Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (2024)

Home Beef Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

By Natasha

Aug 03, 2022, Updated Feb 22, 2024

4.9

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This easy homemade Hamburger Helper recipe has ground beef, macaroni, and a flavorful cheesy cheddar sauce! It’s total comfort food that’s inexpensive and ready in about 30 minutes.

Try my Simple Ground Beef Casserole or Simple Chili Mac next.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (2)

Why you’ll love it

When I was little, my mom made everything from scratch. I do fondly remember a few boxed meals from visiting friends’ houses in the ’90s, though. One was Hamburger Helper, and that brings up all the nostalgia. Naturally, I had to recreate an even better Hamburger Helper from scratch! I like mine because you have total control over the seasonings and know exactly what goes into it.

This ground beef recipe is super simple to make with affordable pantry ingredients, doesn’t take much longer than the packaged kind, and it’s cooked all in one pot for fewer dishes. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with eating packaged foods every now and then, but a LOT of people crave homemade Hamburger Helper, so I am here to bring you the best version.

What you’ll need

  • Ground beef – I like to use extra lean ground beef, at least 90%
  • Onion – our kitchen prefers Vidalia (sweet) onions
  • Tomato paste – it’s an easy, economical way to get concentrated tomato flavor
  • Garlic powder and chili powder – our simple seasoning blend to infuse savory flavor, and they’re ingredients I always keep in my pantry
  • Elbow macaroni – the classic pasta shape for this
  • Beef broth – for a deeper, richer flavor to the sauce
  • Sharp cheddar cheese – my version of Hamburger Helper has no milk to make it that much easier, and the cheddar makes the dish creamy enough all on its own!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (3)

Pro tip

One pot recipes can vary depending on your particular stove and ingredients, so if you seem to be running out of liquid with a lot of time still left, feel free to add in a bit more. Try 1/2 cup at a time.

How to make Hamburger Helper

This is an overview with step-by-step photos. Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (4)

Start by browning the beef and onion in a large pot and draining any excess fat, then stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, and chili powder. Add in the beef broth, and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it’s boiling, stir in the uncooked macaroni.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (5)

Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is soaked up. Grate the cheddar while it’s simmering away. Stir in the cheese, and season to taste with salt & pepper.

Tools for this recipe

Check out Natasha’s favorite kitchen essentials, gadgets, and cookware!

Substitutions and variations

  • Feel free to tweak seasonings to your tastes. You can always increase the chili powder, add some hot sauce or crushed red pepper flakes, more garlic, and so on to make it perfect for your taste buds!
  • Some readers like to sneak in a bit of spinach. Just add it in near the end of the cooking time until it wilts. Finely chopped bell peppers would work great as well.
  • If you want to jazz it up, change up the cheese variety. Monterey Jack, smoked cheddar, etc. make some fun variations.
  • You can use ground turkey or ground chicken instead if that’s more your thing.
  • If you want to use another pasta shape (e.g. shells), you may need to adjust liquid measurements and/or cooking time (this has only been tested with macaroni).

What to serve with Hamburger Helper

  • It’s definitely a meal in and of itself, but it would go great with a salad on the side. Try one with my Simple Homemade Ranch Dressing or Copycat Olive Garden Salad Dressing.
  • Making Extra Cheesy Garlic Bread at home is another fantastic pairing everyone will devour.
  • Want to serve it with some veggies? These Easy Roasted Green Beans are a cinch to make and caramelized to perfection.

Leftovers and storage

  • Leftovers of this Hamburger Helper will keep in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container, but keep in mind that the pasta will continue to absorb the broth over time. It’ll still be tasty, though.
  • Reheat in a small saucepan over a low heat for best results, giving it the occasional stir, and warm it through. Add in a splash of beef broth to thin it if desired.
  • I don’t recommend freezing leftovers. Cooked pasta doesn’t have the same texture once thawed.

More family friendly recipes

  • Instant Pot Hamburger Mac and Cheese
  • Easy Sloppy Joe Recipe
  • Tater Tot Casserole
  • Easy Cheesy Taco Pasta
  • Cheeseburger Soup
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (6)

Let me know if you give this cheesy Hamburger Helper recipe a go!Questions? Made it? As always, I love it when you leave me comments.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (7)

4.90 from 299 votes

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This easy homemade Hamburger Helper recipe has ground beef, macaroni, and a flavorful cheesy cheddar sauce! It's total comfort food that's inexpensive and ready in about 30 minutes.

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 25 minutes mins

Total: 30 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound extra lean ground beef
  • 1/2 medium onion chopped
  • 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Add the beef and onions to a soup pot. Cook over medium-high heat until the beef has browned (about 7-10 minutes), breaking the meat up with your spoon as you go along. If there's a lot of excess fat, spoon most of it out.

  • Stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, and chili powder.

  • Add in the beef broth and increase the heat to high. Once it starts boiling, add in the macaroni.

  • Reduce the heat so it's not furiously boiling (a rapid simmer is good). I ended up cooking mine over medium heat. Let it cook uncovered until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed (about 13-15 minutes). I stir it every couple of minutes.

  • While it's cooking, grate the cheese (this saves prep time at the start of the recipe).

  • Take the pot off the heat and stir in the cheese. Season with salt & pepper as needed. I let it sit for a couple minutes prior to serving (soaks up the sauce and flavors more), but you can serve it right away.

Notes

  • Serves 4-6 depending on the portion size.
  • As with any one pot meal, ingredients and stoves vary. If you’re running out of liquid (like it’s in danger of sticking and burning) when you still have a while to go before the pasta is done, feel free to add in more liquid, 1/2 cup at a time.

Nutrition

Calories: 501kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 44g, Fat: 25g, Saturated Fat: 15g, Cholesterol: 130mg, Sodium: 1106mg, Potassium: 624mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 640IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 437mg, Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

Leave a star rating and comment below!

This recipe was originally published on January 17, 2020. It’s been updated with new photos and better instructions but is the same great recipe!

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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (8)

Hi! I’m Natasha.

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678 Comments

  1. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (9)
    Loved it! Only added 2 cups of cheese and a dash of heavy cream. I added carrots with the onions and a zucchini at the end. Perfect!

    Reply

    1. Glad you enjoyed it! 😀

      Reply

  2. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (10)
    Thank you for sharing this recipe. This is one of our family favorites and we make it once a week with no problems. I haven’t had any issues with the noodle to liquid ratio (for other readers 🙂 )

    Reply

    1. I’m thrilled it’s a hit, Brittnie!! I’d love to beam into their kitchens and help them figure out what’s gone wrong… that is for sure!

      Reply

  3. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (11)
    Flavor is 5 stars! However, I was not looking for hamburger soup which is what it turned out to be. Wayyyyyyy too much water~

    Reply

    1. Hi. This is a very highly rated recipe where thousands readers have had a lot of success with it, and it’s definitely not meant to be a soup. Did you read the troubleshooting tips in the blog post? It sounds like you either added too much liquid or didn’t reduce it for long enough.

      Reply

    2. That happened too me too, I even added 4x the noodles to try to fix it and it was still soup

      Reply

      1. 4X the pasta? 4 cups of uncooked macaroni makes a LOT of pasta. I am having trouble wrapping my head around this. Was it regular pasta that releases starch or a speciality pasta that was gluten-free or something like that? I just had a thought – did you pre-cook the pasta and then add it to the pot? It is meant to be uncooked pasta in this recipe.

        Reply

  4. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (12)
    I tried this as an alternative to the box recipe. Excellent!

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Leanna!

      Reply

  5. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (13)
    This has become a weekly staple on our house. We will never ever go back to the box hamburger helper after trying this one. SO EASY and not many ingredients! So delicious

    Reply

    1. Thank you so much, Kayla!! 😀 Glad it’s a regular in your recipe rotation!!

      Reply

    2. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (14)
      Great recipe!! I also added some oregano and heavy cream in the dish and it was fantastic!!

      Reply

      1. Yay!! Thank you, Marianna!

        Reply

  6. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (15)
    Love this dish, I use meat-free beef and broth and add mushrooms and fresh garlic, it’s delicious! Also love how much protein is packed in it. It’s become a staple in our household ☺️

    Reply

    1. I’m so glad it’s a favorite, Ashley!! 😀 Thanks for your review!

      Reply

  7. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (16)
    Super fast, easy and froze well!

    Reply

    1. That’s great to hear, Deb!!

      Reply

  8. Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (17)
    This was quick, easy, and tasted like my childhood without any of the funky ingredients and preservatives that you find in the boxed version. Might try throwing in some bell peppers or mushrooms next time. Thanks for another great recipe!

    Reply

    1. That’s so nice to hear! You’re very welcome, Ash!!

      Reply

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What makes Hamburger Helper taste good? ›

Seasonings: the true healthy hamburger helper taste comes from paprika, dried oregano, and plenty of salt and pepper. Pasta: the star of the show! I used pipe rigate pasta because I love how the sauce gets into every little nook and cranny of the noodle. Cheese: don't forget plenty of sharp cheddar cheese.

Can you substitute beef broth for water in Hamburger Helper? ›

All beef broth can be used if preferred. Pasta: Medium pasta shells, rotini, and bowtie pasta are all great options for this recipe.

What to use instead of milk for Hamburger Helper? ›

Stock: If you can't consume dairy, using stock or broth can add flavor to your Hamburger Helper. Beef or vegetable stock works well [2].

How to make a hamburger in 5 steps? ›

5 Steps To a Perfect Burger
  1. Prepare the workspace. Preheat your pan on medium-high and cut ground beef in to 1/4 to 1/3 lb golf ball sized chunks. ...
  2. Get smashing. Drop the meat in the pan, squash and hold for 5 seconds. ...
  3. Flip and cheese. ...
  4. Ready the bun. ...
  5. Assemble your smashed burger creation and dig in.

What is the original Hamburger Helper flavor? ›

The brand made its national debut in August 1971. With five flavors – Beef Noodle, Potato Stroganoff, Hash, Rice Oriental and Chili Tomato, it was an instant success.

Do you absolutely need milk for Hamburger Helper? ›

Since milk adds a creamy texture to the Hamburger Helper sauce, it or its substitutes are recommended as a major ingredient to flavorful Hamburger Helper meals. For best results, choose plant milk or a milk substitute that is sweet or savory, depending on the meal type.

What thickens Hamburger Helper? ›

How do you thicken up Hamburger Helper? If your Hamburger Helper is too runny or juicy, the best way to thicken it up is to put the lid on the pan and let the mixture steam for at least five minutes. The macaroni will continue to absorb the liquid and the mixture will become thicker.

What to season your Hamburger Helper with? ›

Beef Broth: Chicken broth or vegetable broth will also work! Seasonings: I use a combination of Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Small Pasta Shells: This recipe also works well with elbow macaroni noodles.

What is a substitute for 1 cup of beef broth? ›

Like beef broth, chicken broth is a kitchen staple and makes a good substitute if you are all out of the meaty broth. This savory, salty liquid has a milder flavor than beef broth but is a good one-to-one replacement. Chicken broth also has a similar nutrition profile to beef broth, low in calories and high in sodium.

What happens if you make Hamburger Helper without meat? ›

Hamburger Helper without meat is quick and easy to make. Just use the same measure of liquid normally used. Depending on if you add extra veggies and which ones, the consistency can change. Add a fresh twist to Helper tonight!

Why not use canned beef broth? ›

It's not just that beef broths aren't beefy enough, America's Test Kitchen notes that the way most premade beef broths are produced makes them downright bad. Tests of commercial brands, even high-end ones, often had no beef flavor and bitter, burnt notes.

Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of milk for Hamburger Helper? ›

2 cups of cheese, any cheese that you prefer, stir that in there. Then we're gonna also add some butter. and 2 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream. Stir that up, get it nice and creamy.

Can you use tuna in Hamburger Helper? ›

Add milk, hot water and sauce mix (from Hamburger Helper™ box); stir to combine. Stir in uncooked pasta (from Hamburger Helper™ box) and tuna. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Can sour cream replace milk? ›

Sour cream or full fat yogurt can be substituted 1:1 for whole milk. Use this substitute in baking quick breads or for adding creaminess to pan sauces. Sour cream works especially well in recipes calling for buttermilk, too and vanilla-flavored yogurt can be used for sweet quick breads and cakes.

What do you mix with Hamburger Helper? ›

Add-ins:
  1. 1/2 to 1 whole white onion (dice and add to the raw meat, brown together)
  2. 1 can diced tomatoes (I use the kind with Italian herbs added. ...
  3. 1 can black olives, whole or sliced (drain, add when you add the liquid and pasta)
  4. 1-2 tbsp fresh minced garlic (add to browning meat) or garlic powder to taste.
Apr 17, 2016

Do you use water or milk for Hamburger Helper? ›

Milk adds a creamy texure and lends its flavor to the sauce in Hamburger Helper. You may not enjoy the results made with only water.

What does Hamburger Helper consist of? ›

As boxed, it consists of a dried carbohydrate (often pasta or rice), with powdered seasonings contained in a packet. The consumer is meant to combine the contents of the box with browned ground beef ("hamburger"), water, and, with some varieties, milk to create a complete one-dish meal.

How many cups of water and milk for Hamburger Helper? ›

Add 2 1/4 cups of milk and 2 2/3 cups of hot water to the pan, along with the pasta and seasoning mix from the Hamburger Helper package. Stir everything well and bring it to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 10-20 minutes.

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