Description
This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a quick, comforting one-pot meal featuring seasoned ground beef, tender elbow macaroni, and creamy cheddar cheese. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that mimics the classic boxed version but with fresh ingredients and better flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped
- 2 heaping tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- 2 cups freshly grated cheddar cheese
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onions: Add the ground beef and chopped onions to a soup pot and cook over medium-high heat. Break up the meat with a spoon as it cooks. Continue until the beef is browned, about 7-10 minutes. Remove excess fat if a lot accumulates.
- Add Seasonings: Stir in tomato paste, garlic powder, and chili powder until well combined with the beef mixture.
- Add Broth and Pasta: Pour in the beef broth and increase heat to high. When the mixture begins to boil, add the uncooked elbow macaroni.
- Simmer Pasta: Reduce heat to a rapid simmer (medium heat). Cook uncovered, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 13-15 minutes.
- Grate Cheese: While the pasta cooks, grate the cheddar cheese to save time.
- Finish with Cheese: Remove the pot from heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Let the dish sit for a couple of minutes to thicken and blend flavors before serving.
Notes
- You can adjust the seasoning by adding more chili powder for extra heat or more garlic powder for a stronger flavor.
- If the mixture becomes too thick after resting, you can stir in a splash of beef broth or water to loosen it.
- For a lower-fat version, use lean ground turkey instead of beef.
- Leftovers keep well in the refrigerator for 2-3 days and reheat nicely on the stovetop or microwave.
