Description
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!
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
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!
