Description
Creamy, cheesy homemade hamburger helper brings nostalgic comfort straight from your kitchen to the dinner table. Packed with hearty ground beef, tender pasta, and rich seasonings, this classic one-pot meal delivers pure satisfaction for hungry families craving quick, delicious home cooking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Seasonings:
- 2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
Liquid and Binding:
- 1.5 cups beef broth
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, preparing for meat browning.
- Add ground beef to the skillet, breaking it into small crumbles using a wooden spatula, cooking until no pink remains and edges become golden brown, approximately 6-8 minutes.
- Sprinkle salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika directly over the browned meat, stirring thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Pour tomato paste into the skillet, mixing well with the seasoned meat to create a rich, deep flavor profile.
- Add elbow macaroni and beef broth to the skillet, stirring to combine and ensure pasta is fully submerged in liquid.
- Reduce heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and simmer for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Check pasta for al dente texture, then pour in milk and stir gently to create a creamy consistency.
- Sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the surface, turning off heat and allowing residual warmth to melt the cheese completely.
- Let the mixture rest for 2-3 minutes to allow sauce to thicken and flavors to meld together.
- Serve hot, directly from the skillet, enjoying the homemade comfort dish with its rich, cheesy goodness.
Notes
- Customize seasoning by adjusting spice levels to match personal taste preferences, adding more or less garlic powder and paprika for desired flavor intensity.
- Swap ground beef with ground turkey or plant-based meat alternatives for a leaner or vegetarian version of this classic comfort dish.
- Use gluten-free elbow macaroni to make the recipe suitable for those with gluten sensitivities, ensuring everyone can enjoy this hearty meal.
- Reserve extra beef broth nearby during cooking to prevent pasta from drying out, adding small amounts if mixture becomes too thick or starts sticking to the pan.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch, Snacks
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg