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    You are here: Crunchy Creamy Sweet / Dinner / Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Published: Mar 30, 2020 · Modified: Sep 10, 2022 by Anna 3 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    This homemade Hamburger Helper is a one-pot casserole made with ground meat, macaroni and cheese. It's healthier than the boxed version and quick and easy to make!

    Macaroni with beef in a stainless steel skillet.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • Ingredients:
    • How to make homemade hamburger helper?
    • Variations:
    • Recipe FAQs:
    • More easy casserole dinners:
    • Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Easy pasta dinners you can make in one skillet are the best for busy, hectic or stressful days. This homemade Hamburger Helper is my version of the popular boxed pasta meal. I haven't bought one in years, because making it from scratch is so much better. You only need a few ingredients that most likely are already in your pantry. I hope you love it!

    Ingredients:

    • ground meat: beef or turkey; leanest you can get
    • vegetables: yellow onion and garlic
    • spices: chili powder, ground cumin
    • tomato sauce: adds tomato flavor to the sauce
    • elbow macaroni: the classic pasta for this dish
    • water, chicken, or beef stock: necessary for cooking pasta
    • cheddar cheese: any kind, I used sharp

    How to make homemade hamburger helper?

    • Saute onion and garlic in olive oil, in a deep skillet.
    • Add ground meat and cook until done.
    • Add seasoning and tomato sauce. Stir well.
    • Add macaroni.
    • Add liquids and bring to a boil.
    • Cover and simmer until pasta is cooked.
    • Stir in cheese and sour cream if desired.

    Variations:

    • vegetarian: add 2 cups of beans or lentils to sauteed onion and follow the steps in the recipe.
    • stroganoff: add 6 oz of mushrooms to sauteed onion, then the meat, and use 1 cup of half and half with 2 teaspoons of cornstarch in place of tomato sauce. Add 1 tablespoon of Worcestershire sauce and sour cream.
    • cheeseburger: add chopped pickles and double the cheese.
    • veggie-packed: add shredded carrots, beans, mushrooms, and even broccoli.

    Recipe FAQs:

    Can I freeze this dish?

    You can make this casserole, cool it completely, place in an aluminum pan, wrap in saran wrap and place it in a Ziploc bag to freeze for up to 3 months.

    How to store leftovers?

    You can make it up to 3 days in advance. Any leftovers should be refrigerated.

    What to serve with this casserole?

    As with any pasta, bread and salad come to mind. I recommend my skillet focaccia and the perfect Caesar salad.

    Macaroni pasta casserole in a white bowl.

    More easy casserole dinners:

    • Square image of pasta with chicken and broccoli on a cream plate.
      Chicken and Broccoli Pasta
    • Ham Casserole in a baking dish.
      Leftover Ham Casserole
    • Beef noodle casserole in a baking dish.
      Cheesy Beef Noodle Casserole
    • Square image of chicken and rice in an orange pot.
      Easy One Pot Chicken and Rice

    If you like this recipe and make it, let me know in the comments below! Don't forget to rate it if you enjoyed it!

    Macaroni pasta in a skillet.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper

    Author: Anna
    This homemade Hamburger Helper is a one-pot casserole made with ground meat, macaroni and cheese. It's healthier than the boxed version and quick and easy to make!
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 25 mins
    Total Time 35 mins
    Course Dinner
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 servings
    Calories 645 kcal

    Ingredients
     
     

    • 1 tablespoon olive oil
    • 1 yellow onion chopped
    • 2 cloves of garlic minced
    • 1 lb lean ground beef or turkey
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • ½ teaspoon ground cumin
    • 8 oz can of tomato sauce
    • 2 cups elbow macaroni
    • 3 cups water or stock See note
    • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
    • ½ cup sour cream optional

    Instructions
     

    • In a deep skillet, heat up olive oil over medium heat.
    • Add onion and saute for 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and saute for 2 minutes.
    • Add meat and cook, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook until no longer pink.
    • Add salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Stir in. Add tomato sauce and stir in.
    • Add macaroni and water (or stock) and stir in. Make sure there is no cooked on bits at the bottom of the pan, to preven the dish from burning. If there are, simply scrape it with a wooden spoon. The liquid should help with that.
    • Bring the mixture to a boil.
    • Lower the heat and simmer the dish, covered, for 13 to 15 minutes. Stir it every 5 minutes or so.
    • Stir in cheese and sour cream if desired.

    Notes

    • You can use water, beef stock or chicken stock OR a mix of both.
    • You can skip the meat and use 2 cups of beans or lentils.
    • Please note, that the nutrition value can vary depending on what product you use. The information below is an estimate. Always use calorie counter you are familiar with.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 645kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 42g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 884mg | Potassium: 854mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 856IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 282mg | Iron: 5mg
    Tried this recipe?Leave a comment with rating below!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Rachael Yerkes says

      April 02, 2020 at 9:43 am

      5 stars
      This is the perfect comfort food! Way better than box helper. so good!

      Reply
    2. Jen says

      April 02, 2020 at 8:22 am

      5 stars
      This has always been a childhood favorite of mine! Love that I can now give it to my kids but with a healthier spin to it. Thank you!

      Reply
    3. Sara Welch says

      April 01, 2020 at 11:50 pm

      5 stars
      Served this for dinner tonight and it has easily become a new family favorite dish! Looking forward to enjoying leftovers for dinner tomorrow, indeed!

      Reply

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    Crunchy Creamy Sweet Anna

    Hi, I'm Anna! Thank you for stopping by! Here you will find easy and delicious recipes for busy people. My recipes are made with everyday ingredients and all of them are family approved!

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