This homemade hamburger helper recipe is an easy meal ready in under 30 minutes!
Cheeseburger macaroni is a one pot meal with ground beef and elbow macaroni in an easy cheesy sauce!
This hearty dish is filled with tasty pantry staples! No complicated ingredients.
Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
This is an easy copycat of Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni, perfect for busy weeknights!
- This homemade casserole is a one-pot wonder. The whole dish is made in one skillet for less mess and less cleanup.
- This copycat hamburger helper recipe is made from scratch with just a few simple ingredients.
- Budget-friendly, add extra pasta and sauce to stretch it even further.
- This dinner is just as quick as the boxed version and it’s on the table in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients for Cheeseburger Macaroni
Ground Beef – Choose lean ground beef and drain off any fat after cooking. Substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.
Sauce – The pasta is simmered with seasonings in chicken broth and milk until tender. Beef broth can be substituted, but we find chicken broth to give the best flavor.
Cheese – Once the pasta is tender, stir in the cheese. A bold cheese like sharp cheddar cheese adds the most flavor. Try any kind of cheese, but be sure at least one has a sharp, bold flavor.
Seasonings – Salt, paprika, and pepper are the seasonings of choice for this stove-top casserole. For extra flavor add some hamburger helper to the dish or a package of instant soup.
Variations
- Swap the milk for light cream for extra creaminess or stir in a little sour cream or Greek yogurt before serving for a little tang.
- Change up the seasonings with a tablespoon of tomato paste or 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard.
- Add fresh vegetables like onion, celery, or tomatoes.
How to Make Cheeseburger Macaroni
There are a variety of flavors of Hamburger Helper; this version is a copycat cheeseburger macaroni recipe.
- Brown the beef and onion in a large skillet (as per the recipe below).
- Add the uncooked elbow macaroni with the remaining sauce ingredients.
- Bring to a simmer until the macaroni is tender, and stir in cheese.
Serve with a simple and colorful side dish to complement the cheesy, meaty richness. Try steamed brussels sprouts, baked butternut squash, or homemade cornbread.
Storing Leftovers
- This macaroni dish will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days and for 1 month in the freezer.
- Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or place in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through.
Easy One Pot Ground Beef Dinners
Sesame Ground Beef Stir Fry
Homemade Beefaroni
Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ⅔ cup diced yellow onion about 1 medium
- 2 cups milk
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ¾ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
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In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, garlic powder, sugar, salt, paprika, and pepper. Set aside.
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Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and onion, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat.
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Add milk, broth, and elbow macaroni to the beef. Stir the cornstarch and spice mixture. Bring to a boil.
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Once boiling, reduce the heat, and let simmer, covered, for 9-12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through. Stir the mixture occasionally and, if needed, add more broth or water.
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Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. Serve hot.
Notes
- Substitute the onion with 1 teaspoon onion powder if desired.
- Depending on the brand of pasta and the size of the pan, you may need a little bit more or less liquid. Add extra broth or water as needed.
- Add any kind of cheese but ensure you use bold cheese, it’s needed for flavor.
- Remove the skillet from the heat before adding the cheese.
- For a little extra kick, add a dash of hot sauce, or some red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American
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Yum! Quick and easy. I made this last week with ground beef and white cheddar, and again this week with ground turkey (what I usually get for these kinds of recipes) and yellow cheddar (just what was available). Honestly, I prefer it with the turkey, and the yellow cheddar gives it that unmistakable nostalgic Hamburger Helper look. It packs well for lunch the next day, though like any pasta dish, it does dry out a little bit as the noodles continue to suck up all the liquid. But it still tastes good. Will definitely be adding this to my rotation.
Really good, quick and easy recipe. I am lactose intolerant so I made it with lactose free milk. Also added chopped green pepper which added a good flavor.
This recipe is amazing, so quick and easy and the taste is awesome. I needed a quick meal to prepare for my husband to take to work and this worked wonderful, Thank you so much for this recipe definitely going in the recipe binder.
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! So tasty! Thank you
It was delicious and soooo easy!!!
Absolutely delicious! I love all your recipes as does my family! Will definitely be making this again!