Homemade Hamburger Helper tastes just like the Cheeseburger Macaroni from your childhood but so much better than the boxed version! This homemade version is your favorite classic cheeseburger skillet meal ready in just 30 minutes!
Confess… Go ahead! There’s no judgement here.. I promise, this is a safe place.
I bet we could find a Hamburger Helper boxed dinner in some of the pantries of you guys reading this blog right now. And why not? It’s affordable, it’s tasty and it’s easy to feed your family on those nights when you are driving back and forth between ballet recitals and JV football practice.
WHY HOMEMADE IS BETTER!!
So why try anything new? This Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe lets you have some control over this recipe that you don’t with the prepackaged item (sodium, fat, etc) and I promise you this cheeseburger skillet meal will hit the table in the same amount of time and be a thousand times more delicious.
I’m not knocking the original… I’m just saying we can do better.
- You can pronounce all the ingredients without needing a college degree in chemistry.
- Way less sodium than the boxed version and you control the quality of the products used.
- Homemade Hamburger Helper is made using simple pantry ingredients you probably already have on hand.
- This is a family meal everyone loves!!! Hello? .. this is your childhood calling!
- This delicious hamburger skillet meal is made using only one pan and hits your dinner table in 30 minutes!
- Ground beef – I like to use ground beef for this recipe but you could easily substitute it with ground turkey or even ground chicken
- Beef stock
- Macaroni pasta -I like the large elbow macaraoni but any pasta you prefer is fine
- Milk
- Shredded cheddar cheese – skip the pre-shredded cheese in the bag and use fresh off the block cheddar for this recipe
- Sour cream – that secret little zing to bring it all together
- Ketchup
- Dijon Mustard
- Worchestershire
- Cornstarch
- Spices – onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt and pepper and a dash of cayenne.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE HAMBURGER HELPER
To make your Homemade Hamburger Helper, you only need one pan! Grab a large skillet and start by browning the beef or ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the grease from the meat and return the meat to your skillet.
Add the macaroni pasta, spices, milk and beef stock, ketchup, mustard, worchestershire and cornstarch to the meat and stir your ingredients to combine completely.
Cover your skillet with a tight fitting lid and bring your cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until pasta is tender in about 9-11 minutes.
Stir your Hamburger Helper occasionally and once your macaroni is cooked, remove your skillet from heat and stir in the shredded cheese, sour cream and green onions.
Serve immediately.
PRO TIPS FOR PERFECT HAMBURGER HELPER
- Milk adds a creamy texture and lends its flavor to the sauce but you can make the recipe using only water or substituting the milk amount with additional beef stock if you want to omit it.
- Pre-shredded cheese in a bag is convenient but fresh off the block cheese is best for this dish. Simply shred your cheese with a handheld cheese grater or adding your cheese to a food processor.
- Don’t have beef stock? You can use plain water, chicken stock or vegetable broth as a tasty substitute. Low sodium versions are also suggested if you are looking to watch the sodium amount.
- This recipes uses large elbow macaroni pasta but feel free to use any pasta you like. If using another type of pasta you may need to adjust liquids and cooking times a bit.
- Homemade Hamburger Helper will last in the fridge for 3 days in a sealed container
MORE GROUND BEEF RECIPES YOU WILL LOVE
- One Pot Lasagna Skillet
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- Philly Cheesesteak Sloppy Joes Sliders
- One Pot Easy Cheesy Taco Skillet
ENJOY!!
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Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 3 cups beef stock
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon worchestershire
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 5 green onions diced
Instructions
- To make your Homemade Hamburger Helper, you only need one pan! Grab a large skillet and start by browning the beef or ground turkey in a large skillet over medium heat until no longer pink. Drain the grease from the meat and return the meat to your skillet.
- Add the macaroni pasta, spices, milk and beef stock, ketchup, mustard, worchestershire and cornstarch to the meat and stir your ingredients to combine completely. Cover your skillet with a tight fitting lid and bring your cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until pasta is tender in about 9-11 minutes.
- Stir your Hamburger Helper occasionally and once your macaroni is cooked, remove your skillet from heat and stir in the shredded cheese. When your cheese has melted, stir in the sour cream and diced green onions. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Milk adds a creamy texture and lends its flavor to the sauce but you can make the recipe using only water or substituting the milk amount with additional beef stock if you want to omit it.
- Pre-shredded cheese in a bag is convenient but fresh off the block cheese is best for this dish. Simply shred your cheese with a handheld cheese grater or adding your cheese to a food processor.
- Don't have beef stock? You can use plain water, chicken stock or vegetable broth as a tasty substitute. Low sodium versions are also suggested if you are looking to watch the sodium amount.
- This recipes uses large elbow macaroni pasta but feel free to use any pasta you like. If using another type of pasta you may need to adjust liquids and cooking times a bit.
- Homemade Hamburger Helper will last in the fridge for 3 days in a sealed container
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Update Notes: This post was originally published in May of 2018 but was republished with an updated recipe, new photos, step by step instructions and tips in September of 2019.
Hi what if i don’t have sour cream?
Hi Gisel .. If you dont have any sour cream, you can leave it out.. It’s more of an add in than a necessary ingredient 🙂
Super easy to make and so tasty!
Thanks so much Megan, It super wonderful that you found it easy and tasty. Its one of my go to meals every week. Have a good night.
Delicious!
😋
So glad you enjoyed it Shari, its one of our family favorites.
My favorite 30 minute meal!!
Amazing meal! Very filling, super easy to make too! and and my favorite part is most of the ingredients are things I always keep around the house ! This will be cooked in my home for years to come. I need to find the jumbo macaroni for the next batch.
Homemade s always best.. Burger looks perfect
Thank you!!
Okay… number one: what!?; number two: you have two bowls, so one’s for sharing, right?
Seriously looks absolutely yummy!
Byron.. hahahaha!!! You just did an adult version of Beefaroni so no judgement, ok? And yes, you have to share … I’ve learned the hard way that people will follow the smell of homecooked yumminess though the house and find you locked in a closet with your secret pot of food. It’s somewhat embarrassing.