This easy, cheesy homemade hamburger helper recipe is a one-pot meal ready in just 30 minutes! Every bite features tender pasta and savory ground beef smothered in a rich, creamy tomato and cheese sauce. This homemade version brings all the nostalgic flavors of the boxed kind, but with a richer, fresher taste!
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Test Kitchen Review
Why We Love This Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Forget the boxed version — this homemade Hamburger Helper is bursting with fresh flavors and creamy goodness! Jorge and I have very fond memories of hamburger helper, as the boxed kind was one of our staple dinners when we first got married. We quickly figured out we could make it taste so much better from scratch and have made it this way ever since! Here’s why we think you will love this easy recipe too:
- Oh-So-Creamy: Made fresh with heavy cream and real cheddar cheese, the lusciously creamy homemade cheese sauce is what sets this hamburger helper recipe apart.
- Just As Quick & Easy: Just like the boxed version, everything is cooked together in a single skillet and ready in 30 minutes. Yay for easy cleanup!
- Affordable: This budget friendly recipe utilizes pantry staples and affordable ingredients to keep it easy on your wallet.
- Hearty: This is one of those great stick-to-your-ribs dinner that is so good everyone wants seconds. Our kids are always fighting over the last bite!
Prefer to use your instant pot? Check out my instant pot hamburger helper! You may also love our copycat hamburger helper stroganoff recipe!
Key Ingredients
Below you will find helpful notes for key ingredients used to make this homemade hamburger helper recipe. Scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredient list and exact amounts!
- Ground Beef: I prefer lean ground beef, but any ground meat, like ground turkey or chicken, will work! If you use a fattier cut, drain any excess grease.
- All-Purpose Flour: See the ‘Cook’s Notes’ section below for a gluten free option.
- Small Pasta Shells: This recipe also works well with elbow macaroni noodles. Just make sure to use a small bite-sized pasta for the best pasta to sauce ratio.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream will give you the creamiest results, however you can use half and half or even evaporated milk.
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese: For best results, I recommend using freshly shredded cheese versus the bagged pre-shredded cheese. The bagged cheese has anti-caking agents on it that will thicken the sauce more than desired. If you do use it, you may want to add a little extra cream or broth to thin out the sauce!
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
This homemade version is ready in just a few quick steps! Have all your ingredients out and ready to go as this dish moves fast. Below is a quick recipe overview, but please scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post for full instructions and to watch the step-by-step video.
- Beef: Brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Set cooked ground beef aside, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease in the skillet.
- Sauté: Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic for the last 30 seconds.
- Roux: Add the flour and stir to cook for about 1 minute to make the roux for the cheese sauce. Slowly stir in the beef broth and bring to a boil.
- Pasta: Add the tomato sauce, seasonings, and pasta, stirring to combine. Place the lid on top and simmer for 15 minutes, until the pasta is tender.
- Cream: Add in the cream and cheese and stir until all the cheese is melted.
- Add Beef: Add the ground beef back in and cook for 5 minutes until warmed through.
- Enjoy: Season to taste with salt and pepper and serve immediately!
Chef’s Tips and Variations
- Different Cheeses: While cheddar cheese is traditional, sometimes I like to switch it up. Feel free to experiment with different cheeses like mozzarella, Monterey Jack, smoked gouda, white cheddar or even pepper jack for a little kick.
- Spicy: Add crushed red pepper flakes or hot sauce for mild heat, or cayenne pepper for a good punch of heat. I also make a Tex-Mex version with an added can of the hot version of Rotel!
- Add Veggies: Sneak in some extra nutrition by adding finely chopped carrots, spinach, or peas to the dish.
- Sour Cream: Many readers have commented that you can stir in a 1/2 cup of sour cream at the end, right before serving, for an even creamier sauce!
- Make Double: Feeding a crowd or large family? Use a large deep sided pot (like a Dutch oven) to double, or even triple, this hamburger helper recipe.
- Gluten Free: Use your favorite gluten free pasta and swap the flour for cornstarch. Most gluten free pasta needs a little longer to cook with a little extra broth, so keep this in mind. Once the pasta is cooked, whisk 2 teaspoons cornstarch into 1 tablespoon of water and stir it into the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes, until thickened and continue with the recipe.
What to Serve with Hamburger Helper?
This hearty cheeseburger hamburger helper recipe doesn’t require sides, it’s filling enough on it’s own! However, I like to serve it with a side salad, like my favorite Greek salad or refreshing cucumber tomato salad. To get some extra greens in, these sautéed green beans or sautéed Brussel sprouts are great on the side. Don’t forget a slice of garlic bread, or some homemade garlic knots, to soak up the sauce!
How To Store Leftovers?
- Fridge: Just like the original, this homemade hamburger helper recipe is best served fresh. However, you can store the cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days! They just won’t be as saucy once reheated.
- Reheat: Reheat in the microwave, or on the stovetop, with a splash of cream or broth to try to bring back the creamy texture.
Depending on the type of noodles, your skillet, and how high you turn up the heat, you may need to add a little extra broth. If your noodles are not cooked through and you’re running out of liquid, add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup broth as needed.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, or chicken broth
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 oz small pasta shells, or small elbow pasta (Keep in mind 8 oz is half of a normal 1lb box of pasta.)
- ½ cup heavy cream, or half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- salt and pepper, to taste
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Instructions
- In a large sauté pan with a lid, brown the ground beef over medium high heat. Remove cooked ground beef from pan and set aside, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan.
- Lower the heat to medium and add the onion. Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic for the last 30 seconds.
- Add the flour and stir to cook for about 1 minute, slowly stir in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder and pasta, stirring to combine. Bring to a simmer, cover with lid and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. If your noodles are not cooked through and you're running out of liquid, add an extra 1/4 to 1/2 cup broth as needed.
- Add in the cream and cheese and stir until all the cheese melted. Add back in ground beef, cook for 2 to 3 minutes more to re-heat ground beef and serve immediately!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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Literally amazing!! never going back to box again. grated fresh cheddar but didn’t use all 2 cups , loved the taste! added a smidge more broth
I’m always looking for easy recipes for dinner after a long, busy day. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy this was to make. It took about 30 minutes from beginning to end. It was a hit, and there were no leftovers! This recipe could easily be adapted to add more veggies to the mix. I will definitely make it again!
Super good! The only thing I suggest that I will change the next time I make this recipe is to not put as much cheese. But this was a big hit in my household!
Fantastic!!! Made as directed. Wonderful comfort food right before the Santa Claus parade.
Awesome! Perfect recipe!
this was SO good, I had people going back for 3rds! I made a double batch and am so excited for the leftovers – thank you!
So yummy!!
This was awesome! My hubby absolutely loved it. I do wonder can leftovers be frozen?
Hi Beth, sadly it doesn’t freeze well, the cream sauce and pasta will both change textures once frozen and thawed again. Glad y’all enjoyed it as much as we do!
what could you use instead of Italian seasoning ?
It adds a herby flavor, you can skip it or add a pinch of each of the herbs used in Italian Seasoning: dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried marjoram, dried thyme and red pepper flakes.
My husbands go to was boxed hamburger helper before meeting me and he actually liked the meal. So I was really excited to find a healthier option that still allowed me to give him one of the meals he grew up eating and loves. It was easy and turned out better than any boxed hamburger helper! Thank you!
Can I use medium shells? I’m doubling the recipe so how much to use?
Hi Sierra, yes you can use medium shells. If you are doubling the recipe, you will use double everything… so 16 oz (1lb) box of pasta.
This was so nostalgic and absolutely delicious. We don’t eat processed food and this brought us back to an old childhood favorite without the chemicals. Next time I’ll be less glutinous and eat less with some salad. Thank you!
Easy home cooked meal for the whole family. I added frozen corn at the end when returning the ground beef. Gave it a little something extra.
I tried the OG recipe and it was good, 2nd time I made it I used 1TB on the seasoning and 3/4cup heavy cream, substituted the tomato sauce for just a can of tomato soup as I didn’t have it this go around,and it came out much tastier. Also used alot of pepper while cooking the ground beef.
Just my twist on it but I found the original recipe to be a little bland in flavour.
Can you use cream cheese instead of a liquid cream?
Hi Xander, I have not personally tried it, but it should work. You will likely need to add a little more extra broth when melting the cream cheese to get the right texture!
Quick, cheap and delicious!!! I’ve made this recipe as written and it’s delicious. This evening I subbed whole milk for cream. Used a small onion and added a small green bell pepper. I did a mix of dried oregano and basil instead of Italian seasoning and 2 extra cloves garlic instead of garlic powder and it was a hit.
Excellent base recipe that is infinitely customizable. So good with a big green salad on a busy week night.
Yummy! Not much to look at but very tasty! I just used milk in place of heavy cream and it worked just fine!
Yes Carrie I wanted to ask a question please I noticed that a lot of of your recipes call for Italian seasoning do you use a certain kind to make your recipes taste better I wanted to know or is store brand ok thank you Wendy
Hey Wendy! It’s a very standard spice blend, any brand will work just fine!
This was delicious! My husband commented that he’d like to have this monthly! haha looking forward to more of your tasty recipes! Thank you! 🙂
Glad you both enjoyed it Elise! 🙂
This came out delicious, and so easy to make! You can use this as a base & swap out things for your liking, ie: pasta shape, protein type, sharp vs mild cheese.
Can I use milk instead of cream?
Yes, it will just be less creamy!
This was so good! My whole family loves it! My three year old called it dirty noodles but he still enjoyed it! lol will add to our weekly rotation. ❤️
Cracking up at dirty noodles, glad y’all enjoyed it Shelbie!
Delicious! I used a 15 oz. can of tomato sauce as that’s what I had. Used chickpea pasta, I blended cottage cheese with a little milk as I didn’t have cream, and used tapioca flour. Even with all those substitutions, it came out great! I’ll make this again. I might throw in some bell peppers next time if I have any around.
I doubled the recipe, did one large onion and one bell pepper…turned out great!