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Cue all of the nostalgic feelings because Hamburger Helper is making a comeback — and this One-Pot Hamburger Helper is just as good as the boxed version and a little bit better for you.
Raise your hands if you grew up on Hamburger Helper! My mom made it all the time when I was a kid and I think we can all agree that stuff is freaking delicious. This homemade version has all the same flavors of that nostalgic dish, but is made with nourishing ingredients that will make you feel good. It’s also such a great option for when you just don’t have time to think or cook dinner!
Plus, it doesn’t take any longer to make than the boxed version! For families that have picky eaters, this dish may just be the answer to your prayers.
ingredients:
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Ground Beef
- Yellow Onion
- Garlic Powder
- Paprika
- Kosher Salt
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Chili Powder
- Tomato Paste
- Dried Elbow Pasta
- Beef Broth
- Milk
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Fresh Parsley
step-by-step:
step one: cook the beef
Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or pot set over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onions, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook, breaking up the ground beef with the back of a spoon, until the beef is cooked through, no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of excess fat, if needed.
step two: add the tomato paste
Add the tomato paste and stir to combine.
step three: cook the pasta
Add the pasta, beef broth, and milk and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until pasta is tender, stirring very often, until most of the liquid has absorbed and the pasta is al dente, 12 to 15 minutes.
step four: fold in the cheesy and herbs
Remove from heat and fold in the cheese. Garnish with parsley, if using. Serve and enjoy!
recipe faqs:
You can substitute the two cups of milk with almond milk or use four cups of beef broth instead. You can also omit the cheddar cheese altogether.
Heat the mixture in a large skillet set over medium heat. Add about 1/4 cup of beef broth to rehydrate the noodles, depending on how much you’re reheating, until the noodles are tender and you reach your desired consistency.
So here we have it—a one-pot, easy, and delicious One-Pot Hamburger Helper that your kids will love!
looking for more one-pot recipes? try these!
One-Pot Hamburger Helper Beef Stroganoff
One-Pot Spaghetti-O’s with Mini Meatballs
One-Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/2 cup finely diced yellow onion
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 12 ounced dried elbow pasta, such as Jovial Brown Rice Pasta
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, optional
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large, deep skillet or pot set over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, onions, garlic powder, paprika, salt, pepper, and chili powder. Cook, breaking up the ground beef with the back of a spoon, until the beef is cooked through, no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain off all but 2 tablespoons of excess fat, if needed.
- Add the tomato paste and stir to combine.
- Add the pasta, beef broth and milk and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook until pasta is tender, stirring very often, until most of the liquid has absorbed and the pasta is al dente, 12 to 15 minutes.
- Remove from heat and fold in the cheese. Garnish with parsley, if using. Serve and enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Photography by Eat Love Eats.
This was easy to whip up for lunch for my hungry teens and it was tasty too. We had plenty of leftovers so I am curious to see how they heat up (i.e. if it will be dry). I don’t want to be one of those people that adds and subtracts multiple ingredients until the recipe is unrecognizable, but I was contemplating adding a little cream cheese next time or maybe half milk, half cream. I felt like I wanted a little more umph with it, but will definitely make it again as-is if those things don’t turn out well.
Hi Amy!! I recommend heating on the stovetop with 1/4 cup – 1/2 cup of chicken broth to rehydrate the pasta! Works like a charm!
Really easy and super tasty! Comes together so quickly and is way better than the hamburger helper I remember as a kid!
I had to comment on this because it’s perfect. So easy to make and it tastes just like the boxed hamburger helper from my childhood. I don’t typically eat that stuff anymore so I was so stoked to find this recipe and excited to give it to my son. Another Alex recipe well done, thank you!
Thank you so much, Kara!
This did not turn out. I have no clue what happened seeing as I followed this recipe to a science. I didn’t stray from anything. It didn’t turn out creamy. It wasn’t cheesy. It was flavorless… not sure what these reviews are. Just tasted like boiled meat.
Hi Erica! Hmm I am wondering what could have happened here as this typically turns out great for people!
Mine was like that too. I doubled tomato paste and seasoning and added about 1/2 cup extra beef broth… it still didn’t taste like box hamburger helped but it made it have some taste!
Thoughts on subbing beef brother for chicken broth?
yes that will work just fine!
Wow! This was so creamy and I barely added any cheese, I got nervous I was doing something wrong but it came together beautifully at the end. I threw in some spinach for some greenery!
Can I get the nutritional information on this recipe please?
I just added it to the bottom of the recipe!
The milk always cartels… normal?
If your milk is curdling- I think you are cooking at too high of heat and it’s simmering too high. It should just be lightly simmering. The other thing that can help- is let your milk get to room temp before adding. If it’s ice cold and going straight into the bubbling mixture it could curdle more easily.
Yum!
Can you freeze these leftovers?