Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Name: Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3/4 pound 93% lean ground beef; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/2 cup onion; 4 cloves garlic; 1/4 teaspoon paprika; 1/4 cup tomato sauce; 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce; 2 cups chicken broth; 3/4 cups 2% milk; 8 ounces dry pasta; 1 cup part-skim sharp cheddar cheese

User Reviews

4.9

375 reviews

Excellent

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
40 mins
Servings
4 servings
Calories
453 kcal
Course
Main Course, Dinner
Cuisine
American

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Iris Warren

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This one-skillet, creamy Homemade Hamburger Helper is made with ground beef, macaroni and cheese – real ingredients you can feel good about feeding your family for dinner!

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Ingredients

Servings

3/4 pound 93% lean ground beef
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 cup onion (chopped)
4 cloves garlic (chopped)
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1/4 cup tomato sauce (or tomato passata or puree)
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2 cups chicken broth
3/4 cups 2% milk (or dairy-free milk for DF)
8 ounces dry pasta (such as cavatappi, rotini or elbows or small shells or gluten-free pasta if needed)
1 cup part-skim sharp cheddar cheese (or dairy-free cheese for DF)

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Instructions

Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef and 1/2 teaspoon salt and paprika. Cook, breaking the meat up into small pieces until browned, 5-6 minutes. Add onion, garlic and cook until aromatic; 2 to 3 minutes.
Add tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce; reduce until almost dry and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
Add chicken broth and pasta and bring to a boil, lower heat to medium-low and cover. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring halfway until the pasta is almost tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
Uncover, add the milk, and cook, covered stirring periodically medium-low until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, uncover and stir in cheddar cheese.

Equipments used:

Notes

Variations
Meat: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground bison.
Dairy-Free: Hamburger helper is better with milk since it gives it a creamy texture, but you can substitute a dairy-free alternative, like unsweetened rice milk and use a dairy-free cheese like Violife, which is the one I find melts the best.
Soy-Free: If you have a soy allergy, you can omit the Worcestershire sauce or substitute coconut aminos.
Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
Cheese: Swap cheddar with shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack.
Cheeseburger Pasta: Chop tomato, pickles, and onion, mix it in a bowl with a little pickle juice, and put it on top.
Macaroni and Cheese: If you want it cheesier, like mac and cheese, add more cheddar.

Nutrition Information

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Serving 11/2 cups Calories 453kcal (23%) Carbohydrates 51g (17%) Protein 35.5g (71%) Fat 10g (15%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 69mg (23%) Sodium 511mg (21%) Fiber 2.5g (10%) Sugar 6g (12%)