Ingredients for Homemade Hamburger Helper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 pounds ground beef
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- not used in recipe (macaroni and cheese made from scratch)
- 3 cups milk
- 4 tablespoons butter
- not used in recipe (2 cups shredded cheddar cheese used)
- 6 cups water
- 1 pound elbow macaroni
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Cook Smarter with Sous, Your Kitchen Companion
Missing an ingredient for this Homemade Hamburger Helper? Need a perfect wine pairing or a healthy side dish idea? Don't guess—ask Sous! Your AI-powered sous-chef is ready to help you swap ingredients, adjust serving sizes, and discover flavor tips in seconds.
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
- Boil 6 cups of water in a large pot. Add 1 pound of elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add 1 medium onion, chopped, and 2 cloves garlic, minced, to the skillet. Sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add 1.5 pounds of ground beef to the skillet. Crumble the beef with a spoon and cook, breaking it up as it browns. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, 1/2 teaspoon paprika, and 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder.
- Once the beef is almost cooked through (still slightly pink), stir in 1 (14.5 ounce) can of diced tomatoes, undrained.
- Continue cooking until the beef is no longer pink and the tomatoes have softened, about 5 more minutes.
- In a separate saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons of butter. Whisk in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour until smooth. Gradually whisk in 3 cups of milk until smooth and creamy.
- Stir in 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese until melted and smooth. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the cheese sauce and stir to coat.
- Add the beef and tomato mixture to the macaroni and cheese. Stir until well combined and heated through.
- Serve immediately with extra cheese if desired.
Nutrition Information (Approximate per serving)
Sodium
17 g
Sugar
16g
Fat
63g
Carbs
7g
