Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

About This Recipe

This one-skillet, creamy Homemade Hamburger Helper is made with ground beef, macaroni and cheese – real ingredients you can feel good about feeding your family for dinner!

Ingredients

• 3/4 pound 93% lean ground beef
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup onion (chopped)
• 4 cloves garlic (chopped)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce (or tomato passata or puree)
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 2 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cups 2% milk (or dairy-free milk for DF)
• 8 ounces dry pasta (such as cavatappi, rotini or elbows or small shells or gluten-free pasta if needed)
• 1 cup part-skim sharp cheddar cheese (or dairy-free cheese for DF)

Instructions

1. Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef and 1/2 teaspoon salt and paprika. Cook, breaking the meat up into small pieces until browned, 5-6 minutes. Add onion, garlic and cook until aromatic; 2 to 3 minutes.
2. Add tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce; reduce until almost dry and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
3. Add chicken broth and pasta and bring to a boil, lower heat to medium-low and cover. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring halfway until the pasta is almost tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
4. Uncover, add the milk, and cook, covered stirring periodically medium-low until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
5. Remove from heat, uncover and stir in cheddar cheese.