This homemade hamburger helper is a healthier twist on the old classic but is still incredibly easy to whip up and delivers some serious flavor and comfort!
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What’s better than the boxed stuff? THIS one pot Hamburger Helper! Though we certainly understand that the boxed version has quite the reputation of being a comforting convenience food, we actually much prefer this homemade version – it’s made with real ingredients, so no mysterious stuff lurking around here! This easy meal is a weeknight dinner homerun and deserves a permanent spot in your dinner rotation.
If you’re looking for more unbeatable family friendly dinners, be sure to check out this DELICIOUS ham and cheese casserole – it’s a hit every single time!
Five Star Reviews
“Loved this one! Not too hard to make and gives us enough leftovers for either school lunch or dinner the next night. Tasty and cheesy! The whole family gobbled it up. Filling and warming!” – Giovanna
“We (me, my husband and 14 month old) really enjoyed this! I love a one pot/pan recipe and this was SO easy and yummy. Thank you!” – Anna
“Delicious! And my kiddos loved it! So glad to have a yummy alternative to the boxed processed version.” – Kellie
“This was so good. Loved how simple the recipe was. I work evenings and make dinner earlier in the day to take and for my family to reheat, so anything that makes it this simple and delicious is a win/win! It doesn’t hurt that the whole family had great things to say about it too!” – April
Ingredients For Hamburger Helper Recipe
This ingredient list is pretty basic, and when combined, makes a killer easy dinner that gives the boxed version a run for its money! Here’s what you’ll need to whip this dish up in no time:
- Extra-Virgin Olive Oil – 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil will do the trick here!
- Yellow Onion – you’ll also need ½ of a diced yellow onion, and…
- Garlic – 2 cloves of minced garlic!
- Ground Beef – you’ll use 2 pounds of ground beef for this recipe – we opt for grass-fed and finished beef whenever possible. Our favorite way to source high-quality, affordable, grass-fed and finished beef is through ButcherBox (get yours HERE!). If ground beef isn’t your thing, feel free to sub ground turkey for it instead!
- Tomato Paste – 2 tablespoons of tomato paste get added to the mix, as do…
- Spices + Seasonings – 1½ teaspoons of sea salt, a ½ teaspoon of black pepper, 1 teaspoon of paprika, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Elbow Macaroni – what is Hamburger Helper without macaroni noodles?! You’ll need 12 ounces of elbow macaroni here – feel free to use your favorite gluten-free brand (THIS is ours) or, if you tolerate gluten, use the regular stuff!
- Beef Broth – 3½ cups of beef broth gets added to the mix (feel free to use low sodium broth if preferred!), as does…
- Milk – 3 cups milk, and (the best part)…
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – 1½ cups of shredded cheddar cheese (mild or sharp cheddar will work here!).
How to Make Hamburger Helper
This is a really great recipe for a busy weeknight because it’s super easy and only requires one pot (aka, minimal after dinner clean up required!)…score!
- Saute the Garlic and Onion – add the olive oil to a large skillet or pot over medium-high heat, and once the oil is hot, add the onion and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes, until the onion is translucent.
- Brown the Ground Beef – add the ground beef to the pot with the onion and garlic and cook for about 8 minutes, crumbling as you cook, until the meat is totally browned.
- Add in the Spices and Tomato Paste – drain the excess fat from the beef, then add in the tomato paste, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the beef and give it all a good stir to combine.
- Add the Beef Broth + Milk – add the beef broth and milk to the pot and increase the heat to high. Once the mixture comes to a boil, add the pasta, and reduce the heat slightly to maintain a low boil and cook for 12 minutes, until most of the water has been absorbed and the pasta has softened, then remove from heat!
- Add the Cheese and Serve – The last thing you need to do is stir the shredded cheese into the cooked pasta, then you’re ready to serve!
Hamburger Helper Video
Storing and Freezing
This dish is best stored in an airtight container in the fridge (these glass containers are our favorites!), but it also freezes really well! To freeze either portion individually or make a double batch and freeze the whole pasta dish as one large, family-sized portion (these freezer-to-oven containers are great for that). To defrost from frozen, either pop an individual container in the microwave or reheat a large, family-sized portion in a 350°F oven until warmed through!
We hope that the whole family enjoys this comforting, homemade version of the classic Hamburger Helper as much as we do!
Frequently Asked Questions
Hamburger Helper is very much a comfort food! While it isn’t the healthiest dish you’ll ever make, ours is made with better-for-you ingredients for a take that you can absolutely feel good about serving to your family. As with EVERYTHING, we think that moderation is key, so eat up that Hamburger Helper when it sounds good, and eat a nice big salad when that sounds good!
This recipe does call for milk (3 cups/24 fluid ounces to be exact), and while we haven’t tried dairy-free subs here, we’ve heard from some of our readers that they’ve had success using a can of coconut milk + extra broth in place of the milk!
While this easy Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is great on its own, you can totally serve it alongside a side or two if you wish! Because this one-pot meal is noodly and uber comforting (hello, homemade cheese sauce!), a light, fresh side like this simple arugula salad would be a great choice, as would a tray of nutrient-dense perfectly roasted vegetables. Sneaking in a few extra veggies via delicious sides is something we’re always on board with.
More Favorite Ground Beef Recipes
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1/2 yellow onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 pounds ground beef 85/15 or 90/10 are both great options
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 12 ounces elbow macaroni we used this one for gluten-free
- 3 1/2 cups beef broth
- 3 cups milk
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Add the olive oil to a large skillet or pot over medium heat. Once hot, add the onion and garlic and cook for 4-5 minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Add the ground beef to the pot with the onion and garlic and cook for about 8 minutes, crumbling as you cook, until browned.
- If you’re short on time or have a fattier beef, drain the excess fat from the pot. Otherwise, let the beef continue to cook until most of the liquid cooks off.
- Add the tomato paste, paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper to the beef and stir to combine.
- Add the broth and milk to the pot and increase the heat to high. Once the mixture comes to a boil, add the pasta to the pot, then reduce the heat slightly to medium-high to maintain a low boil. Cook for 12 minutes, until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the pasta has softened.
- Turn off the heat, then stir in the cheese and serve immediately.
Recipe Notes
- 1 1/2 cups of cheese makes for a creamy hamburger helper, but for a cheesier hamburger helper, use 3 cups of cheese.
Nutrition
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Hi! Any thoughts on how would this freeze? We used whole wheat pasta instead of GF. Trying to plan freezer meals for baby’s arrival!
This freezes great, Staci!
Can you make this with ground turkey and substitute chicken broth?
Yep! Enjoy!
Not my favorite – quite bland, but my kids enjoyed it. I steamed some broccoli, chopped it up small and stirred it in. There was waaaay too much liquid, which is probably due to using a different gluten-free pasta. I scooped out about 2 cups of liquid part way through andiit was still pretty runny
Aw, man! We’re so sorry, Shauna!
I’ve made ALL the Copycat Hamburger Helper recipes floating around the internet. Each one is missing that familiar take-you-back-to-childhood flavor and I figured it was the lack of preservatives and dehydrated cheese. I decided to try this recipe because of the simple but flavorful ingredients. HOLY COW this recipe tastes exactly like what I remember!!! Quick, creamy, cheesy, beefy pasta in one pot! My husband and I were shocked how close this is to the original. Heats up beautifully the next day. Thank you for figuring out the perfect recipe.
YES! Thank you so much for sharing this with us, Aaron! We’re so glad y’all loved it!
This recipe was super simple to make and I LOVE that it is a one pot dinner. My only wish was that there was a little more flavor. I will be definitely adding some extra spices next time.
This recipe is a slam dunk! I went back for a second bowl. I used coconut milk beverage and left off the cheese and it was still phenomenal!! Highly recommend this one pot dish to anyone and everyone!
So glad you loved it, Brittany!! That makes us so happy! Thank you for sharing!
Was great! Only had 2 cups of milk on hand and still turned out perfect.
So glad you enjoyed it, Ashley!
Did you add cooked or uncooked pasta?
Uncooked! Enjoy, Katie!
I just made this recipe and it is delicious. I did only use 1.2 lbs of 80/20 ground beef because that is what I had. I also only used 2 cups of whole milk instead of 3. The beef broth may have been a bit more as I used a box that said it had approximately 4 cups, but I figured that 1/2 cup or less would be wasted. This recipe came out exactly right not too liquidy at all.
That’s so great to hear, Elena! Thank you for sharing this with us!
IT WAS SO GOOD! Made this last night, it was super simple and super yummy. Definitely tasted like (better than!) Hamburger Helper, and everyone liked it! This meal will be a “make again”.
YAY! That’s great, Lindsey! We’re so glad you all enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing this with us!
Very yummy! My boyfriend said better than the original. Will definitely make this again!
SCORE! So glad you guys loved it!
Followed recipe, way too much liquid even after 20 minutes of cooking noodles. ♀️ Still tasted great
Oh no!! So sorry, Lisa!
Hi! I’m lactose intolerant, is there a dairy free milk that would work?
Hey would almond milk or low fat milk work?
We haven’t tried it, but I don’t see why not!
We used almond milk and it worked perfectly!
Hi! I may be totally blind but in step 3 it says coconut aminos but I don’t see it on the ingredient list. How much do you add? Thank you! Love all your recipes, thank you for sharing them!
Whoops! No coconut aminos. Just removed it…thank you for catching that!