Homemade Hamburger Helper
My Homemade Hamburger Helper is easy to make, requires no fancy ingredients, ready in 30 minutes, and is a meal the whole family will love.
We also love this Creamy Taco Soup and Homemade Sloppy Joes for quick and easy meals!
I originally published this recipe in 2014 and have since added new photos and some success tips.
One reader, Anna says “I’ve made this recipe numerous times. We absolutely love it. My twist is adding a splash of Worcestershire sauce.”
Another reader, Rob says “Whole family loved this meal. It was so quick and easy to make and even my fussiest eater cleared his plate!”
Substitutions and Variations for Making Hamburger Helper
Feel free to add in extra vegetables! Grated zucchini, grated carrot, peas, spinach, and fresh tomatoes are all great options for this hamburger helper recipe.
Change up the flavor using different spices or add more. Also, if you don’t like some of the spices listed in the ingredients, feel free to leave them out.
Don’t like cheddar cheese? No problem — this recipe works great with Pepper Jack, Monterey Jack, or any easy-to-melt cheese.
Readers have used other shapes of pasta without needing to change the liquids.
This recipe also works great with ground turkey or chicken instead of beef. One reader even used lentils for a unique plant-based hamburger helper homemade version.
Brief Overview on How to Make Hamburger Helper
I love how simple and easy it is to make hamburger helper! When browning ground beef, I like to add the seasonings to help awaken their flavor.
However, if you have really fatty beef, I suggest waiting until you drain off the grease before adding in the seasonings so you don’t pour off all those delicious herbs and spices.
Be sure to brown the ground beef really well because this will also add more flavor to the meat and overall dish. It caramelizes the meat and makes it so delicious!
PRO TIP: After you stir in the pasta and let it simmer if the liquid is evaporating too quickly, feel free to add more as needed.
FAQs
No, it is not recommended to freeze this dish as the pasta gets too mushy.
While this tastes best fresh, reheat on the stovetop and add a little broth. Reheat over low heat, stirring constantly to prevent burning. You can also reheat this in a microwave if preferred.
A traditional homemade hamburger helper recipe will call for ground beef, but as you discovered above, that’s not the only option! You could also use ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a plant-based protein like lentils.
Serving Suggestions:
My homemade hamburger helper recipe is a great stand alone dish, especially if you have added in extra vegetables. However, it is great with a simple side salad and these Buttermilk Biscuits too!
I have also served it with these Simple Roasted Green Beans which are one of my kid’s favorite vegetables.
And if you are looking for something sweet to add alongside this retro dish, this Creamy Key Lime Fruit Salad is perfect.
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound (500g) lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- pinch to ½ teaspoon cayenne powder
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1½ cups (355ml) milk
- 1½ cups (355ml) beef broth
- 2 cups (260g) elbow macaroni, uncooked
- 1 (8oz) (227g) can tomato sauce
- 2 cups (225g) shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef, onion, paprika, parsley, garlic powder, cayenne powder, salt and pepper. If using a ground beef with a higher fat content add in the seasonings after draining the grease.1 pound (500g) lean ground beef, 1 small onion, finely chopped, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, pinch to ½ teaspoon cayenne powder, salt and pepper to taste
- Stir in the milk, broth, macaroni and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, cover and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.1½ cups (355ml) milk, 1½ cups (355ml) beef broth, 2 cups (260g) elbow macaroni, uncooked, 1 (8oz) (227g) can tomato sauce
- Stir in cheddar cheese until melted.2 cups (225g) shredded cheddar cheese
Video
Notes
- If using whole wheat elbow pasta you may need to add more liquid while cooking.
- STORAGE: Store cooled hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- Nutrition Facts: Nutrition is calculated for the entire batch. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate. This website is not intended as nutritional advice, or a diet or health plan. Readers of this website are ultimately responsible for all decisions pertaining to their health.
This was great – an easy meal on a busy day. I made it with ground turkey, which I happened to have on hand, and my own frozen roasted tomato puree from last summer. I also added a little frozen corn in the final cooking stages. Next time I will try adding some frozen crushed kale from the garden freezer bounty! It’s very easy to modify the recipe to include more veggies. Would be great with mushrooms too. As another person mentioned, the milk does separate (curdle) a bit when you add it (likely due to tomato and onion acidity), but this does not matter one bit. Once it cooks down to the point that the macaroni is done, and then you add the cheese, you would not know it. I also added a mix of half cheddar and half mozzarella.
Thank you very much! And I too love adding in extra veggies!
This is the WORST recipe. Please save the time and trouble, I cook a lot and this is HORRIBLE. Im not even sorry.
I am sorry you feel that way! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
This recipe is great, just as it is. I’ve made it so many times in the last few months. Sometimes I add diced tomatoes because my family loves them. But this is a fantastic take on cheeseburger Mac Hamburger Helper. No clue what that other commenter is saying. It’s delicious! ♥️
Thank you very much for your kind words Chrissy!! SO glad you like the hamburger helper!
The link to printing the recipe just pulls up another page. 🙁
It will bring up the print page where you can choose whether you want to include the recipe photo, nutrition, etc. Then you can click print. Hope that helps.
This was super good and easy and we already had all the ingredients!
Thank you so much! So glad you liked it!
Very good. I made it tonight and the family liked it. It is easy to make.
Thank you very much!
I LOVE this recipe and so does my family who constantly ask me to make it. I usually add spinach, 1 can of diced petite tomatoes, half paprika and half smoked and tiger seasoning. I always add fresh garlic and green peppers as well. I have not made the boxed stuff in years. It is really gross to me now that I have this.
It was really good! I made this for my husband and daughter and everyone loved it! I recommend
Thank you very much!! I really appreciate it!
I have to say, this was fabulous. My Wife and I do a lot of cooking and it was nice not to invent tonite. We used our own ground beef. I’m super impressed.
Thank you very much!! I am so glad you enjoyed it!
Easy and delicious meal!
Thank you very much!
Can I use organic ground beef?
Yes you can!
I have made this many times!! Great recipe! ☺️😋 Add some sour cream !
Thank you very much and my kids love adding in sour cream too!!
Hearty and delicious but I doubled the spices and added 2 cloves garlic and can of diced tomatoes
Glad I did it would have been bland
Glad you were able to change it to suit your tastes! Thanks for sharing!
Not a fan of paprika, any substitute suggestions?
You can leave it out if you prefer.
We make this at least once a month. Delicious. Thank you for the recipe.
Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it!
I had my doubts as I was making this, but it was a big hit with my picky husband and toddler. This is going in the weekly rotation.
Thank you SO much!! I really appreciate your comment!!
Great recipes. Simple yet fantastic . Easy to make yet tasty on palate. Thank you so much!
Thank you very very much!! I greatly appreciate your comment!!
Milk curdled instantly. Too much acid
This is one of our go to meals, even our picky 5 year old loves it! I’ve recently gone gluten free, have you tried it with gluten free noodles?
Hi, Jennifer! I am so sorry no one has responded to your comments. I know some readers have used gluten free pasta with this recipe but they didn’t specify if they made any changes. I am sorry I couldn’t be of more help!!
Like most recipes, prep time is much longer…. by the time I pull out all ingredients, chop, measure, etc. Much longer More like 15 minutes prep time.Also too much liquid. I even reduced by 1/4 cup for each
Love hamburger helper but this is better for you. I use low salt to no salt ingredients and throw what vegetables I have. I so glad I stubble on this recipe
Thank you very much!!!