Description
Homemade Hamburger Helper is a comforting, cheesy pasta dish that combines ground meat, tender pasta, and rich flavors in a single skillet. It’s easy to prepare and perfect for a quick family meal, customizable with your favorite seasonings and cheeses.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound lean ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Liquids and Pasta
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, or chicken broth
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- 8 oz small pasta shells, or small elbow pasta
Dairy and Cheese
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Additional Seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Meat: In a large sauté pan with a lid, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Remove the cooked beef and set aside, leaving 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Lower the heat to medium, add the diced onion, and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic for the last 30 seconds.
- Make Roux: Stir in the flour and cook for about 1 minute to eliminate raw flour taste.
- Add Broth and Simmer: Slowly stir in the broth and bring to a boil. Then, add the tomato sauce, seasonings, and pasta. Stir to combine.
- Cook Pasta: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, cover with a lid, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes or until pasta is tender, stirring occasionally. If noodles aren’t fully cooked or liquid is low, add extra broth as needed.
- Add Dairy and Cheese: Stir in heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
- Reheat Ground Beef and Serve: Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet, stir to reheat, and cook for 2-3 minutes more. Serve hot immediately.
Notes
- Storage: Best enjoyed fresh as noodles soak up liquid when stored. Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days in the fridge.
- Reheat: Warm on stove or microwave with a splash of broth or cream to restore creaminess.
- Scaling: Double or triple the recipe using a large Dutch oven for larger gatherings.
- Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta and substitute flour with cornstarch (2 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 1 tablespoon water) for thickening, cooking for an additional 2 minutes.
- Spice Variations: Add crushed red pepper flakes, cayenne, or chopped hot Rotel for extra heat.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 890mg
- Fat: 28g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 90mg