Hamburger Helper is one of those dinners that saves busy weeknights. This homemade version is quick, simple, and made in one pan with ingredients you probably already have on hand making it a dinner win each time we make it.
What makes this version so great is the creamy, cheesy sauce and tender macaroni that cooks right with the seasoned ground beef. The kids ask for this all the time because it is delicious and comforting, and I love that it’s on the table in 30 minutes.
If you love quick skillet meals like this homemade Hamburger Helper, you will also want to try our Beef Stroganoff, Italian Sausage Pasta and Chicken Sausage Pasta. These are all family favorites we keep in rotation for easy dinners.
Why we think you’ll love it:
- One Pan Dinner: Everything cooks in a single skillet, which means less cleanup and an easy dinner on busy nights.
- Better Than the Box: This homemade Hamburger Helper tastes richer and more flavorful while still being just as simple to make.
- Quick Weeknight Meal: The whole dish comes together in about 30 minutes which makes it perfect when time is tight.
Hamburger Helper Ingredients
- Ground Beef (1 pound): Adds hearty protein and savory flavor that makes this meal filling and satisfying. We usually use 85 percent lean ground beef so it has good flavor without being overly greasy. Use ground turkey, ground sausage, or ground chicken in place of ground beef.
- Ketchup (1 tablespoon): Adds a little tangy sweetness that helps build the simple homemade sauce and balances the richness of the cheese.
- Garlic Powder (1 teaspoon): Adds savory flavor throughout the dish without needing fresh garlic.
- Onion Powder (1 teaspoon): Gives the beef mixture that classic comfort food flavor that tastes similar to the boxed version.
- Garlic Salt with Parsley Flakes (1 teaspoon): Seasons the entire skillet while the parsley adds a hint of color and flavor.
- Pepper (½ teaspoon): Adds mild heat and balances the creamy cheese sauce.
- Macaroni (1 ½ cup): Soaks up the flavorful broth while cooking and gives the dish its classic pasta texture. Small elbow macaroni is what we used for this recipe, but any similarly sized noodle will also work such as cavatappi, rotini, or small shells. Add more liquid like milk, chicken broth, or water if you feel your pasta is too dry.
- Chicken Broth or Water (32 ounces): Cooks the pasta and creates the base for the creamy sauce. Chicken broth adds more flavor, but water works if that is what you have.
- Sour Cream (½ cup): Makes the sauce creamy and smooth while adding a slight tang that balances the cheese.
- Cheddar Cheese, shredded (2 cup): Melts into the pasta and creates the rich cheesy sauce that makes this recipe so good. We like sharp cheddar for the most flavor.
How to Make Hamburger Helper
GROUND BEEF. Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain grease and return meat to the pan.
PASTA. Reduce heat to low and add the ketchup, seasonings, macaroni, and broth to the pan. Stir well to combine.
SIMMER. Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until macaroni is cooked through. Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
SERVE. Return the pan to the warm burner and stir in the shredded cheese until well combined. Add any more broth or water, if needed, to make it more creamy. Garnish with fresh parsley.
Kristyn’s Recipe Tips
- Use freshly shredded cheese: Cheese melts smoother and creamier when it is shredded from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Substitute cheddar cheese with a Mexican blend or pepper jack cheese.
- Spice: Add spice with paprika, chili flakes, or hot sauce.
- Simmer gently: Keep the heat low while the pasta cooks so the broth absorbs slowly and the macaroni cooks evenly.
- Stir occasionally: Give the skillet a quick stir while it simmers to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Add vegetables: Stir in peas, corn, or diced bell peppers to add color and extra nutrition without changing the flavor much.
Hamburger Helper Recipe
Video
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt (with parsley flakes)
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1½ cups macaroni
- 32 ounces chicken broth, or water
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain grease and return meat to the pan.
- Reduce heat to low and add the ketchup, seasonings, macaroni, and broth to the pan and stir well to combine.
- Cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes until macaroni is cooked through.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the sour cream.
- Return the pan to the warm burner and stir in the shredded cheese until well combined. Add any more broth or water if needed to make it more creamy.
Notes
- Use freshly shredded cheese: Cheese melts smoother and creamier when it is shredded from a block instead of using pre-shredded cheese. Substitute cheddar cheese with a Mexican blend or pepper jack cheese.
- Simmer gently: Keep the heat low while the pasta cooks so the broth absorbs slowly and the macaroni cooks evenly.
- Stir occasionally: Give the skillet a quick stir while it simmers to keep the pasta from sticking to the bottom.
- Add vegetables: Stir in peas, corn, or diced bell peppers to add color and extra nutrition without changing the flavor much.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe FAQ
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. Freeze in an airtight container in the freezer for 4-6 weeks.
Reheat slowly over low heat on the stove. The pasta will have soaked up some of the moisture. Go ahead and add a little bit of milk to help smooth it out. If you’re in a hurry or on the go, reheat it in the microwave.
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This recipe was first shared September, 2020.
This is one of our go-to favorite recipes. Ty for making it and sharing it!
Awesome! I’m happy that you all like it so much.
Delicious and so simple! OMG so much better than the box!! I used ground turkey and reduced sodium broth. Mine was a little soupy; I may add another half cup of macaroni next time.
Yay! So happy you loved it! Thanks for sharing that!
Love it!
Happy you do! Thanks for trying it!
Quick, easy and delicious!
This is a favorite in my home. I’m always looking to up the nutritional value in my dishes and add sauteed onions, mushrooms, and garlic to this dish along with a splash of Worcestershire sauce. I serve it with a fresh salad or veggie dish and rolls or french bread. My guys absolutely love it! Thanks for such a great recipe.
I really like cheeseburger hamburger helper and this recipe looks exactly like it. I cant wait to give it a try. Thank you for posting a simple and delicious family meal recipe.
OMG soooo delicious! I never write reviews but was shocked how easy and good this recipe is. It is now a weekly dinner in our house!
Thanks so much for leaving the review! I’m glad the recipe was a hit!
Love this recipe! Anything homemade is better and this is a keeper. Tasty, easy, and affordable. I’ll use this recipe often. The whole family loves it.
This is excellent and easy. It’s a staple and always requested when the grandkids come over for an overnight stay.
I have made this hamburger helper recipe many times for my boyfriend. He loves it. He says it’s better than the store bought bc it has less salt.
hey girl- this is right up my alley!! yummy!!
Hi Kristyn,
I have been looking for a homemade version of Hamburger Helper and your recipe looks wonderful. I was wondering if you think I could substitute the 1/2 cup of sour cream for plain greek yogurt, or do you think the yogurt would curdle? Thank you in advance!
Sophie
You should be able to swap the two just fine! Hope you enjoy the recipe!
This has a delicious flavor but I can’t figure out how I’ve made this twice now but it turned out more like soup both times. The second time I even added less broth and took out a half cup after the noodles were done cooking and it was still too soupy. Maybe next time I’ll add only 16 oz of broth.
You could definitely try adding less broth. There is a video on the post too… is yours turning out to be much soupier than what you see in the video? That’s probably your best bet is to reduce the broth if the noodles aren’t soaking it up enough.
This is as close to the real thing as you can get but so much better!! My whole family loves this meal!
Family favorite that everyone will eat in our house
Hard to get my kid to eat anything with protein in it! She requests this recipe now! So delish!
Yes!! That is definitely a win. So glad the recipe is a hit!
Little upset that mine came out like a soup!
I’m sorry to hear that! That’s frustrating. Perhaps there was too much liquid? It sounds like the pasta didn’t absorb enough of the liquid?
Made this for supper.. yummy!. Better than the box stuff.
Dorothy
Thank you!! So glad you love the recipe!
My husband and I loved it. Was very easy and I will make it again
Good tasting meal that the kids loved! Easy, quick, and very few dishes. Recommend!!
Thank you!! So glad you enjoyed the recipe. It is a great one for kids/families!
Made this last night for dinner with a few modifications found in the comments. I added chopped onions when browning ground beef and reduced the amount of broth to 16 ounces. I also used gluten free lentil pasta (which I’ve substituted in many of my recipes) and it turned out delicious! My hubby is picky about sour cream, so I left it out and adding some to my plate. Was just as good without sour cream, just less creamy. Even picky toddler loved it. Will definitely make again!
I’m glad your modifications worked so well with this recipe. Toddlers can be hard to please and I’m so happy it turned out for you. Thanks so much for sharing!
Great base recipe! As simple and convenient as the boxed version, but I like that I can control the salt. (Low sodium diet here.) I took the advice in the tips section and added chili powder, smoked paprika, and chili sauce. Also browned the meat with chopped onion. Delicious!
Thank you for sharing that!! I love being able to add whatever you like 🙂
How much is in one serving?
I’d say about 1 cup, give or take.
Looks yummy (and easy)! Think I can use egg noodles instead of macaroni? Just worried the noodles will cook too fast.
You sure could! Enjoy!!
I ended up using macaroni since that’s what my husband likes, and it came out great! WAY better than the boxed stuff. I added a half cup of diced onions to the meat, but otherwise I wouldn’t change a thing! Also I simmered a little longer to make it thicker. Yummy!!
Happy to hear that!! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
This is a great meal for busy nights.
Delicious! My husband and I loved it. I had to cook down the broth for an additional 15-20 minutes though.
Thank you for trying it 🙂
Great recipe, needs a few tweaks to the cooking time. Should bring to a boil, then reduce to medium low using the same amount of water or chicken broth, covered, but vented until about a half a cup of liquid remains… about 20 minutes. Other than that, very good…very little leftovers. Will try hamburger stroganoff next. Thanks bunches for the recipe.
Thank you so much for trying it 🙂
Tastes good, but very very very runny. I’d suggest using less water/broth or reducing it on the stove before adding the sour cream/cheese.
Not usually my favorite meal, but then again I’ve only had the boxed version. Homemade is definitly the way to go! This is a perfect recipe for busy week nights.
Perfect dinner idea for busy weekdays! My family loves it!
So much better than the box version! Putting this into our regUlar dinner rotation.
This looks so delicious and yummy! I can’t wait to give this a try!
Another family favorite. Always better than the boxed version!
And less salty
My 14 yr old son could eat the boxed hamburger helper weekly, so when I made him this, he said “no more to the boxed stuff!”