If you love comfort food, this cheesy hamburger helper is a must-try. It's a quick and easy dinner recipe that combines savory beef, tender macaroni, and a rich, creamy cheese sauce. Ready in 30 minutes!
Jump to:
- Why You’ll Love This Beef Hamburger Helper Recipe
- Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- How To Make Hamburger Helper
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Tips For Making Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
- What To Serve With Cheeseburger Mac Hamburger Helper
- Other One Pot Dinner Recipes To Try
- Homemade Cheesy Hamburger Helper Recipe
Why You’ll Love This Beef Hamburger Helper Recipe
This is a recipe I’ve been whipping up for years, and let me tell you — it always hits the spot. With minimal prep and just one skillet, this hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni delivers big on flavor with minimal cleanup.
This is a major upgrade from the boxed version, giving you full control over the ingredients. The combination of savory beef, tender macaroni, and rich cheese sauce creates a hearty, satisfying meal. Here’s what makes my diy hamburger helper so special:
- Ready in just 30 minutes
- Uses simple pantry staples you likely already have
- One skillet means fewer dishes (yes, please!)
- Irresistible creamy goodness in every bite
- A crowd-pleaser for kids and adults
Ingredient Information And Substitutions
- Ground Beef- I like to use 80/20 ground beef because it has a nice balance of flavor and fat. You can swap it for ground turkey or chicken to make a lighter version of this recipe.
- Tomato Paste- Adds a subtle tang and depth to the sauce.
- Chicken Broth & Milk- These form the creamy but light base. Beef broth is also a good substitute. And you can use whatever milk you have in the fridge, I prefer whole milk.
- Elbow Macaroni- Small shells or Ditalini would also work. The key is to use small pasta that cooks quickly.
- Cheddar Cheese- Freshly shredded sharp cheddar because it melts beautifully and adds bold flavor, but pre-shredded also works well. You can also mix it up with Colby for something different.
- Seasonings- A mix of onion powder, garlic powder, sweet paprika, chili powder, Kosher salt, and black pepper gives hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni its signature savory flavor. Adjust the amounts to your taste as needed.
- Flour- For thickening the sauce.
How To Make Hamburger Helper
Step 1- Brown the ground beef.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat and brown the ground beef, breaking it up into smaller pieces as it cooks. Stir occasionally to ensure it cooks evenly.
Once the beef is browned, stir in the onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle in the flour and cook for 2 minutes — this helps thicken the sauce later.
Step 2- Add the tomato paste.
Push the beef mixture to the sides of the pan. Add the tomato paste into the center of the pan and let it cook for 2 minutes. Then, stir it into the beef mixture, ensuring everything is well-coated.
Step 3- Add the liquids and macaroni.
Pour in the chicken broth, whole milk, and macaroni and stir until well combined. Gently press the pasta to submerge it in the liquid so it cooks evenly. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium.
Step 4- Cook the macaroni.
Cover and let the pasta simmer for 10-12 minutes, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened. Stir 2-3 times through this to keep anything from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
Step 5- Stir in the cheese.
Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat. Mix in the shredded cheddar until it’s fully melted and the sauce is creamy. Serve your cheesy hamburger helper straight away!
Frequently Asked Questions
Diced bell peppers or mushrooms are easy to add while cooking the beef. You could also toss some fresh spinach or frozen peas into your cheesy hamburger helper right at the end. Just keep an eye on the liquid levels as you cook to make sure it isn't drying out and add a splash of milk as needed.
Yes! You can use your favorite gluten-free pasta, but be sure to adjust the cooking time. You may also need to adjust the amount of milk and broth as gluten-free pasta absorbs liquid differently. Be sure to also swap out the flour with GF 1:1 Flour (I like King Arthur brand) so that it's totally gluten free.
Stir in a Tablespoon of heavy cream or an extra handful of shredded cheese into your cheesy hamburger helper at the end.
Tips For Making Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
- Don’t drain any excess grease from the ground beef. The grease combined with the flour helps create a roux to thicken the sauce.
- Cook the pasta to al dente so it doesn’t turn mushy. If you’re unsure, scoop out a noodle and give it a taste!
- Add some heat! Spice up your hamburger helper beef pasta with red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or even some diced jalapeños.
- Use freshly shredded cheese. The pre-shredded stuff is coated with anti-caking ingredients to prevent clumping, but that also keeps the cheese from melting down really smooth. That said, it still works with pre-shredded cheese, it just melts more smoothly with freshly shredded.
- Double for a crowd. This beef hamburger helper recipe is easily doubled or tripled, perfect for feeding a larger family or group, just use a bigger pot!
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Measure out the milk first so it can warm a bit on the counter. Shred the cheese and mix your spices together too.
- Leftover and storage- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk to restore the creamy texture.
What To Serve With Cheeseburger Mac Hamburger Helper
Whether you want to add something light to balance the richness or something extra cheesy to complement the flavors, I’ve got you covered! Here are a few of my favorites to pair with cheesy hamburger helper:
- Garlic and Butter Green Beans
- Easy Sautéed Vegetables
- Homemade 3 Cheese Garlic Bread
- Sour Cream Cookies
Other One Pot Dinner Recipes To Try
Love this recipe? Please leave a 5 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a review in the comment section further down. Check out my Amazon Store for all my favorite tools, including those used in this recipe. And follow @thelifejolie on Instagram and TikTok!
Homemade Cheesy Hamburger Helper Recipe
Equipment
- 1 Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons flour
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown ground beef into a large skillet over medium high heat, stirring and breaking up as it browns.
- Add onion powder, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, chili powder, salt, black pepper and flour and mix until well combined. Cook 2 minutes.
- Move the meat mixture to the sides of the pan and place the tomato paste in the empty center of the pan. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often and then mix with the beef until well coated.
- Add broth, milk and macaroni and stir to combine. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cover.
- Cook covered 10-12 min stirring 2-3 times until pasta is al dente.
- Uncover, turn off the heat and stir in cheese until melted. Serve immediately.
Video
Notes
- Don’t drain any excess grease from the ground beef. The grease combined with the flour helps create a roux to thicken the sauce.
- Cook the pasta to al dente so it doesn’t turn mushy. If you’re unsure, scoop out a noodle and give it a taste!
- Add some heat! Spice up your hamburger helper beef pasta with red pepper flakes, a dash of hot sauce, or even some diced jalapeños.
- Use freshly shredded cheese. The pre-shredded stuff is coated with anti-caking ingredients to prevent clumping, but that also keeps the cheese from melting down really smooth. That said, it still works with pre-shredded cheese, it just melts more smoothly with freshly shredded.
- Double for a crowd. This beef hamburger helper recipe is easily doubled or tripled, perfect for feeding a larger family or group, just use a bigger pot!
- Ingredients to prep ahead- Measure out the milk first so it can warm a bit on the counter. Shred the cheese and mix your spices together too.
- Leftover and storage- Store cheeseburger mac hamburger helper in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of milk to restore the creamy texture.
Tom says