Homemade Hamburger Helper

Name: Homemade Hamburger Helper
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 2 teaspoons olive oil; 1 pound lean ground beef; ¼ cup tomato paste; 1-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, more to taste; ½ teaspoon fresh ground black pepper; 1 teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon paprika; 5 cups beef broth (or water), more as needed; 1 pound elbow pasta; 4 ounces shredded sharp cheddar cheese; ⅓ cup sour cream, more to taste; Parsley, for serving

Published: Jan 13, 2023 · Modified: Sep 22, 2023 by Kelli Avila · This post may contain affiliate links ·

Jump to Recipe

Serve up that nostalgic pasta dish, but make it in one pot and with all-natural ingredients! This Homemade Hamburger Helper is reminiscent of that classic 90's dish we all used to love but made better for you, and tastier!

Easy Hamburger Helper Recipe

To this day, I have no idea what comes in those Hamburger Helper packages I used to see my mom cooking when I was growing up, but I'm honestly not sure I'd want to know either. What I do remember is that my siblings and I all loved Hamburger Helper Night. What's not to love when it comes to pasta with a savory beef and cheese sauce? Well, now that I'm an adult I know what I don't love about that: whatever hard-to-pronounce artificial ingredients were likely in it.

But here is the fun part: making it homemade is actually really simple. This version is made all in one pot (no straining required), with a few pantry staples, and comes together in well under 30 minutes!

A bowl of homemade hamburger helper with parsley sprinkled on top.

Ingredients Needed and Substitiuons

ground beef (use lean if you can)
elbow macaroni (sub in whatever type of pasta you want)
beef broth (this isn't essential, but it helps create a well-flavored sauce to coat the pasta. Chicken stock can also be substituted or water)
salt and pepper
tomato paste
spices: garlic powder + paprika
sour cream (this helps thicken up the sauce, and gives it a nice creamy tang)
freshly grated shredded sharp cheddar (pre-shredded cheese has additives, and the sauce is best if you only use cheddar cheese that you shred yourself)
parsley (for serving, optional)

Ingredients for a hamburger helper recipe.

Tools Needed

cheese grater
a heavy-bottomed pot (a Dutch oven works great here)
wooden spoon or rubber spatula

Tips for Making One-Pot Hamburger Helper

This recipe is pretty simple, but there are a few notes to ensure success with the recipe.

Make sure you bring the broth up to a boil before you add the pasta.
Stir the pasta frequently while it's cooking, so it doesn't stick to the bottom.
Use freshly grated cheddar cheese, as opposed to pre-shredded.
Take the time to properly melt the cheese once it's added to the pot. The easiest mistake to make with this recipe is not to let the cheese slowly and fully melt. It takes about 5 minutes and occasional stirring for the cheese to melt fully.
If your sauce is too thick, add more water as needed to thin it out.
And of course, taste and adjust any seasoning at the end. You can add more salt, pepper, or garlic powder to your likely. I also like to add hot sauce to mine! And you can also add more cheese if desired.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

This pasta keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days.

To reheat from the refrigerator, add the cold pasta to a pot with a splash of water. Turn the heat to low, and cover. Let it cook for about 5 minutes until it's hot and creamy. Add in more water as necessary.