Homemade Hamburger Helper

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My Homemade Hamburger Helper is easy to make, requires no fancy ingredients, is ready in 30 minutes, and is a meal the whole family will love. Learn how to make hamburger helper at home for an easy weeknight dinner idea!

a plate piled high with hamburger helper and garnished with parsley

Homemade Hamburger Helper

If you’ve been wondering how to make hamburger helper, I’m going to teach you everything you need to know!

This is probably one of my kid’s favorite meals. I mean, they could eat my hamburger helper recipe for breakfast, lunch, snack, and dinner — along with pancakes, pizza, and pb&j. My kids are normal, right??

Full of tender ground beef, cheddar cheese, tomato sauce, and pasta, I’m happy to introduce my hamburger helper homemade edition! Not only do my kids love it, but it’s also a reader favorite and is one of the top recipes here on Countryside Cravings.

One reader, Michelle, says “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.”

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!”

Some other reader favorites are these Homemade Chewy Brownies, Crispy Oven Fried Chicken Thighs, and Irish Soda Bread.

Why You’ll Love This Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

  • Ready in 30 minutes
  • Homemade so you control what goes into it
  • Budget-friendly
  • Uses easy-to-find ingredients you probably already have on hand
  • Will take you back to your childhood!
  • Can add in additional veggies for extra nutrition
  • It’s a true one-pot meal which means easy clean up
ingredients needed to make homemade hamburger helper recipe

Key Ingredients to Make My Hamburger Helper Recipe

  • GROUND BEEF – You can also substitute with ground turkey if you’d like.
  • ONION – Sauté it up along with the beef and spices for maximum flavor.
  • SPICES – I swear by paprika, parsley, garlic powder, and cayenne pepper for this hamburger helper recipe!
  • MILK – Feel free to use broth if you don’t have milk on hand.
  • BEEF BROTH – You can also use chicken broth if you prefer.
  • ELBOW MACARONI – For the ultimate hamburger helper homemade recipe that will take you back to your childhood! You can also use a similar pasta shape instead.
  • TOMATO SAUCE – For added savory flavor.
  • CHEDDAR CHEESE – It’s always best to grate your own cheese. The pre-shredded kind is coated in anti-caking agents and doesn’t melt as well. I’m a Tillamook cheese fan, and it’s perfect for this dish!
making homemade hamburger helper recipe. Pictures of browned ground beef and adding in the pasta

How To Make Hamburger Helper

COOK THE GROUND BEEF: Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the ground beef, onion, paprika, parsley, garlic powder, cayenne powder, salt, and pepper.

If using ground beef with higher fat content, add in the seasonings after draining the grease.

INCORPORATE THE OTHER INGREDIENTS: Stir in the milk, broth, macaroni, and tomato sauce. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer.

how to make hamburger helper in a cast iron skillet with cheddar cheese

ALLOW IT TO COOK: Cook your homemade hamburger helper for 10-12 minutes or until pasta is tender. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.

ADD THE CHEESE: Stir in cheddar cheese until melted.

top down view of hamburger helper homemade in a cast iron skillet

Substitutions and Variations for Making Hamburger Helper Homemade

  • Feel free to add in extra vegetables! Grated zucchini, grated carrot, peas, spinach, and 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.
holding a plate with homemade hamburger helper

FAQs

Can I freeze homemade hamburger helper?

No, it is not recommended to freeze this dish as the pasta gets too mushy.

How to store leftover hamburger helper?

Store cooled hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

How to reheat hamburger helper?

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.

Do you need ground beef for hamburger helper?

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.

What to Serve With Homemade Hamburger Helper

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.

close up of homemade hamburger helper in a skillet

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A plate piled high with hamburger helper and garnished with parlsey.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Course: Main Dish, Pasta
Cuisine: American
Keyword: easy hamburger helper, hamburger helper, healthier hamburger helper
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is just as easy as the store bought stuff but a whole lot healthier! An easy ground beef recipe that both adults and kids love!
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 25 minutes
Servings: 6
Calories: 479kcal
Author: Malinda Linnebur
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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
  • cups (355ml) milk
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Stir in cheddar cheese until melted.

Video

Notes

  1. If using whole wheat elbow pasta you may need to add more liquid while cooking.  
  2. STORAGE: Store cooled hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. 
  3. Nutrition Facts: Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the information shown is just an estimate.
What to serve with this Homemade Hamburger Helper:
  • Steamed vegetable of choice
  • Simple side salad
  • Fresh fruit of choice
  • Or buttered bread

Nutrition

Serving: 1.25cup (about) | Calories: 479kcal | Carbohydrates: 40g | Protein: 34g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 538mg | Potassium: 555mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 640IU | Vitamin C: 1.3mg | Calcium: 365mg | Iron: 2.9mg

477 thoughts on “Homemade Hamburger Helper”

  1. 5 stars
    I made this for the first time tonight for dinner and it is so, so good! The ingredients are pretty basic but when they combine it’s magical! It was a big hit and my 12-year-old said it was the best thing I’ve ever made! I wouldn’t change a thing; will definitely be putting this one in the regular rotation! Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply
  2. 5 stars
    We love this with a salad for a quick and easy meal! I have made it with both tomato sauce and canned tomatoes from the garden. Delicious both ways! So much better than store bought hamburger helper !

    Reply
  3. Trying this for the first time tonight, but I am using 2lbs of ground beef, so should add more liquid and seasonings? Thanks for any feed back.

    Reply
    • I don’t think you will need to add more liquid but you may need more seasonings. Sorry I didn’t answer your question sooner!

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    Thanks so much for sharing! My husband and I were just talking about trying to make Helper without the box for a healthier, lower sodium option! This recipe delivered. I added some sauteed carrots and celery, otherwise followed the rest. It’s now in the rotation

    Reply
  5. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! It tastes identical to the hamburger helper of my childhood. I actualy added some shredded carrots, zucchuni and spinach to make it a little healther and it was beautiful. I also used crushed tomatoes instead of tomato sauce (because I had no sauce) and half and half instead of milk because I ran out!

    Reply
  6. 5 stars
    Definately going in the regular rotation. Added a few slices of bacon I had left over otherwise I made it the same as above. Wife and I both ate more than we should have in 1 sitting. Thabk You.

    Reply
  7. 5 stars
    Great! Added mushrooms because I had them in the fridge. Flavor is great and tastes just like the boxed stuff but better! Will make again!

    Reply
  8. 5 stars
    this was unbelievably good! i made with ground impossible burger. my husband and i really loved it. thanks for this wonderful recipe!

    Reply
  9. 4 stars
    I had never made a one-pot pasta before. I tried this recipe and it came together like a charm: comforting, warm, and a perfect balance of sauciness. I will make it again!

    Reply
  10. 5 stars
    I will NEVER make the box stuff again! My son has always loved Hamburger Helper but after I made this recipe he started asking for this homemade hamburger helper. Delicious!!

    Reply
  11. Perfect comfort food. I substituted unsweetened almond milk for milk, smoked chipotle for paprika, and parmesan for cheddar (just what we had or didn’t have) and it was still amazing.

    Reply
  12. 4 stars
    You may have to adjust the milk and broth. Instead of 1-1/2 cups, maybe 1-1/4 cups depending if you like a little thicker sauce

    Reply
  13. 5 stars
    I love this homemade hamburger because my family and I can enjoy it in our diner. My kids can’t recognize how many vegetables I added. My wife and I prefer healthy ingredients, so I add organic ingredients. Commercial hamburgers can be found in any supermarket or food stalls, but they’re not healthy and safe. Thank you for your sharing!

    Reply
  14. 5 stars
    I made it last night and the family really loved it. I made a few adjustments – doubled the recipe, double the tomato juice/sauce just because I had some extra that needed to be finished off and reduced other liquid accordingly. No changes to the spices, but used almost 1/2 tsp cayenne. Little hint of spice for me, but not too much – 2 others added hot sauce because they like it spicier then I do. Will make again. Thanks.

    Reply

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