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cheesy hamburger helper on a plate with a fork
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5 from 7 votes

Cheesy Hamburger Helper

Homemade hamburger helper is such an easy, flavorful, and budget-friendly meal the whole family will love! An elevated one-pot meal!
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time35 minutes
Total Time55 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 504kcal

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

Store all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Leftover pasta does tend to absorb a lot of the liquid the longer it sits, so adding a bit of milk when you're ready to eat again will help to make it creamy once 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