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A close up photo of macaroni noodles, ground beef, and a cheesy sauce in a cast iron skillet.
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Homemade Hamburger Helper

Once you make this homemade version, you'll never want to go back to eating sotre bought hamburger helper ever again.
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 4 servings
Calories 1017kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 2 cups low sodium beef broth
  • 1 1/2 cups milk
  • 2 cups elbow macaroni pasta uncooked
  • 2 cups cheese shredded

Seasonings

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 2 teaspoons onion powder
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  • In a small bowl combine the seasoning ingredients. 
  • Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, add the ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat. 
  • Sprinkle the seasoning mixture and the tomato paste. Stir in the beef broth, milk, and pasta. Bring to a boil, cover the pan with a lid, reduce to a simmer and cook for 8-10 minutes or until pasta is al dente. 
  • Sprinkle grated cheese over the pasta, stir to combine so that it gets all melty. Remove from heat. 
  • Let pasta stand for a few minutes to thicken. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Notes

For a healthier meat option you can substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef.
You can reduce the amount of cheese to 1 cup for a lower calorie meal, but keep in mind the pasta won't be as cheesy. OR up the cheese game by adding cheese on top and sticking the pan in the oven on broil for a minute.
Use a low-sodium beef broth however, if you use regular beef broth eliminate the salt in the recipe.
Can use regular or whole grain pasta. I'd recommend elbow macaroni pasta or shell pasta work best for this recipe.
Want to add vegetables? Add chopped zucchini, carrots or peas to the dish!
Storing: Store any leftovers of the hamburger helper in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
Reheating: Add a splash of broth or milk to keep the creaminess.

Nutrition

Calories: 1017kcal | Carbohydrates: 98g | Protein: 50g | Fat: 48g | Saturated Fat: 23g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 16g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 149mg | Sodium: 1081mg | Potassium: 839mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 1713IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 544mg | Iron: 5mg