Hamburger Helper is an easy stovetop dinner that the whole family will love. This homemade spin on the classic takes comfort food to a new level.
Many of you already know that my mom and her love of feeding us is the primary inspiration behind the name, Simple Joy. She really had this beautiful way of using food as a way of bringing us all around the table and sharing her love and care with us. It’s something that inspires me daily as I create recipes to share with all of you.
All of that said, my mom absolutely took short-cuts. She was a busy mom with three kids and I totally get it. Boxed meals didn’t happen often, but they sure did happen. I wonder a bit now, if she would have been excited if someone had given her my delicious homemade hamburger helper recipe.
I think she would have adored the fact that it comes together with ingredients she could easily keep on hand. She would have reveled in the fact that she could easily make it vegetarian by swapping out the ground beef for tofu. And she would have been elated that it all comes together in just 25 minutes.
I hope this recipe brings you and your family all the same delight that I know it would have brought her.
This Hamburger Helper recipe is VERY good. Thank you.
Hamburger Helper Ingredients
One of the best parts of making cheeseburger hamburger helper homemade is that the ingredients are super simple; many of them pantry staples. Be sure to see the recipe card for the full list and measurements.
- Ground beef: A higher fat content (like 80/20) works best because we use the grease from cooking the beef to cook the vegetables and create a roux. You could also sub ground turkey for a lighter option, but know you may have to add some olive oil since there won’t be as much grease as ground beef.
- Pasta: Elbow macaroni is the classic pasta of choice, but any small pasta such as shells or bowtie pasta would work.
- Tomato paste: This is just tomatoes that have been cooked and pureed, with no added sweetener or seasonings. It adds to the cheeseburger flavor of the dish that is part of the classic hamburger helper.
- Beef broth: Creates the base of the sauce while also adding savory flavor.
- Worcestershire sauce: Adds a savory flavor to elevate the sauce.
- Shredded cheese: Makes the sauce extra creamy and smooth. See my tip below about grating it yourself from a block.
Making a Roux
The creamy sauce in this recipe starts by making a roux. We use the grease from the ground beef as the fat source and add in flour. By slowly adding the beef broth to this mixture, we achieve a thick and smooth sauce that pulls the whole recipe together.
Be sure to fully whisk the flour into the pan so that you don’t get any taste of it. When you add the beef broth, start slow by adding just a few tablespoons at a time, allowing it to be mixed in before adding more. The more you add, the faster you can add it.
Shredding Cheese
For any recipe that calls for shredded cheese, I highly recommend buying a block of cheese and grating it yourself. Pre-shredded cheese is covered with preservatives that keep it from clumping together in the bag, but this also affects the taste of the cheese and prevents it from melting well. Trust me and take the time to shred it yourself, it melts and is so creamy in this homemade hamburger helper recipe!
Variations
- Swap out the meat. This could be made with ground turkey or ground chicken. Keep in mind that you will need to add some olive oil to make the roux as those meats will not render as much fat.
- Leave out the meat. In step 2 when we would brown the meat, heat two tablespoons of olive oil. Then add the onion and garlic, and proceed with the recipe as written.
- Add vegetables. When you add in the onion you could also add some finely shredded carrot. Finely chopped zucchini or belle peppers would be a great additions, and you could also add in some fresh spinach to wilt at the end. This would be a great way to add more nutrients to the dish.
- Make the recipe gluten-free. Swap the pasta for your favorite gluten free pasta and then swap the flour for almond flour. Almond flour in a roux doesn’t work quite as well as all purpose flour, but it does work.
Storing and Reheating Leftovers
Store any leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in a small skillet over low heat or in the microwave. You may need to add a splash of beef stock to thin it out if it looks dry, as it will absorb the sauce as it sits.
What to Serve with Hamburger Helper
When I have a main dish that is primarily pasta and meat, I like to make sure that I bring a lot of veggies to the table. Here are a few of our favorite options.
- Chopped Salad: This rounds out dinner really well, and my kids can totally get behind this one.
- Roasted Green Beans: They take minimal prep and are done in the oven in 30 minutes.
- Cucumber Tomato Salad: This delicious salad is a hit with my kids and takes only 15 minutes to make.
If you make this homemade hamburger helper recipe or any of my other recipes, please leave a comment and let me know. I love hearing from you!
Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound elbow macaroni see note 1 (453.59 grams)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt or 1/2 teaspoon table salt
- 1 pound ground beef 80/20 fat content, see note 2 (453.59 grams)
- 1 medium yellow onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt if you only have table salt, start with half the amount called for
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 tablespoons flour
- 1 cup beef broth chicken broth or vegetable broth will also work (226.8 grams)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup milk (236.59 grams)
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded (226 grams)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a roaring boil. Salt the water with kosher salt, and add the pasta. Cook the pasta to the lower end of the range listed on the box so it is al dente. Read all my tips for making pasta here: How to Cook Pasta.1 pound elbow macaroni
- In a large skillet over medium heat, add the ground beef breaking it up. Once the beef has just begun to brown, add in the onion and garlic cloves. Season with paprika, salt, and black pepper. Cook the mixture until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 to 7 minutes. (No need to drain off the grease from the beef.)1 pound ground beef, 1 medium yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- Add in the tomato paste and then whisk in the flour.2 tablespoons tomato paste, 2 tablespoons flour
- Slowly whisk in the beef stock and Worcestershire sauce. I like to add just a little bit at a time to make sure it is absorbed into the dish before adding more. The more you add, the more quickly you can add the rest. This whole process shouldn't take more than a minute or two. Stir in the milk and let the dish simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, being sure to scrape up what is at the bottom of the pan.1 cup milk, 1 cup beef broth
- Add the cheddar cheese, allowing it to melt into the dish. Taste the dish and add more salt and pepper as needed.2 cups cheddar cheese
- Stir in the cooked pasta, serve and enjoy.
Notes
- While I love elbow macaroni, any small pasta will work here. You can also use any gluten-free pasta that you love, keeping in mind that you will need to replace the flour for the roux with almond flour.
- Please note that you can swap the ground beef for ground turkey or a meat substitute. But if you do that you will need to add in some olive oil so that you can make the roux in step 3. A roux requires fat, and in this version the ground beef brings that.
Sally Thompson says
This Hamburger Helper recipe is VERY good. Thank you.
I’m so glad you liked it!
Kathleen Clarke says
Another winner Lisa! I just made this for the second time and it is so good, and very easy to pull it all together! It’s also total comfort food. I enjoy your site so much!
I’m so glad you like it as much as I do!
Mike Kurtz says
The recipe does not say how to cut or chop the onion. My assumption is diced 1/2″.
I apologize. It is corrected now.