Homemade Hamburger Helper
A comforting and budget-friendly one-pot meal featuring creamy, cheesy goodness, hearty ground beef, and perfectly cooked pasta.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead.
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 tbsp tomato paste
- 2 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1¼ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp ground mustard
- 2 cups pasta (like elbow) Any small pasta shape can be used.
- 3½ cups beef broth Use gluten-free broth if needed.
- 2½ cups cheddar cheese, shredded Other melty cheeses can be substituted.
Instructions
Cooking
- Begin by heating a large pot over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and use your spoon to break it up. Cook until it's partially browned.
- Toss in the diced onion, continuing to break up the beef until it is thoroughly cooked.
- Sprinkle in all your seasonings and mix in the tomato paste until well combined.
- Pour in the pasta and beef broth, giving everything a good stir to combine.
- Lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it cook for about 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the pasta is tender, remove the pot from the heat and fold in the cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Enjoy your comforting bowl of Homemade Hamburger Helper!
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of beef broth as needed.