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One Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe

One pot hamburger helper in skillet with ground beef, macaroni, and melted cheese
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Homemade Hamburger Helper with ground beef, pasta, and extra cheesy sauce—better than the box and ready in 30 minutes using just one pot.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1.5 lbs ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup cream cheese, softened
  • Extra cheese for topping

 

  • Fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  • Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Add ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook 6-8 minutes until browned. Leave 1 tablespoon fat in pan.
  • Add diced onion and cook 3-4 minutes until softened.
  • Add garlic and cook 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  • Add paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, basil, and cayenne. Stir 1 minute.
  • Stir in tomato paste and cook 1 minute.
  • Pour in beef broth, milk, tomato sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and scrape up browned bits.
  • Bring to boil over medium-high heat.
  • Add elbow macaroni and stir well.
  • Reduce heat to medium and simmer uncovered 12-15 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes, until pasta is tender.
  • Remove from heat.
  • Add cream cheese in dollops and sprinkle cheddar cheese over top.
  • Let sit 1 minute, then stir until smooth and creamy.

 

  • Adjust consistency with milk if needed. Garnish with parsley if desired.

Notes

  • Don’t drain all beef fat – leave 1 tablespoon for flavor
  • Stir pasta frequently to prevent sticking
  • Remove from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess
  • Cream cheese makes it extra creamy
  • Sauce thickens as it sits
  • Add milk when reheating to restore creaminess
  • Ground turkey or chicken works as substitute

 

  • Freezes for up to 2 months but texture changes slightly

Nutrition

Find it online: https://fabiloustaste.com/one-pot-hamburger-helper-recipe/