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A serving bowl of cheesy ground beef hamburger helper

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5 from 4 reviews

Easy Cheesy Hamburger Helper

Recipe by Kelli Avila

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!

  • Total Time25 minutes
  • YieldServes 4 to 6 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon coarse kosher salt (see note)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon sweet paprika
  • 5 cups beef broth (or water, or a combination)
  • 1 pound elbow pasta
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/3 cup sour cream
  • Parsley, for serving

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, a nonstick pot is helpful but not required, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, stirring frequently, until no pink remains, about 5 minutes. Remove any excess fat.
  2. Stir in the tomato paste, salt, garlic powder, pepper, paprika and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the paste darkens slightly.
  3. Add the broth, increase the heat to medium high, and bring to a boil.
  4. Once boiling, add the pasta and cook according to the package instructions, stirring every few minutes to prevent sticking.
  5. Once the pasta is tender, turn off the heat and stir in the cheddar cheese and sour cream. Let the pasta sit for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cheese is fully melted and the sauce thickens. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Serve with parsley, if desired.

Notes

This recipe was tested using Diamond Crystal coarse kosher salt. If using Morton’s kosher salt or fine salt, you’ll need less by volume, so start with half and adjust to taste.

Use freshly grated cheddar cheese rather than pre-shredded, if possible, but it's not a deal breaker.

This pasta keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days. To reheat, warm it gently in a pot over low heat, covered, with a splash of water, until hot and creamy, adding more liquid as needed.

  • Prep Time: 00:05
  • Cook Time: 00:20
  • Category: Pasta

Find it online: https://everydayfamilyeats.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/