Description
This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe offers a flavorful, comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, and melty cheddar cheese. Easy to prepare with pantry staples, it’s perfect for a quick family dinner that rivals the boxed version but with fresh ingredients and customizable options.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80-85% lean)
- 1 cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
Spices and Sauces
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Liquids and Pasta
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked (8 ounces by weight)
Cheese
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat the oil and brown beef: Heat the olive oil in a heavy pot such as a Dutch oven or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and chopped onion and cook, breaking up the beef, until browned. Drain excess grease as needed.
- Add seasonings and broth: Stir in tomato paste, paprika, oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper until well combined. Then pour in the beef broth and stir to combine.
- Cook the pasta: Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni. Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to maintain a moderate simmer. Cover the pot and cook for about 12 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent pasta from sticking, until pasta is tender and sauce is slightly thickened but still saucy.
- Add cheese and serve: Remove from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use 80-85% lean ground beef for maximum flavor and juiciness.
- Add finely chopped vegetables like carrots, bell peppers, or celery when browning beef to increase nutrition and flavor.
- Stir in frozen peas or fresh spinach during the last minutes of cooking for added greens.
- For a lighter broth flavor, substitute half the beef broth with water.
- Make the dish creamier by replacing 1 to 1 ½ cups of broth with whole milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
