Homemade Hamburger Helper
A comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef, pasta, and cheese that's perfect for quick weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Main ingredients
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil For cooking the beef
- 1 lb Ground Beef (lean is best) Main protein source
- 1/2 cup Onion (diced) Adds flavor and texture
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste For a rich tomato flavor
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire Sauce Adds depth of flavor
- 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder For seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Chili Powder For a slight kick
- 1 teaspoon Ground Mustard Adds tanginess
- 1 teaspoon Salt To taste
- 1/2 teaspoon Pepper To taste
- 1 lb Elbow Macaroni Pasta for the dish
- 5 cups Beef Broth Liquid to cook the pasta
- 2 cups Cheddar Cheese (shredded) For creaminess and flavor
- 1 cup Heavy Cream (or half and half) Adds richness
- Parsley (chopped, for garnish) For serving
Instructions
Cooking
- In a large pot over medium heat, add the olive oil and ground beef. Cook the ground beef until it's no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the diced onions and cook them until they are soft and translucent.
- Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and the tomato paste until well mixed.
- Add the garlic powder, chili powder, ground mustard, salt, and pepper. Mix everything together.
- Pour in the beef broth and add the uncooked macaroni. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium or medium-low heat.
- Cover the pot and let it heat for 5 minutes. Uncover, stir briefly, then cover again and heat for another 5 minutes, or until the macaroni is just al dente.
- Once the noodles are cooked, stir in the heavy cream.
- Sprinkle in 1½ cups of the shredded cheddar cheese, stirring as you do so.
- Top with the remaining ½ cup of cheese, cover the pot, and heat for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the cheese is melted.
- Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Top with chopped parsley and serve!
Notes
Serve hot with a side salad or crusty bread. You can customize with more vegetables or a different type of cheese.