Homemade Hamburger Helper

Get ready to toss the box because ain’t nothing more comforting than a big ole bowl of this Cheesy Homemade Hamburger Helper y’all! We elevated the old school version keeping all that nostalgia but with fresh ingredients and bold flavor. This one pot wonder will get you through busy weeknights with a price tag that won’t break the bank boos. Whip up this hamburger helper recipe in a pinch and get all those classic childhood vibes back in your kitchen with a little pizzazz.

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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. She would pick us up from school after work and get in that kitchen fixing dinner as quickly as she could. Hamburger helper came to the rescue a lot. That’s why I had to get into this recipe from my boo Gaby Dalkin’s cookbook Take It Easy. It’s super no fuss and a perfect recipe with great flavor that we all can throw together especially on days when we are grinding.

What is Hamburger Helper?

Hamburger Helper is that good ole boxed meal kit you remember from back in the day. It’s got dried pasta, seasoning packets and dehydrated veggies. It’s a super convenient shortcut dinner because you just add a few ingredients like ground beef and water, and it’s typically on the table in about 30 minutes or less. It’s popularity came from unique flavors like cheeseburger macaroni, chili mac and four cheese lasagna served up fast and in a hurry!

The Lowdown on the Best Homemade Hamburger Recipe

Cuisine Inspiration: Good ole American Comfort Food Vibes
Primary Cooking Method: One Pot Stovetop
Dietary Info: This ain’t for my Vegetarians however it can be made Gluten-Free with a couple of changes
Key Flavor: Cheeseburger notes in a one pot pasta meal
Skill Level: Easy (No Sweat Fam!)

• No Box Necessary: We get bomb flavors from real ingredients making it taste even better.
• Comforting Flavors– Who doesn’t love a cheeseburger? We get all those creamy and cheesy notes from the original box but without the cheese powder packet! Heavy cream and grated cheese do the heavy lifting.
• Customize: It’s your world boos! You can truly make this dish you own.
• Budget-Friendly: Affordable ingredients make this a hamburger helper recipe you can pull out time and time again.

Ingredients You’ll Need to Make this Easy Hamburger Helper Recipe

• Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Just a smidge might be needed for sautéing to keep ingredients from sticking.
• Lean Ground Beef: This is our juicy meaty protein base.
• Herbs & Spices: These simple pantry staples will add bomb flavors. Dried oregano, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper are bringing savory and smoky vibes.
• Yellow Onion: Just a touch of sweetness and texture is all that’s necessary.
• Garlic: Nothing adds aromatic vibes like garlic. Bring it on and don’t be shy!
• All-purpose Flour: Flour is gonna thicken up the sauce making it creamy so it sticks to the pasta.
• Beef Broth: We add a bit more depth of savory flavor by replacing water with this broth.
• Diced Tomatoes: These add in some acidity to brighten the dish up along with some juicy texture.
• Pasta Shells: These are the perfect pasta shape for absorbing the sauce and scooping up some in each mouthful.
• Heavy Cream: Nothing adds silkiness and richness like some cream boos.
• Cheeses: We have a delish mix of freshly grated parmesan and medium cheddar cheese that’s gonna give that undeniable salty, nutty and gooey texture to the hamburger helper recipe.

How To Make Homemade Hamburger Helper

Step 1: Get the Base Going

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

1. Take the lid off, increase the heat to medium, then stir in the cream and cheeses until it’s all melty.
2. Bring to a simmer and let it start reducing slightly for about 5 minutes.
3. 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.
4. When ready to serve it up, add some homemade hamburger helper to bowls then top with freshly grated parm. Get at it!

What to Serve with Cheesy Hamburger Helper

• Onion Moves: A fave way to serve up this hamburger helper recipe is by topping it with crunchy onion rings. It’s a super bomb textural experience y’all.
• Weeknight Dinner Vibes: Make quick vibrant sides like honey glazed carrots and creamed spinach and serve up with this easy garlic bread for a complete meal.
• Leftover Heat Up: Serve any leftovers with a simple green salad or steamed veggies and call it a night boos.
• Easy Sunday Supper: Serve this hamburger helper recipe up with Southern green beans, some fried cornbread and glasses of sweet tea. Done and done!

Recipe Substitutions

• Ground Beef – For a leaner version of this dish, swap out ground beef for ground turkey or ground chicken.
• Spices and Herbs: If ya ain’t got oregano, an Italian seasoning is great to sub in. No smoked paprika, regular paprika is all good.
• Pasta – This recipe works great with different pasta shapes. Switch it up to penne, rotini or macaroni.
• Broth: If you don’t have beef 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 Variations and Additions

• Go Meatless: Plant-based ground “meat” like Impossible and Beyond Meat is all the rage. Just sub it in and continue on. If you want to go fully plant-based, you will need to swap the cream for a cashew, oat milk or coconut milk base and replace the cheeses with dairy free options. Just make sure they have good melty properties.
• Gluten-Free: Replace the flour with a 1:1 ratio Gluten-Free flour or cornstarch and substitute the pasta for gluten free pasta shells.
• Sun-dried Tomatoes: Canned sun-dried tomatoes will add another depth of flavor
• Spice it Up: For an extra kick, add a dash of cayenne pepper or chili powder for some spice.
• Add Some Veggies: A handful of chopped spinach or broccoli will sneak in some veggies for the kiddos.
• Gourmet Vibes: Fancy it up with some sliced cremini mushrooms and diced shallots along with fresh herbs like parsley and chives.
• Get Tex Mex with It: Add some cumin, chili powder and black beans and top with some pico de gallo and guacamole and serve with some Mexican cornbread to sop up that saucy goodness.

Expert Tips and Tricks

• Freshly Grate Your Cheese: Freshly grating your cheeses will give an overall creamier and cheesy texture. 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: Make sure you remove as much of the excess fat as possible when you transfer the browned beef. Using a slotted spoon is gonna help you keep your dish from being super greasy.
• Go Al Dente: Let your pasta undercook slightly since it will continue to cook in the sauce. Nobody likes a mushy pasta.
• Let it Chill Y’all: Once your easy hamburger helper recipe is done, let it mellow for a sec so all those flavors can meld together thickening up so it won’t be a soupy consistency.

How to Store Easy Hamburger Helper

• 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

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