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4.9 from 375 votes

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

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!

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

Ingredients

  • 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)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. 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.
  2. Add tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce; reduce until almost dry and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Remove from heat, uncover and stir in cheddar cheese.

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

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%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 453

% Daily Value*

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%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.