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March 29, 2024
Everyone has memories of Hamburger Helper from their childhood. We’re making this comforting classic from scratch, and you’ll be surprised that the homemade version is as easy to make as the box!
Categories
- Fall
- Winter
- Lunch
- Dinner
- 30 Minutes
- Kid Friendly
Photography by Gayle McLeod
More of our favorite beef recipes
Beef Stroganoff
Swedish Meatballs
Simple Ragù
Easy Bolognese
The Best Hamburger Helper Doesn’t Come From A Box
You know we love a challenge, and when we set out to make a hamburger helper recipe, we didn’t realize that it would be so easy to make a super tasty homemade version using fresh ingredients. We’ve got plenty of easy pastas kids will love, like our Easy Vodka Sauce, 4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, and Fettuccine Alfredo. We’ve also gathered our 30 Best Ground Beef Recipes, (Patty Melts, anyone?) for more dinner ideas.
Hamburger Helper Ingredients
Ground beef
Tomato paste
Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder
Sugar
Salt and pepper
Salted butter
Flour or cornstarch
Stock or water
Milk
Macaroni pasta
Cheddar cheese
Parsley, optional for topping
DIY Hamburger Helper
Cook the beef in a large pot, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the beef to a colander set over a bowl to drain off the fat.
Stir the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper into the browned beef. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined, about 1 more minute.
Add the stock and milk and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add the elbow macaroni and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened, about 6 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Serve sprinkled with parsley if using.
How to Store Leftovers + Tips
Is Hamburger Helper hard to make? Since we’ve been making this home made Hamburger Helper, we can’t imagine going back to the store bought kind. Our recipe is easy to follow, easy to make, and easy to love!
We call for a very lean ground beef for this recipe, making it even healthier than the store bought Hamburger Helper.
Our homemade hamburger helper recipe calls for elbow macaroni noodles, but another popular noodle is the egg noodle. You can make it using your favorite noodle.
Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to three months.
More Easy Dinners From The Modern Proper
Ground Beef Taco
Picadillo
Patty Melt
Sloppy Joes
- Crispy Ground Beef Taco Ground beef tacos are as quick and easy as can be. Plus, they’re easy for each person at the table to customize to their own tastes and so they’re always, always a crowd-favorite.
- Picadillo Ground beef, studded with potatoes and spiced generously with cumin, cinnamon and garlic—what’s not to love? Our picadillo recipe makes for a homey weeknight dinner that everyone will gobble up!
- Patty Melt As diner sandwiches go, the melty, meaty, oniony perfection that is the patty melt reigns supreme—if you know, you know. And if you don’t know, well, welcome to the club.
- Sloppy Joes These saucy, beefy homemade sloppy Joes are the best kind of messy comfort food, so gather your fam around the table, grab a big stack of napkins and let’s get sloppy!
Follow For More Recipe Inspiration
For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper. Happy cooking!
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Hamburger Helper
March 29, 2024
- Serves:4
- Prep Time: 5min
- Cook Time: 15min
- Calories:673
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Related Recipes
- Simple Ragù
- Easy Bolognese
- Beef Stroganoff
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound 93/7 ground beef
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 2 tablespoons flour or 1 tablespoon cornstarch (see Note)
- 2 cups beef stock, chicken stock, or hot water (we like a combination of beef and chicken stock)
- 1½ cups milk
- 8 ounces macaroni pasta
- 8 ounces freshly grated cheddar cheese, (about 2 cups)
- Minced fresh parsley, for serving (optional)
Method
Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the beef to a colander set over a bowl to drain off the fat.
Stir the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper into the browned beef. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined, about 1 more minute.
Add the stock and milk and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add the macaroni and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened, about 6 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Serve sprinkled with parsley if using.
Note:
If using cornstarch, make a slurry by combining it with ¼ cup of cool water. Then you’ll skip adding the flour in step 2 and instead add the slurry to the pot in step 3 along with the stock and milk.
Nutrition Info
- Per Serving
- Amount
- Calories673
- Protein47 g
- Carbohydrates51 g
- Total Fat31 g
- Dietary Fiber1 g
- Cholesterol139 mg
- sodium958 mg
- Total Sugars7 g