Now I know you’ve had a box of Hamburger Helper served up back in the day. That was my busy mama’s go-to in a time crunch. That’s why I had to get into this homemade recipe from my boo Gaby Dalkin. It’s super no fuss and we elevate the old school version a bit.
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
How To Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
Step 1: Get the Base Going
- Start by adding oil to a skillet. Toss in that beef and cook it up, making sure you break it up into small pieces. Add in your paprika and some of the oregano then go to town with some salt and pepper. Don’t skimp y’all. Once it’s cooked through and no pink remains, transfer the meat to a bowl using a slotted spoon so you bounce all that grease.
- After the meat is done, add the onion to the skillet and let it soften up then throw in the garlic, remaining oregano, paprika and some salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle in the flour over the onion and stir to coat, letting the flour get toasty. Constantly stir in the broth then bring to a boil before adding in the diced tomatoes and pasta shells.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, pop the lid on, and cook until the pasta is al dente, about 12 to 15 minutes.
Step 2: Cheese it Up and Serve
- Take the lid off, increase the heat to medium, then stir in the cream and cheeses until it’s all melty.
- Bring to a simmer and let it start reducing slightly for about 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef back into the skillet with the pasta and let it all cook until the beef heats back up. Season it up with salt and pepper.
- When ready to serve it up, add some homemade hamburger helper to bowls then top with freshly grated parm. Get at it!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Homemade hamburger helper is such an easy, flavorful, and budget-friendly meal the whole family will love! An elevated one-pot meal!
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- Extra-virgin Olive Oil as needed
- 1 pound Lean Ground Beef
- 2 teaspoons Smoked Paprika
- 2 teaspoons Dried Oregano
- Kosher Salt and Fresh Ground Pepper to taste
- 1 large Yellow Onion chopped
- 3 cloves Garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons All-purpose Flour
- 1 cup Beef Broth
- 1 14.5 ounce Can Diced Tomatoes
- 6 ounces Large Pasta Shells
- 2/3 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 cup Freshly Grated Parmesan Cheese plus more for serving
- 2 cups Freshly Shredded Medium Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- In a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat, warm 2 tablespoons of oil. Add the beef and cook, breaking up into small pieces, until cooked through with no pink remaining, about 8 minutes. Add 1 teaspoon of the paprika and 1 teaspoon of the oregano, then season generously with salt and pepper. Use a slotted spoon to transfer to a bowl.
- Add the onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 7 minutes. Reduce heat to medium, add the garlic, and cook for 1 more minute. Add the remaining oregano and paprika, and season with salt and pepper.
- Sprinkle the flour over the onion and stir to coat, cooking until the flour gets nice and toasty about 30 seconds. Slowly add the beef broth, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil for 30 seconds. Add the diced tomatoes and pasta shells and stir to combine.
- Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet with a lid, and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, 12 to 15 minutes, depending on the pasta size and shape.
- Uncover, increase heat to medium, then stir in the cream and the cheeses until melted and combined. Bring to a simmer and allow to reduce slightly, about 5 minutes.
- Return the ground beef to the pasta and continue to cook until the beef is just heated through, about 2 minutes longer. Season with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to bowls and top with more freshly grated Parmesan. Serve immediately.
Notes
Storing Leftovers
-
- Fridge: Cool it down to room temp then store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
-
- Freezer: Store the room temp hamburger helper recipe in freezer bags or freezer-safe containers. It can chill in the freezer for up to 3 months.
-
- Reheating: Thaw in the fridge if you froze it. You can either reheat on the stove or in the microwave. Leftover homemade hamburger helper tends to absorb a lot of liquid the longer it sits, so add a bit of milk when you’re ready to reheat over a stovetop so it gets creamy again.
Nutrition
Serving: 1g | Calories: 504kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 137mg | Sodium: 750mg | Potassium: 631mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1310IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 296mg | Iron: 4mg
Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @GrandbabyCakes or tag #grandbabycakes!
Recipe Tips
- Freshly Grate Your Cheese: It will make everything creamier and super cheesy. Avoid the pre-shredded cheeses at the grocery store boos. They come with an anti-caking agent that prevents them from melting as evenly as freshly shredded cheese. Just sayin.
- Drain Well: Use a slotted spoon so you can remove as much of the excess fat as possible when you transfer the browned beef.
- Go Al Dente: Let your pasta undercook slightly since it will continue to cook in the sauce. This way it won’t be mushy.
- Let it Chill Y’all: Once your easy hamburger helper recipe is done, let it mellow for a sec to thicken up so it won’t be a soupy consistency.
Ingredient Notes
- Ground Beef – For a leaner dish, swap in ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Pasta – Switch it up to penne, rotini or macaroni.
- Broth: You can easily sub in vegetable or chicken broth.
- Cheeses: If you don’t get down on cheddar, change it up with mozzarella or Monterey jack. For the parm, you can replace with grated Pecorino Romano or Asiago.
- Heavy Cream: You can lighten this dish up by using half and half instead. It may not thicken as much and be as creamy but it will still be delish.
Recipe help
Can I use any type of pasta?
Yep! You can use any pasta you have on hand however I suggest pastas with shapes that can soak up the sauce well. Just keep an eye on cooking time as some pasta needs to cook longer than others.
Can I make this without meat?
Yep boos! Just leave it out. You can also choose a veggie-based protein or even thick meaty mushrooms.
My sauce is too thin or thick? What can I do?
If your homemade hamburger helper sauce is too thin, you can continue to simmer it a bit more to let it reduce and thicken up. A bit more flour can also do the trick. If its too thick, just thin it with a bit of broth.
Want to Save This Recipe, Boo?
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
More tasty weeknight meal recipes
- Lemon Roast Chicken Dinner with Potatoes
- Smothered Turkey Wings Recipe
- Turkey Pot Pie
- Smothered Steak
- Hamburger Steak
- Baked Ziti
- Sausage Stuffed Shells
*Did you make this recipe? Please give it a star rating and leave comments below!* Post a photo of how your version of the recipe came out on Instagram (using #grandbabycakes)!!
pinterest 
facebook 
twitter 
email
The Hamburger Helper was delicious and cheesy. Everyone enjoyed it, and even though I doubled the recipe, my family of six finished it in one evening. The directions were easy to follow.