Yield: 4 servings
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ready in 30 minutes and with just one-pot, this easy and extra cheesy Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is sure to be a new family favorite! Every bite features tender pasta and savory ground beef smothered in a rich, creamy tomato and cheese sauce.
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!
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Notes
Storage: Since the noodles will soak up the broth once stored, this cheeseburger macaroni recipe is best served fresh. However, the leftovers are still tasty for lunch the next day. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat: Reheat on the stove or in the microwave. Add a splash of broth and/or heavy cream to bring back its creaminess.
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 the flour for the 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 on with the recipe.
Spicy: Want to add some heat? You can add some crushed red pepper flakes for mild heat, or cayenne pepper for a good punch of heat! I have also made a Tex-Mex version where I stir in a can of the Hot version of Rotel!
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Nutrition
Serving: 1 serving, Calories: 738kcal, Carbohydrates: 52g, Protein: 49g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 9g, Trans Fat: 0.4g, Cholesterol: 160mg, Sodium: 1261mg, Potassium: 910mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1137IU, Vitamin C: 3mg, Calcium: 461mg, Iron: 4mg