Homemade Hamburger Helper
Homemade Hamburger Helper (Copycat Recipe) – Cheesy and satisfying classic Cheeseburger Macaroni is the ultimate kid-friendly dish, and is easy to make in just 20 minutes using only one pot!
Why We Love This Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
Hey dudes! Do you remember those commercials with the high-fiving cartoon glove?
If you were born in a certain generation, you most likely can recall the latch-key kid meal of the eighties and nineties, Hamburger Helper. This boxed pantry staple includes macaroni noodles and a pouch of powdered… Stuff. Just add ground beef and milk and BOOM you’ve got dinner ready in 20 minutes!
Although the classic prepackaged meal was pretty good, this quick homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni copycat recipe is SO much better! Our cheesy, rich, savory cheeseburger mac and cheese recipe is just as easy to make as the original, without any questionable ingredients.
Easy Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
This cheeseburger mac and cheese recipe is a much more wholesome version of boxed Hamburger Helper, and is still made with simple pantry staples! It is super kid-friendly, with familiar comfort food ingredients that will make the whole family happy.
Start to finish Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper takes only 20 minutes to make, and is a perfect dinner for busy weeknights. Plus, it is a classic one-pot meal, so cleanup is a breeze. Yay!
Ingredients You Need
- Ground beef – 85% fat or leaner
- Tomato paste – for perfect zesty flavor
- Dijon mustard – adds a bit of bite
- Seasonings – garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, salt and pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper
- Macaroni pasta – or other small pasta shape, like small pasta shells
- Beef broth – or water combined with beef bouillon
- Half & half – to create the richest, creamiest base
- Shredded cheese – we use sharp cheddar (pre-shredded cheese is easiest but freshly grated tastes best)
How to Make the Best Cheeseburger Macaroni
You only need 20 minutes and one pot with a lid to make a crave-worthy easy Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe from scratch!
- Brown ground beef in a large dutch oven or heavy large skillet on medium-high heat, breaking the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon as it browns. Mix in the tomato paste, Dijon mustard, and seasonings as you cook the beef.
- Next, add the macaroni noodles and beef broth. Stir well, cover the pan and simmer until the pasta is cooked to al dente. There is no need to stir while the pasta is covered and cooks!
- After the pasta is done, carefully remove the lid and stir in the half & half and shredded cheese. Simmer and stir for another few minutes, uncovered, until the cheesy sauce is creamy and smooth. Done!
Get the Complete (Printable!) Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Recipe Variations
- Pasta – Elbow macaroni is classic, but really you can use any small pasta. For noodles that hold on to the sauce well I suggest small pasta shells, penne, or rigatoni.
- Protein – This traditional recipe uses lean ground beef. Easily change up the protein with ground pork, ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Cheeses – Use basically any melty cheese you like here! Substitute or do half-and-half blends with shredded mild cheddar, Colby or Monterey jack, spicy pepper jack, mozzarella and/or parmesan, smoked gouda, or Gruyere.
- Gluten-free – Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta!
- Vegan and Vegetarian – Yup, this childhood favorite is even easy to make totally meatless! It includes a combination of plant-based pantry staples. Use your favorite meatless ground beef, veggie broth, and dairy-free cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Serve one pot cheeseburger macaroni and cheese warm with a bit more shredded cheese and a generous sprinkle of chopped fresh parsley, if you like.
I love to enjoy a hearty, heavy meal like this with a fresh and veggie-packed salad. Our Healthy Rainbow Chopped Salad and Lieutenant Dan’s Steakhouse Salad are super quick to put together as an easy and healthy side!
Frequently Asked Questions
This is a terrific dish to make ahead and enjoy as leftovers for several days. And the flavors get even better as it sits! Reheat leftovers in the microwave in short, 30-second bursts at 50% power. Stir in between the bursts and serve warm.
Transfer the cooled pasta to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 4-5 days.
Yes you can! Cheeseburger mac and cheese is a great one to make and place in the freezer for future recipes. It can be stored in an airtight container for 3 to 4 months in the freezer. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave
Looking for More One Pot Easy Dinner Recipes? Be Sure to Also Try:
- Rustic Hungarian Goulash Recipe
- Parmesan Lemon Chicken and Rice Skillet Recipe
- Easy Jambalaya Recipe
- Skillet Taco Calzone Pie Recipe
- One-Pot Sloppy Joe Casserole Recipe
- Carne Guisada con Papas Recipe
- Spicy Jollof Rice Recipe (West African)
- Creamy Chicken Tuscan Pasta Recipe
Get the Complete (Printable!) Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe Below. Enjoy!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ – ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 12 ounces dried macaroni noodles
- 4 cups beef broth or 4 cups water + 4 beef bouillon cubes
- 1 cup half & half
- 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Place a large sauté pan (with a lid) over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef. Break the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon. As it's browning, mix in the tomato paste, Dijon mustard, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, salt, pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
- Once the beef is fully cooked, add the macaroni noodles, and beef broth. Stir well. Then cover the pan and simmer for 7-10 minutes, until the pasta is cooked to al dente.
- Remove the lid and stir in the half & half and shredded cheese. Simmer and stir another 2-3 minutes, until the sauce is thick and smooth. Serve warm.
My family keeps asking me to make this! Delicious!
I’ve tried several different hamburger helper recipes and didn’t care for the end result. This however was good. I’ll keep this in the rotation. Tastes very good. Thanks for the recipe.
Why can you substitute instead of half and half?
Hi Camille,
Technically half & half is half heavy cream and half whole milk, so that would be the best option. However, in a pinch, you can just use whole milk. :)
This recipe is great! Added a little more spices and substituted beef for ground chicken. I’m also allergic to tomato’s so I doubled up on the mustard.
Fantastic!
This recipe was absolutely delicious! I wasn’t sure about the blend of spices but it’s genius! My only complaint is there weren’t enough noodles so I made more and added to the pot. Then it was perfect. I added about 16oz of noodles overall. Will definitely make again. Thank you!