Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper

Made with tender elbow noodles, browned ground hamburger with onions, and a creamy tomato and shredded cheddar cheese sauce, this Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is family and budget-friendly!

Yum! As a ’90s kid who ate Box Hamburger Helper on a weekly basis, this homemade Hamburger Helper tastes just like the real deal—the original boxed Hamburger Helper I loved! The seasoning is spot on, and the cheese sauce is delicious! To make it more budget and kid-friendly, I increased the noodle-to-meat ratio. I love that this easy recipe comes together quickly with pantry staples, too. Now, having found a homemade version of Hamburger Helper, life is good!

How to Make Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper

This easy homemade hamburger helper is a savory 30-minute meal idea. It’s hearty, filling, and practically melts in your mouth. To make homemade hamburger helper you simply brown the beef, add the seasoning and broth, cook the noodles, and top it off with cheese!

Ingredients for Homemade Hamburger Helper

• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 4 tablespoons of tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 3 cups(or about 12 ounces) elbow noodles
  • The more noodles you use, the more broth or water you will need.
• 5 cups beef broth
  • Make the broth using 5 cups of water and 5 teaspoons of Better Than Bouillion’s Beef Base. It is easy to stock and make, perfect for any recipe that needs beef broth!
• 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions for Homemade Hamburger Helper

Add the ground beef and onion to a 5QT brasier, large skillet or soup pot. Season with salt and pepper if desired. Brown the meat over medium heat until it is no longer pink. Continue to break up the meat as it browns with your spoon. If there is a lot of excess fat, spoon it off.

Then, stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, and chili powder. Add the beef broth and increase the heat to medium-high. Once it hits a boil, add the elbow noodles and lower the heat until it is a rapid simmer or small boil. Cook the noodles uncovered, stirring every minute or so until the noodles are tender and most of the liquid is absorbed, which is around 13-15 minutes.

*If the noodles are not done and there is not a lot of liquid, add 1 cup of water until you reach enough liquid. If the noodles appear to be getting done and there’s too much liquid, boil at a higher heat to evaporate the liquid off.

Once the noodles are cooked, take the pot off the stove and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until well combined. Add a dash of salt and pepper to taste. Let it cool for about 5 minutes to absorb the juices, then serve by itself or with a crust of bread, a light salad, or a hot vegetable. Enjoy!

Storing Homemade Hamburger Helper

We love leftover Hamburger Helper! It’s perfect for quick lunches and easy meals. Store leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat on the low heat in a skillet on the stove or in the microwave. Add a splash of water if the noodles appear dry as noodles continue to absorb liquid the longer they sit.

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This Easy Sloppy Joe’s recipe is a perfect mix of browned ground beef, savory onions, your favorite ketchup, and brown sugar. It’s sweet, tangy, and requires just four ingredients for a delicious and quick meal anytime!

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