One pot and under 30 minutes? Yes! This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a fast dinner option that’s satisfying, comforting, and so darn delicious.
It’s easier than I realized to recreate Hamburger Helper at home, or to just try a homemade version of this popular option if you’ve not had it before. This skillet meal is great for those nights when you want fewer pots to wash in an easy weeknight dinner—and also want a crowd-pleaser.
This pasta recipe for kids has it all: protein, comfort, cheesiness, and an easy method. You can add veggies if you want, you can swap in vegetarian ingredients to make this without meat, and you can make it ahead to serve it up at a later time.
(You may also like my Cheeseburger Pasta, which is also made in one-pot, and my Ground Beef Pasta, Chicken Cooked in Tomato Sauce, and this easy Pasta Salad with Chicken.)
Table of Contents
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Ingredients You Need
Here’s a look at the ingredients you need to make this recipe so you know what to have on hand or pick up from the store.
- Olive oil: I like to sauté ground beef in a little olive oil (or you can use butter) to ensure it doesn’t stick to the pan.
- Ground beef: You can use any type of ground beef you prefer. The only difference will be a potential need to drain the pan if you use a ground beef with a higher percentage of fat.
- Onion: I like to grate a small onion into the mixture to add flavor without having tiny pieces of onion in the mixture, which can be off putting to some kids.
- Tomato paste: This concentrated paste adds rich tomato flavor and helps the result taste like the classic Hamburger Helper recipe.
- Garlic powder and chili powder: A combination of these spices adds flavor (without heat) to the pasta and beef mixutre.
- Elbow macaroni: I love using this classic pasta shape in this dish so it looks like it always has and because this type of pasta cooks through really quickly.
- Beef broth: You can use regular or reduced-sodium beef broth to complement the flavor of the beef. This is what the pasta cooks in, so it adds a lot of flavor. Feel free to use chicken stock if that’s what you have.
- Shredded cheddar cheese: Shredded cheddar cheese is stirred into the pan towards the end of the process and helps the mixture be cheesy and delicious. You can use white or yellow cheddar, sharp or mild, according to what your family prefers.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Below is an overview of how to make this recipe so you know what to expect from the process. Scroll down to the end of the post for the full information, including amounts of ingredients and the timing.
- Set a large pot over medium heat. Cook the beef and onions.
- Stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt. Add the beef broth and bring to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until tender.
- Once the liquid is absorbed, remove the pot from the heat.
- Stir in the cheese to melt. Serve.
How to Store
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, sprinkle with water and cover with a plate or wax paper and warm for 30-60 seconds, stirring halfway through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this with a simple side of fruit or try my Cinnamon Apples, Fruit Cup, or Easy Roasted Broccoli.
Best Tips for Success
- Use lean ground beef if desired, or drain off any excess fat once the meat is done cooking.
- Add 8 ounces tomato sauce at the end of cooking for a more robust tomato flavor.
- Top with minced fresh parsley if desired.
- Use a favorite gluten-free pasta: the one from Barilla works particularly well in this recipe.
- Omit the beef to make this vegetarian and sub fully cooked brown lentils or a plant-based meat substitute.
- For another easy skillet meal, try my Skillet Lasagna.
Related Recipes
I’d love to hear your feedback on this recipe, so please comment below to share.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion (peeled and grated)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups pasta, such as elbow macaroni
- 1 quart beef broth (reduced sodium if desired)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Set a large pot over medium heat. Add the oil to warm. Then, add the beef and onions and cook until the beef has browned, about 8-10 minutes, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain any excess fat from the pot.
- Stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, chili powder, and salt.
- Add the beef broth and turn the heat to high. When it boils, reduce to medium so the liquid simmers with steady but calm bubbles. (So just not vigorously.)
- Add the pasta to the pot and stir gently.
- Cook until the pasta is just tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, or for about 14-16 minutes. It's OK if there's some liquid remaining, as it will be absorbed as the pasta sits.
- Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese to melt.
Video
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days. To reheat, sprinkle with water and cover with a plate or wax paper and warm for 30-60 seconds, stirring halfway through.
- Use lean ground beef if desired, or drain off any excess fat once the meat is done cooking.
- Add 1 cup finely diced mushrooms to the pan with the onion and beef to easily add a veggie.
- Add 8 ounces tomato sauce at the end of cooking for a more robust tomato flavor.
- Top with minced fresh parsley if desired.
This was a hit with my family. Better than the box!
This tasted like my childhood! AND I used your other tip and puréed onion, mushrooms, garlic, and a little bit of carrot ahead of time and froze a bunch of hamburger helper starters for when we don’t have the fresh veggies at home! It made this so easy and I felt like there was some great nutrition in it with a very nostalgic taste!
I’m so glad to hear that!
Wow! This tasted so good!!! I wasn’t expecting it to taste so fantastic with such simple ingredients. I didn’t have tomato paste at home but it still worked! I also added carrots and used vegan cheddar instead of real cheddar. Delicious, thank you so much!
My 21 month old ate more of this dish than any other I’ve prepared recently! We’ll be keeping this in the regular rotation, especially during the winter months. He couldn’t get enough. My husband and I loved it too, and for those who partake, it pairs beautifully with a bottle of red 🙂
I added mushrooms to the ground beef and I think it added a nice depth of flavor while also adding some extra veg. Win win!
So glad to hear it!
This was delish for the entire family!! It fed our family of 3 for 4 meals! It was so easy to make! Saving for future ❤️❤️❤️
Wow! This homemade hamburger helper was quick to make and delicious. My 2 year old ate more of this than he has any other pasta recipe we’ve tried. I also thought it was tasty and very nostalgic. Thanks for this great weeknight dinner idea!
I’m so glad to hear that!
Delicious recipe! I tasted it before I added 1/2 cup of heavy cream and it was delicious but I was craving some extra creamyness and I added it. It turned out really good! I also added shredded carrots to cook with the meat.
This was a huge hit! It worked equally as well with vegan cheese and Impossible “beef.”
I’m so glad!
We don’t have Hamburger Helper in Australia but nonetheless I made this for my 5yo boys – with additional grated zucchini and carrot – and it was flavoursome and tasty. Easy for me to make as well. Can highly recommend
Delicious- my picky toddler and (not at all picky) husband devoured it!
We’re going through a kitchen remodel so I only have my instant pot, which I used on med and high Sauté modes. Worked perfectly!
I’ve made a couple of “homemade hamburger helper” recipes and this was both the easiest and tasted the most like the box! I realized we didn’t have elbow macaroni at the point I was supposed to put it in the pot, so I subbed with two cups of penne. Worked great! A true 30-minute meal. One small thing – I don’t think the recipe instructions mention when to put in the pasta, unless I missed it (though I assumed you added it with the broth which worked out great).
would substituting your one pot vegetable broth in lieu of the beef broth work? trying to sneak in all the veg!
Absolutely!
Just made this and it is SO GOOD! we used taco seasoning instead of chili seasoning since that is what we had at home. Yes this is going to be staple at our house
I’m so glad to hear that!
Can you freeze this recipe?
Sure, just know that the pasta may soften a bit. After thawing, I’d sprinkle with water and cover with wax paper to warm through in the microwave.
This looks so good! Do you have any ideas to hide some extra veggies in there?
You could saute shredded carrots or zucchini in with the meat!
My favorite trick to add veggies to any ground beef recipe is to mix in finely chopped mushrooms (or pulse in food processor). Looks like beef and you can’t taste the difference!
Love that tip, thanks for sharing!