Name: One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 pound lean ground beef (93/7); 1 small yellow onion, diced; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 3 tablespoons tomato paste; 2 teaspoons paprika; 1 teaspoon chili powder; 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder; 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper pepper; 2 1/2 cups beef broth; 1 1/2 cups milk; 8 oz pipe rigate pasta; 1 cup grated cheddar cheese; parsley and green onion for garnish

This Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is savory, cheesy, and so nostalgic. An elevated version of the classic I grew up on, it cooks in one pot in less than 30 minutes for a warm, comfort food dinner that always hits the spot!

Better-Than-Boxed Healthy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

Cheesy, filling, and so much better than the box!

Did you grow up on Hamburger Helper? I definitely did, and it still holds a soft little spot in my heart. These days, I prefer to skip the boxed versions and use a few simple ingredients to recreate the same tastes and textures I love but even better. You made be surprised at how easy it is to make this childhood favorite from scratch!

With tender pasta, seasoned beef, and lots of melty cheddar, each bite is pure deliciousness and tastes even better than the versions I remember. All you need is one pot and a few minutes, and you can have a cozy, family-friendly dinner waiting on the table!

— Ashlea

Key Ingredients and Notes

This is an overview of the main ingredients in this recipe. See the recipe card for full ingredients and instructions, below.

Ground Beef: I like to use 93/7 lean ground beef for this recipe.
Pasta: I use pipe rigate pasta to recreate the texture of classic Hamburger Helper.
Cheese: cheddar is a must! For the best taste and melty texture, buy a block of cheese and grate it yourself.

Possible Variations

Ground Beef – not a fan of beef? Use ground turkey or ground chicken instead.
Pasta – substitute any pasta shape you like best, such as shells or elbows. Just adjust the liquid and cooking time as needed. Or, use gluten-free pasta if you need to keep your Hamburger Helper recipe gluten-free.
Cheese – use Monterrey Jack cheese, smoked cheddar, or a combination of cheese for a slightly different flavor.
Veggies – include broccoli, cauliflower, shredded carrots, or baby spinach for extra bulk and nutrients.

hamburger and onion being cooked in skillet

How to Make Hamburger Helper in One Pot

Step One: Sauté the onion in oil over medium-high heat until tender. Then, add the ground beef, and cook, breaking it into pieces, until it’s no longer pink. Drain excess oil as needed.

Step Two: Next, add the tomato paste and seasonings, and sauté. Add the beef broth, milk, and pasta, and bring the liquid to a simmer.

Step Three: Cook the pasta until it’s tender and a lot (not all) of the liquid has been absorbed.

Step Four: Remove the pan from the heat, and stir in the cheese until it’s melted and creamy. Season to taste, and enjoy warm, topped with green onion and fresh parsley!

My Favorite Ways to Serve

Of course, you can serve this homemade Hamburger Helper recipe as a complete meal on its own. However, I like to add a Greek salad, spicy cucumber salad, roasted asparagus, or roasted lemon garlic broccoli for extra nutrients.

How to Store

Store cooled Hamburger Helper in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.

To serve, warm leftovers in a saucepan over medium or medium-low heat on the stove, adding a splash of broth as needed to loosen the sauce. I don’t recommend microwaving, or the pasta will become soggy!

More Delicious Ground Beef Recipes

I hope you give this One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe a try! It’s savory, cheesy, and tastes even better than boxed varieties! If you do give this recipe a try, I want to know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @allthehealthythings or #allthehealthythings on Instagram. Your reviews help support All the Healthy Things and make it possible for me to continue to create the recipes you know and love.

One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 9 reviews

Author: Ashlea Carver
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Yield: 6 1x
Category: Dinner
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Print Recipe

Description

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef (93/7)
1 small yellow onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper pepper
2 1/2 cups beef broth
1 1/2 cups milk
8 oz pipe rigate pasta
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
parsley and green onion for garnish

Instructions

Heat a large braising dish over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the olive oil and then add the diced yellow onion.
Sauté the onion for 3-5 minutes until tender and then add the ground beef. Brown the beef, breaking it up as it cooks. If there is a lot of excess oil in the skillet, remove it from the pan.
Next, add the minced garlic, tomato paste, paprika, chili powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir until well combined and sauté for a 1-2 minutes.
Next, add the beef broth, milk, and pasta to the skillet. Stir to combine and bring everything to a simmer. Be careful not to bring the liquid to a rolling boil or the milk will separate.
Let the pasta cook for 10-12 minutes until it’s tender and a lot, but not all, of the liquid has been absorbed.
Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. The pasta will continue to soak up even more of the sauce as it sits. Give the hamburger helper a taste and season with more salt and pepper to taste.
Serve with thinly sliced green onion and fresh parsley and enjoy!

Notes