Description
This Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a comforting and easy one-pot meal featuring seasoned ground beef, elbow macaroni, and melted cheddar cheese in a savory tomato and beef broth sauce. Perfect for a quick and satisfying dinner that rivals the boxed version but with fresh ingredients and full flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80 or 85% lean preferred)
- 1 cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
Seasonings and Sauce
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Other
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked (8 ounces by weight)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Brown the Beef and Onion: Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven, large skillet, or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and finely chopped onion, cooking while crumbling the beef until it is fully browned. Drain excess grease as needed to prevent greasiness in the dish.
- Add Seasonings and Broth: Stir in tomato paste, sweet paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper until combined. Then pour in the low sodium beef broth and stir well to incorporate all the seasonings.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the uncooked elbow macaroni to the pot and bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to maintain a moderate simmer and cover the pot. Cook for about 12 minutes, stirring every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom. The sauce will remain slightly brothy and saucy.
- Finish with Cheese: Turn off the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and well combined. Serve hot immediately for the best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Use 80 or 85% lean ground beef for a richer, more flavorful dish compared to leaner beef.
- For additional nutrition and flavor, add finely chopped carrots, bell peppers, or celery when cooking the beef, or stir in frozen peas or spinach near the end of cooking.
- To reduce the beefy richness, substitute half of the beef broth with water without sacrificing texture.
- Make the dish creamier by replacing 1 to 1 ½ cups of beef broth with whole milk.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: thirty-five g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg
