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Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade Hamburger Helper is a comforting, quick, and delicious one-pan meal that brings back childhood memories. This classic dish combines ground beef, pasta, and a rich, cheesy sauce, offering a hearty and satisfying meal for busy weeknights. Making it from scratch allows you to control the ingredients, making it fresher and more customizable than the boxed version.
Prep Time10 minutes
Active Time25 minutes
Total Time35 minutes
Course: dinner
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Homemade Hamburger Helper
Yield: 4

Materials

  • - 1 lb ground beef
  • - 2 cloves garlic minced
  • - 1/2 cup onion diced
  • - 1/2 cup bell pepper diced
  • - 2 cups beef broth more if needed
  • - 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • - 1 tsp oregano
  • - 1/2 tsp basil
  • - 1 tsp garlic powder
  • - 1 tsp onion powder
  • - 8 oz can tomato sauce
  • - 1 tsp salt
  • - 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • - 8 oz pasta of choice farfalle, elbow, or rotini
  • - 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • - 1.5 cups shredded cheddar cheese
  • - 4 oz Velveeta cheese cubed

Instructions

Cook the Beef

  • - In a large skillet with a lid, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat until browned. Remove the beef from the pan and drain, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease.

Sauté the Vegetables

  • - Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
  • - Add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

Create the Base

  • - Sprinkle the flour over the vegetables and stir for about 1 minute.
  • - Gradually add the beef broth, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a boil.

Add Pasta and Seasonings

  • - Pour in the tomato sauce, oregano, basil, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • - Add the pasta, stir well, and cover with the lid. Cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pasta is tender. If the mixture becomes too thick, add more beef broth.

Finish with Cream and Cheese

  • - Stir in the heavy cream and both cheeses (cheddar and Velveeta) until melted and well incorporated.
  • - Return the cooked ground beef to the skillet, mixing it into the pasta and sauce. Cook for an additional 2 minutes to heat through.

Serve

  • - Serve hot and enjoy the comforting flavors of this homemade dish.