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Homemade Hamburger Helper
Homemade Hamburger Helper made from scratch in one skillet — ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a creamy Monterey Jack and cream cheese sauce, ready in 35 minutes with no powdered cheese packet required. This is the broth-ratio tested version that stays smooth instead of turning grainy or oily.
Servings: 6 small bowls
small bowls
Equipment
- Large 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven
- Wooden spoon or spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
- Box grater (for shredding cheese fresh)
Ingredients
For the Beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 recommended
- 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
For the Sauce Base
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 cup whole milk
For the Pasta and Finish
- 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 1 ¼ cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese, freshly shredded
- 2 tablespoons cream cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
Brown the Beef
- Heat the olive oil in a large 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add the ground beef and let it sit undisturbed for about a minute before breaking it up with a wooden spoon, then continue cooking until browned and no longer pink.
- Stir in the diced onion and cook for 4-5 minutes, until softened.
- Add the garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
Build the Flavor
- Stir in the tomato paste, paprika, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and black pepper.
- Cook for about 1 minute, until the tomato paste deepens slightly in color and the spices become fragrant.
Simmer the Pasta
- Pour in the beef broth and milk, then add the uncooked macaroni, stirring so the pasta is mostly submerged.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low.
- Cook uncovered for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- If the pasta looks dry before it's fully tender, stir in an extra splash of broth and continue simmering.
Finish and Serve
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the cream cheese until smooth.
- Add the Monterey Jack a handful at a time, stirring until melted and creamy.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let it rest for 1-2 minutes so the sauce can thicken.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, then sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Amount per Serving
Calories
482
% Daily Value*
Fat
21
g
32
%
Saturated Fat
10
g
63
%
Trans Fat
0.5
g
Polyunsaturated Fat
1
g
Monounsaturated Fat
8
g
Cholesterol
80
mg
27
%
Sodium
1115
mg
48
%
Potassium
611
mg
17
%
Carbohydrates
41
g
14
%
Fiber
2
g
8
%
Sugar
5
g
6
%
Protein
31
g
62
%
Vitamin A
621
IU
12
%
Vitamin C
4
mg
5
%
Calcium
274
mg
27
%
Iron
3
mg
17
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only. This information comes from online calculators. Although whatsinthepan.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
