This creamy homemade burger helper is made with ground beef, macaroni, and cheese – real ingredients you can feed your family for dinner!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
This homemade Hamburger Helper made with ground beef and macaroni is creamy and delicious. It’s pure comfort food, kid-friendly, protein-packed, and easy to make! I polled my Instagram community, and many of you asked for more one-pot recipes. I love cooking this way so much that I have a cookbook dedicated to one-pot recipes called Skinnytaste One and Done, which is one of my most popular cookbooks. My husband and kids have given this recipe two thumbs up and asked me to add it to my regular dinner rotation. Other one-pot pasta recipes to try are this One-Pot Chicken and Orzo , Instant Pot Baked Ziti , and this One-Pot Spaghetti with Meat Sauce .
You'll love this healthier Hamburger Helper recipe
Actually, I never had Hamburger Helper as a kid, but I love the concept and convenience of adding hamburger meat to macaroni and cheese for a simple weeknight dinner. After playing around with the ingredients, we loved how it turned out! Tommy called it Beef-a-Roni and had it for a second time!
I tried it with high-protein pasta, but I found it tastes best with regular good-quality pasta, like dell'Allo Cavatappi or Fusilli. Using the elbows can make the pasta cook too short, which can result in a thinner pasta. Here are some reasons why I like this dish:
- One pot mill: This beef pasta recipe cooks everything in one pot, so you don't have to clean a lot of dishes.
- High protein: Thanks to the milk, beef, and cheese, this pasta dish has over 35 grams of protein per serving.
- A great way to use up a pack of ground beef If you're looking for something other than burgers and meatballs,
- Dietary restrictions: It's Weight Watchers friendly, high in protein, and easy to make without dairy or gluten.
- Cheap materials: Ground beef is a more economical way to eat beef, as it costs less than other meats. The rest of the ingredients are quite inexpensive.
- Family friendly: If you have picky eaters at home, this recipe is perfect for them.
If you make this healthy homemade burger helper, I'd love to see it. Tag me in a photo or video on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!
What you need
Hamburger Helper Ingredients:
The combination of ground beef, milk, and cheese creates the ultimate creamy, cheesy macaroni. Please refer to the recipe card below for exact ingredient measurements.
- Ground beef: Because I added milk and cheese, I kept the beef lean and chose organic beef.
- seasoning: Season the meat with salt and paprika.
- Onion and garlic It enhances the flavor and makes the pasta more aromatic.
- Tomato sauce Balances the richness of the meat and cheese. You can use 2 tablespoons of tomato paste instead.
- Worcestershire sauce Adds a little sourness and enhances the overall flavor.
- Chicken broth: Boil the pasta in broth to add flavor, but you can also use beef broth.
- 2% milk It adds a creamy texture while keeping the pasta light.
- pasta: Choose short pasta shapes, such as rotini, cavatappi, or shells. If using elbow macaroni, cook the pasta for 6 to 8 minutes each time to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Part Scheme Cheddar Cheese: Add the cheese at the end and melt it to create a rich, cheesy pasta.
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
I'll show you step by step how to make Hamburger Helper. What I like best about it is that it cooks in one pot. Recipe card includes full instructions..
- brown the beef In a large, deep skillet or large pot, bring to a boil over medium heat. Season with salt and paprika and cook until brown.
- Spices and Sauces: Sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes, then add the tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Reduce the heat to low and cook until the sauce reduces and caramelizes.
- Cooking Pasta: Add the broth and pasta to the pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook until the pasta is almost tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- milk: Add the milk, cover the skillet, and cook over medium to low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the milk has been absorbed.
- cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese.
strain
- minced meat: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground buffalo.
- Dairy-Free: Hamburger Helper is best served with milk because of its creamy texture, but you can also substitute it with a non-dairy alternative, like unsweetened rice milk, or use a non-dairy cheese like Violife. In my opinion, Violife melts the best.
- No soy sauce added: If you have a soy allergy, you can omit the Worcestershire sauce or substitute it with coconut aminos.
- Gluten Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- cheese: Try substituting the cheddar cheese for mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese.
- Cheeseburger Pasta: Chop the tomatoes, pickles and onions, add a little of the pickle juice and mix in a bowl, then top.
- Macaroni and Cheese: If you want more cheese like mac and cheese, add more cheddar cheese.
- Add vegetables: Finely chopped bell peppers, carrots, spinach, broccoli or mushrooms are good to add.
- spices: Try using different spices. Use smoked paprika for a smoky flavor. Add chili powder for a chili flavor, or use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best ground beef for Hamburger Helper?
It is best to use lean ground beef, as it is lower in saturated fat and makes the dish less greasy.
What can I substitute for ground beef?
Any ground meat will do, such as ground turkey or even a vegetarian meat substitute.
Is Hamburger Helper Bad for Your Health?
This homemade Hamburger Helper is so much better than store-bought. If you grew up eating boxed “Hamburger Helper” as a kid, I think you’ll love this healthier version, which is lower in sodium and made with real food.
Offering suggestions
If you want to add some color and completeness to your meal, here are some ideas for vegetable side dishes.
save
- refrigerator: Any leftover Hamburger Helper can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Make someone hang on tight Pasta can be stored in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- thaw Store food in the refrigerator the day before and microwave or bake until warm.
A great base for many variations
Think Philly Cheesesteak Macaroni or Taco Macaroni. There are so many variations you can come up with by playing around with the ingredients and changing out different cheeses or veggies. Leave some ideas in the comments and I’ll share some variations!
More Macaroni Recipes You'll Love
Produce: 4 night soil
Size provided: 1 1/2 cup
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Heat a large deep skillet over medium heat and add the beef, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon paprika. Break the meat into small pieces and cook until browned, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes.
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Add the tomato puree and Worcestershire sauce and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until almost dry and caramelized.
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Add the chicken stock and pasta, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to medium and cover. Cook, stirring halfway through, until the pasta is almost tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
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Open the lid, add the milk and cook over medium to low heat, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
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Remove from heat, open lid, add cheddar cheese and stir.
Final step:
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- meat: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground buffalo.
- Dairy-Free: Hamburger Helper is best served with milk because of its creamy texture, but you can also substitute it with a non-dairy alternative, like unsweetened rice milk, or use a non-dairy cheese like Violife. In my opinion, Violife melts the best.
- No soy sauce added: If you have a soy allergy, you can omit the Worcestershire sauce or substitute it with coconut aminos.
- Gluten Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- cheese: Try substituting the cheddar cheese for mozzarella or Monterey Jack cheese.
- Cheeseburger Pasta: Chop the tomatoes, pickles and onions, add a little of the pickle juice and mix in a bowl, then top.
- Macaroni and Cheese: If you want more cheese like mac and cheese, add more cheddar cheese.
clothing material: 1 1/2 cup, calorie: 453 calorie, carbohydrate: 51 g, protein: 35.5 g, province: 10 g, Saturated fat: 5 g, Cholesterol: 69 mg, fiber: 2.5 g, sugar: 6 g
