Delicious Homemade Cheeseburger Helper Recipe

If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, I bet you ate a lot of Hamburger Helper. It was definitely one of those weeknight dinners that our moms loved because it was so easy. And honestly, we kids loved it, too.

I can still get down with a box of Cheeseburger Helper or even Tuna Helper. But I also know that I can make it myself in about the same amount of time, and it’ll taste even better than the boxed version. There’s something pretty satisfying about remaking one of your childhood favorites and introducing it to your kids.

Easy Homemade Cheeseburger Helper

I know I don’t need to explain to any parents reading this why I love easy dinner recipes so much. And when you’ve got a husband like mine who’s a super picky eater, it’s an even bigger win when I can come up with easy recipes that everyone will eat. We eat a lot of Ritz cracker chicken and ham and cheese sliders around here. Thankfully, everyone loves this homemade cheeseburger helper, too.

This recipe has everything you loved about the boxed version: ground beef and elbow macaroni in a tomato-based sauce, finished with plenty of cheddar cheese. But the thing about making it at home is that we can make it even more flavorful – and you get to control exactly what goes in it.

From start to finish, this recipe will take you about 35 minutes to make. That’s not much longer than it takes to prepare the boxed stuff! And the extra few minutes will be well worth it, I promise.

Plus, it’s a one-pot meal! Easy cleanup is always a win, which is why we love recipes like one-pot spaghetti and one-pot mac and cheese, too.

How to Make This Cheeseburger Helper

Ingredients You’ll Need

There’s a pretty good chance you already have most, if not all, of the ingredients for this recipe in your fridge and pantry. You’ll need:

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound lean ground beef
• 1/2 cup diced sweet onion
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon paprika
• 1 1/2 teaspoons fine sea salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cloves minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 3 1/2 cups beef broth
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
• 1/4 cup heavy cream (optional)

Making This Recipe

Grab a large Dutch oven or a high-sided skillet. Heat the olive oil over medium heat, then add the ground beef and onion. Cook until the beef is browned. If needed or desired, drain the excess fat and return the mixture to the pan over medium heat.

Add the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Incorporate the minced garlic and tomato paste, cooking for an additional 30 seconds.

Pour in the beef broth and Worcestershire sauce, and bring the mixture to a boil. Add the elbow macaroni and reduce the heat to medium.

Allow the mixture to simmer uncovered for about 13-15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pasta is cooked and most of the liquid has absorbed.

Afterward, remove the pan from heat and stir in the heavy cream. Slowly add the cheese, stirring until melted and well-combined. Season to taste with additional salt and pepper if needed and let the dish rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Substitutions and Recipe Variations

The best part about making homemade cheeseburger helper is that you control what goes in it. Some favorite substitutions or variations include:

• Swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
• Add extra finely diced vegetables, like bell peppers or carrots.
• Make it gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta and Worcestershire sauce.
• Add some heat by swapping cheddar for pepper jack and including hot sauce or red pepper flakes.