Homemade Hamburger Helper – One Pot Recipe
Homemade Hamburger Helper is a one pot meal that is ready in only 30 minutes! It’s the perfect weeknight meal when you’re running short on time.
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When I was a little girl, my mom used to make a version of this homemade hamburger helper every once in a while. It felt like the ultimate treat! It’s one of those dishes that I feel a little nostalgic about. Recently, I’ve begun making this simple one pot meal for my family on a regular basis, and it’s one that everyone can enjoy.
Why You Will Love This Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
- Quick and Easy: This awesome one pot meal comes together in only 30 minutes!
- Affordable: This recipe calls for affordable ingredients and pantry staples you’re likely to have on hand already. This budget friendly dish will fill you up without breaking the bank.
- Kid Friendly: This is one of those meals where everyone wants seconds. My kids are always fighting over who gets to have any leftovers for lunch the next day.
- Versatile: We have used fresh ingredients or dried, omitted the bell peppers, or used water instead of bone broth. You can easily mix things up to fit your taste or dietary preferences.
What You’ll Need to Make This Dish:
Equipment
- Large pot with lid – I prefer to use my cast iron dutch oven.
- Spoon
- Measuring Cups and Spoons
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup dehydrated onion
- 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tbs chili powder
- 1/2 Tbs Dijon mustard
- 1/2 Tbs dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 cups of beef broth
- 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheese – I use the Mexican Cheese blend from Costco
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Add the ground beef to your pan and break up with your cooking spoon. Cook until ground beef is browned.
- Add onions, crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, and spices. Stir to combine.
- Add beef broth and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the pasta.
- Cook until the pasta is done.
- Stir in cream, then add cheese and cover with lid until the cheese is fully melted – approximately 3 minutes.
Variations of This Dish
As I mentioned above, one of the things I love the most about this particular one pot meal is how simply I can adapt the recipe if I’m missing an ingredient or I have someone who doesn’t like a certain ingredient.
- Don’t have dehydrated onion? You can substitute 1 ½ Tbs. onion powder instead.
- Do you prefer a more natural sugar? Replace the brown sugar for equal parts honey.
- No beef broth? You can use chicken or vegetable broth or even water in a pinch.
- Want a heartier meal? Double the recipe! Honestly, I always double this because I like to have the leftovers. My kids seriously love this stuff!
- Don’t have macaroni on hand? Try another type of pasta such as farfalle, shells, or egg noodles.
- Want to spice it up a little? Try adding crushed red pepper flakes!
What to Serve with Homemade Hamburger Helper
Honestly, this is one of those dishes that doesn’t really need anything else. It’s filling enough on its own! If I do serve with anything else, it’s typically a side salad or a slice of garlic bread.
What to do with Leftovers
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Simply reheat leftovers by placing them in the microwave. If you try to reheat a large portion, cook for about 1 minute at a time stirring in between until you reach your desired temperature.
Other Recipes You Might Like
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Equipment
- Large pot with lid – I prefer to use my cast iron dutch oven.
- Spoon
- Knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1/4 cup dehydrated onion
- 1 15 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 Tbs brown sugar
- 1 Tbs Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 Tbs chili powder
- 1/2 Tbs Dijon mustard
- 1/2 Tbs dried parsley
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 cups of beef broth
- 1/2 lb. elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded cheese
Instructions
- Add the ground beef to your pan and break up with your cooking spoon. Cook until ground beef is browned.
- Add onions, crushed tomatoes, brown sugar, and spices. Stir to combine.
- Add beef broth and bring to a simmer. Once simmering, add the pasta.
- Cook until the pasta is done.
- Stir in cream, then add cheese and cover with lid until the cheese is fully melted – approximately 3 minutes.
