This homemade hamburger helper is seasoned ground beef, noodles and cheese, all cooked together in a creamy tomato sauce. An easy one pot meal that’s a big hit with both kids and adults!
When I’m looking for a one pot dinner that I know will please my whole crew, I make creamy chicken fricassee, hearty bacon mac and cheese, and this amazingly delicious homemade hamburger helper. This dish is so much better than the boxed version!
Hamburger helper is a classic dish that’s been a staple in many kitchens for years and years. While it’s super convenient to pour everything out of a box, homemade hamburger helper is also quite easy to make, and the flavor is SO much better. My kids adore this dish along with other family friendly favorites such as chicken broccoli Alfredo.
Homemade hamburger helper ingredients
This recipe is made with olive oil, ground beef, onion, garlic, salt, pepper, smoked paprika, beef broth, tomato sauce, macaroni noodles, heavy cream, cheese and parsley.
How do you make homemade hamburger helper?
Start by browning ground beef in a large pot. Add onion and garlic, and cook until the vegetables are tender. Next, stir in seasonings, beef broth, tomato sauce and pasta. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender. Stir in some heavy cream, then let the pasta simmer for one more minute. Finally, add shredded cheddar cheese. Let the cheese melt, then sprinkle with parsley and serve.
Tips for the perfect dish
- I use 90% lean ground beef as it has plenty of flavor without a lot of grease. If you use beef with a higher fat content, you’ll want to drain off any excess grease after you cook the meat.
- If the pasta isn’t cooked through but the liquid is mostly absorbed, feel free to add a little more beef broth as needed.
- This dish will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this meal as the pasta can become very soft when thawed.
- Skip the bags of pre-shredded cheese and grate your own instead. I find that freshly grated cheese has more flavor and also melts better.
- Traditionally, boxed hamburger helper is often made with milk. I’ve replaced the milk with a little heavy cream instead, as I find it really amps up the flavor and texture. You can use milk instead if you prefer, or substitute half the beef broth with milk.
- Serve your meal alongside a steamed vegetable, or try something different like a fresh fennel salad.
Recipe FAQs
I find that this homemade hamburger helper is plenty thick. If you’d like to thicken your dish some more, you can simply simmer it uncovered for about 3 minutes, or until enough liquid evaporates off to get the sauce to your desired consistency.
You can add a variety of ingredients to your hamburger helper to make it more flavorful. Some great options include bacon, vegetables, extra spices or zesty green chiles.
Homemade hamburger helper flavor variations
This recipe is great as-is, but you can add many different ingredients to make the flavors your own.
- Protein: Swap out the ground beef for ground turkey, diced chicken or Italian sausage for a different flavor.
- Pasta: Instead of macaroni you can use another small short pasta such as shells, ditalini or farfalle.
- Vegetables: This is a great way to sneak in some extra veggies for the kids! I use a can of diced tomatoes, canned green chilies, corn, finely diced zucchini or spinach.
- Cheese: Skip the cheddar and try colby, pepper jack or mozzarella instead. You can also use a blend of different cheeses.
- Toppings: Finish your dish with cooked crumbled bacon, diced fresh tomatoes or a sprinkle of toasted breadcrumbs.
Once you see just how delicious homemade hamburger helper can be, you’ll find yourself making it on a regular basis.
More ground beef recipes to try
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef I use 90% lean
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 2 teaspoons garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika can also use regular paprika
- 3 cups beef broth
- 15 ounce can tomato sauce
- 8 ounces macaroni noodles
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the beef and break up into small pieces with a spatula.
- Cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add the onion and cook for another 4 minutes or until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Stir in the salt, pepper and paprika. Drain any excess grease from the pan.
- Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce and macaroni. Stir, then bring to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low.
- Cover the pot, then cook for 8-10 minutes until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. If the pasta is not tender and the liquid has been absorbed, you can add a little more beef broth as needed.
- Uncover the pot. Stir in the heavy cream. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until sauce has thickened.
- Add the cheese to the pot. Cook for another minute or two, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted. Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Notes
- I use 90% lean ground beef as it has plenty of flavor without a lot of grease. If you use beef with a higher fat content, you’ll want to drain off any excess grease after you cook the meat.
- If the pasta isn’t cooked through but the liquid is mostly absorbed, feel free to add a little more beef broth as needed.
- This dish will stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don’t recommend freezing this meal as the pasta can become very soft when thawed.
I really like this recipe, but I found it to be too salty. Using regular beef broth and the cheese just made it too salty for my taste. I will make this again because I can control the ingredients, but I would use low sodium beef broth instead. It was simple to make and I appreciate it versus the box brand because of all of the additives.
Big hit for the entire family. We haven’t had Hamburger Helper in years but felt the taste of this recipe was actually better.
This was a big hit with my husband and son. Will definitely be making again. We haven’t had actual Hamburger Helper in years so I don’t know how the flavors compare, but it tastes close enough to pass muster. Mmmm.
Absolutely delicious! So easy and simple to make. Came out perfect. Would definitely recommend.
Hamburger helper was a staple of my childhood and this recipe brings back so many memories! So hearty and delicious; it was a hit all around my table!
This was way better than the boxed version! My kids loved it and now wants it every week for dinner.
This homemade hamburger helper looks so comforting and delicious. Much better than the box version. Looking forward to making this for my family.
This is literally my childhood in a pot! It’s one of those recipes I loved growing up and then kind of forgot about it. I’m so glad you reminded me and have this homemade version, which is definitely better than the box version. My kids are going to love it!
This is a perfect dinner idea! So comforting and delicious, we ate a whole bowl!
So much better than from the box! But just as easy!
What a great recipe! Who knew Hamburger Helper could be SO yummy? Love the creamy sauce and delicious flavors. This will be on permanent dinner rotation at our house!
Drooling over this hamburger helper. Looks fantastic.Thanks for sharing.
I will never go back to the “box” again! This homemade hamburger helper is just amazing!!
This dish is so delicious, and even better than the boxed hamburger helper! I’ll definitely be using this recipe instead from now on.