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–+ servings
A skillet filled with creamy pasta shells, ground meat, and garnished with chopped herbs. A wooden spoon is resting in the skillet.
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5 from 1 vote

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade hamburger helper is a creamy, one-pot dinner with ground beef, macaroni, and cozy cheeseburger flavor. Skip the box and make DIY hamburger helper in 30 minutes.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 321kcal
Author: Traci

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1 large Onion diced
  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 3 cloves Garlic grated
  • 1 tablespoon Dried Oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Paprika
  • ⅓ cup Tomato Paste about half of a 6-ounce can
  • 4 cups Beef Broth plus extra water, if needed
  • 8 ounces Dried Elbow Macaroni or preferred pasta
  • ⅓ cup Milk or any dairy liquid
  • 1-2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • ½ teaspoon Sea Salt or to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
  • Optional: Fresh Parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Heat a 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add OLIVE OIL and heat until shimmering.
  • Add the ONIONS and saute a few minutes until tender. Add GROUND BEEF and sauté until browned and cooked through, stirring as needed. Drain excess grease.
  • Stir in the GARLIC, DRIED OREGANO, PAPRIKA, and TOMATO PASTE. Saute a few minutes to meld the flavors, stirring as needed.
  • Deglaze the skillet by adding a splash of BROTH and scraping any browned bits from the bottom.
  • Stir in the remaining BROTH and the MACARONI NOODLES.
  • Bring just to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring often. Check the pasta. If you want it more tender and the liquid is low, add ½ cup water or more as needed, and continue simmering until the pasta softens to your liking.
    Note: Stir often to prevent the pasta from sticking to the skillet.
  • Add the MILK to the pan and stir to combine. Stir in the CHEDDAR CHEESE until melted and creamy. Season with SALT and PEPPER.
  • Remove from heat and serve warm garnished with FRESH PARSLEY.
  • To store, cool completely and refrigerate in an airtight container for up to five days.

Video

Notes

Pasta Choice: You can use any pasta you like, but be prepared to adjust the liquid and cooking time as needed.
Adjusting Consistency: If the mixture gets too thick while simmering, add a little more broth or water until it reaches your preferred consistency.
Sauce Thickness: The sauce will naturally thicken as the noodles absorb it, even if it seems a bit saucy at first.

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 321kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 44mg | Sodium: 788mg | Potassium: 434mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 299IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 2mg