste that isn’t overpowering.
- Making meals from scratch allows for more control over the ingredient list and lets you skip the added preservatives.
- Perfect weeknight family-friendly dinner idea.
Homemade Hamburger Helper Ingredients
- Lean ground beef
- Yellow onion
- Olive oil
- Tomato paste
- Worcestershire sauce
- Salt
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Pepper
- Elbow macaroni
- Beef broth
- Heavy whipping cream
- Shredded cheddar cheese
Recommended tools for Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger
- Large saucepan
- Wooden spoon
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Add onions to a large sauce with olive oil. Cook over low-medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until onions have become semi-translucent and fragrant.
- Add ground beef and continue to cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes or until the beef is fully browned. When done, drain beef over a bed of paper towels and return to the saucepan.
- Stir in the tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring and mixing frequently.
- Add in the elbow macaroni, beef broth and heavy whipping cream and bring heat to high. Stir frequently as the mixture comes to a light boil (adjust your heat if needed). When boiling, place a lid over the pot and cook for an additional 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- During the last minute of cooking, top with cheese and stir until fully melted and combined into the dish.
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Add additional salt and pepper to taste as needed.
Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper Substitutions and Additions
- More Meat Options: Feel free to substitute the lean ground beef for another meat, like ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Pick Your Pasta: I like to use elbow macaroni for this recipe because it absorbs the creamy tomato sauce well. However, other small noodles, like shells and penne, will also work.
- Add Some Spice: Feel free to add chili powder, hot sauce, or crushed red pepper flakes to spice up your meal.
Hamburger Helper Homemade Recipe Tips
- When mixing in the tomato paste, you have to stir well. You’ll almost want to press it into the meat for it to mix. It will also mix much more as it’s combined with the liquids.
- This dish is moist throughout, not dry. The liquid will be soaked up with the noodles but never dry out. However, if you notice that your dish is looking too dry while cooking, add in additional heavy whipping cream and/or broth. Work ½ cup at a time as needed.
- You can garnish this dish with fresh chopped parsley.
- Chicken broth, vegetable broth, or simply water can also be used for this recipe if necessary.
What to serve with Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
This hearty dish is a complete meal in and of itself, but it would go great with a simple salad or veggie on the side. Try serving it with my Olive Garden Salad, Tomato Cucumber Salad, Garlic Green Beans, or Whole Roasted Cauliflower Head.
My cauliflower breadsticks or Cheesy Pull-Apart Garlic Bread would also taste delicious with this dinner.
How to store Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
- To Store: Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the pasta will continue to absorb the liquid over time.
- To Freeze: Once cooled to room temperature, you can store your hamburger helper in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Reheat your hamburger helper on the stove or in the microwave until heated through. You can add a bit of broth to bring back its creaminess.
More Easy Copycat Recipes
Other Easy Pasta Recipes
Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
Serves — 6
Homemade Hamburger Helper made healthier in under a half hour! It's easy, cheesy comfort food and always a family favorite!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ yellow onion chopped
- ½ tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 pound box of elbow macaroni
- 4 cups beef broth
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Add onions to a large saucepan with olive oil. Cook over low-medium heat for 1-2 minutes or until onions have become semi-translucent and fragrant.½ yellow onion, ½ tablespoon olive oil
- Add ground beef and continue to cook over medium-high heat for 6-8 minutes or until the beef is fully browned. When done, drain beef over a bed of paper towels and return to the saucepan.1 pound lean ground beef
- Stir in the tomato paste, worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Cook for about 1 minute, stirring and mixing frequently.2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce, ½ teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon pepper
- Add in the elbow macaroni, beef broth and heavy whipping cream and bring heat to high. Stir frequently as the mixture comes to a light boil (adjust your heat if needed). When boiling, place a lid over the pot and cook for an additional 12-14 minutes, stirring occasionally.1 pound box of elbow macaroni, 4 cups beef broth, 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- During the last minute of cooking, top with cheese and stir until fully melted and combined into the dish.2 cups cheddar cheese
- Remove from heat and serve immediately. Add additional salt and pepper to taste as needed.
Jenn’s Notes
Storage:
- To Store: Store your leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Keep in mind that the pasta will continue to absorb the liquid over time.
- To Freeze: Once cooled to room temperature, you can store your hamburger helper in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- To Reheat: Reheat your hamburger helper on the stove or in the microwave until heated through. You can add a bit of broth to bring back its creaminess
- When mixing in the tomato paste, you have to stirwell. You’ll almost want to press it into the meat for it to mix. It will also mix much more as it’s combined with the liquids.
- This dish is moist throughout, not dry. The liquid will be soaked up with the noodles, but never dried out. However, if you’re noticing that your dish is looking too dry while cooking, add in additional heavy whipping cream and/or broth. Work ½ cup at a time as needed.
- You can garnish this dish with fresh chopped parsley.
- Chicken broth, vegetable broth, or simply water can also be used for this recipe if necessary.
Nutrition Info
Calories: 710kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 38g | Fat: 34g | Saturated Fat: 19g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 129mg | Sodium: 1217mg | Potassium: 708mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 1047IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 337mg | Iron: 4mg
