Description
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is a classic comfort food that’s easy to make and ready in 35 minutes! Ground beef, macaroni, and a rich, flavorful sauce come together in this one-pot dish that’s perfect for a quick weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 1 pound 85% lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup diced yellow onion
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 3 1/2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup elbow macaroni
- 6 ounces Cheddar cheese, shredded (about 1 1/2 cups)
Instructions
- Brown Beef and Onions: Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and onion, and cook until beef is browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Make Sauce: Stir in tomato paste, ketchup, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, paprika, and pepper. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
- Add Broth and Pasta: Pour in beef broth and bring to a boil. Add macaroni, reduce heat, and simmer until pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed (13-15 minutes).
- Stir in Cheese: Remove from heat and stir in shredded Cheddar cheese until melted and incorporated.
- Serve: Let stand for 2 minutes to thicken slightly before serving.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
- If you don’t have elbow macaroni, you can use any small pasta shape.
- For a spicier dish, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- To make this dish ahead of time, cook the beef and macaroni separately, then combine with the sauce and cheese when ready to serve.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 ½ cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 10g
- Sodium: 1100mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg