Homemade Hamburger Helper
Hamburger helper recipe made from scratch will be a huge crowd-pleaser for the whole family. I make this more often than any other meal at my house.
This is the easiest and by far one of my FAVORITE dinners I’ve made so far this entire year. Maybe I have the taste buds of a kid, but I promise there’s no way you won’t like this, children and adults alike 🙂 It came out fantastically delicious.
Quick (ready in about 20 minutes!), easy, and tastes a million times better that the box stuff. What more could you ask for? Homemade versions of hamburger helper are so much better than the boxed version. And really they do not take any longer to make.
I’m so glad you’re here! Follow along on Pinterest for more inspiration!
The real beauty of this meal is that it is also quite inexpensive to make – it uses mostly ingredients that you probably already have on hand, with maybe the exception of the hamburger to “help” bring the meal together . Also, it’s made in ONE skillet! You know what that means – clean up is quick and painless! Obviously you can see that I can’t say enough good things about this meal. Just go ahead and make it already…
A similar recipe on my site that you might also love is this Sloppy Joe Macaroni & Cheese. It’s also made all in one skillet and super quick to make! We also love this Cheesy Chicken Sausage Pasta Skillet which is the same idea! That’s another favorite in my family. You can see all of my skillet pasta dinner recipes that take less than a half hour to make.
By the way, I think it tasted even better (if that were possible) as a leftover the next day! Enjoy your week!
Check out my step-by-step video on how to make this Homemade Hamburger Helper!
- 1 lb ground beef
- cooking spray
- 2½ cups milk
- 1½ cups hot water
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¾ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Heat a large skilletover medium-high heat.
- Spray with cooking spray and add the ground beef. Brown until cooked through and no longer pink. Discard any fat.
- Add the pasta, milk, water and spices and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil and turn the heat down to simmer.
- Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is al dente.
- Add the cheese and stir to combine. Serve immediately!
Recipe source: adapted from farmgirlgourmet.com
Hey there, I´m a big fan of paprika and I see it on the list of ingredients 🙂 I love the fact that it took so quick to make, got to try it 😉 Xx
Definitely try it!!
This sounds like my husband’s ideal dinner! I swear he would be so happy to have pasta, meat and sauce every night. 🙂 Obviously I’m pinning this to make next week, because that’s the kind of good wife I am. Thanks Ashley!
I have to say I feel the same as far as pasta, meat and sauce every night! That’s the only kind of meal I never get sick of 🙂
I can’t wait to try this. My husband likes hamburger helper but I always feel guilty making it for him due to the sodium and being so processed. Thanks.
This is way more guilt-free! 🙂
I know my boys would love this and especially since it is a little spicy too. I would hope there would be leftovers for lunch the next day, but maybe not with my 2 hungry boys!
Leftovers were even better!
The hubby has been begging me to buy hamburger helper but I simply couldn’t shake the idea of using the canned stuff (not that there is anything wrong with it…just never grew up on it so it doesn’t call out to me). He will go bonkers over this recipe. Pinned and making asap!
This is way better than the box stuff!
I obviously don’t eat meat, but I love the concept of this. It is nice to see homemade versions instead of meals from a box that contain a ton of preservatives and artificial ingredients…gross!
Thanks, Hannah!
Oooh I might have the tastebuds of a kid too, but this looks spectacular to me 😀
I’m glad we’re on the same page 😉
Such a fun and fast dinner! And classic flavor! This is inspired – thanks.
Thanks John!
My husband says thank you for this 😉 He has missed his Hamburger Helper since we “got healthy” a few years back!
This is way less bad for you! 🙂
Homemade hamburger helper?! I bet this is a 1000 times better than the box version, which I used to love until I became a food snob…LOL Thanks so much for sharing!
It sure is!! Thank YOU!!
We use to eat Hamburger Helper growing up, but I don’t like using it now because of all the overly processed ingredients. I can’t wait to give this homemade version a try! Thank you for sharing it!
Same here – ate it growing up but could never justify eating it now that I know what really is in it!
You are reading my mind! I thought about this a few nights ago when I needed a quick dinner, thanks for doing the work for me! Btw, I still love Hamburger Helper, even today. 🙂
It’s good stuff!!
I’ve never had hamburger helper, but homemade is always better. This looks like creamy, comforting goodness. I need it for dinner!
You’ll love this even if you’ve never had the box stuff!
I want to try this for sure. My husband and son would love it (me too). There’s something about elbow macaroni that is so nostalgic. Thanks for the homemade recipe!
AWww thanks for this nice comment, Monica!
Can’t beat a quick and easy meal! And when it involves cheese, meat, and pasta- count me in!
See, this is what I mean when I say on my blog that people are afraid to even try to cook; they have no idea that they CAN do it and it CAN be so easy! Great job, Ashley!
Thank you so much!
Never have I seen a Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe! But, maybe I was never really looking. My guess is that the cornstarch plays the magic roll in making everything thick and creamy. It looks delish! Comfort food is sometimes the order of the day. Thank you for sharing, Ashley!
I made this and it was a big hit with my guys.
Wanda, thank you so much for coming back to let me know!!
What would be the number of servings for this recipe?
I haven’t made homemade hamburger helper before. Sounds better than the boxed stuff. Thank you for the recipe! ☺
Does it have to have cornstarch? Im out at the moment
Ashley, you would be so proud!!! Nick made this dish for me the other night and it was amazing. Nick always like Hamburger Helper but I’ve never been a fan. Nick knew that I would try any recipe off of your blog so he made it and it did not disappoint. LOVED IT! Next stop for you… COOKING SHOW on TV. I will co-host!
Now this comment just made my day!!! You’re the best!
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Made this for dinner tonight and eating it as we speak! This was so fast and easy, and tastes so good! I’m not feeling guilty at all eating this, since it’s so much better for you than the processed junk. I think that a dollop of sour cream will work well with this too….sort of like stroganoff. This is definitely going to be one of my go to quickie recipes! Next batch I’m going to make using ground venison or bison for an even healthier version. Thank you Ashley!!
Wow this comment made my day!! Thank you so much for letting me know you loved it! Great idea to use sour cream as an addition. I love stroganoff 🙂
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thanks for this nice information.I like to eat Hamburger.
I am out of cornstarch do you thonk it would work with maybe some flour instead?
I don’t see why not! 🙂
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Tried this tonight as I just so happened to have some ground turkey defrosting. I needed to put together something fast for dinner as I was pressed for time and boy was this delish! Love that it’s really only a few ingredients which I usually have on hand. I will be adding this to my dinner rotation. Kids loved it so I can officially say “Kid tested, mother approved!” and hubby too 😉 Thanks for another yummy recipe!
Aww thanks so much for taking the time to let me know! This is one of our favorite dinners of all time!
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I made this for my family for dinner! Sure smells good. It’s cooking. We’ll see how it turns out!
Tonight I was in a pinch and needed a quick supper. I happened to have all of these ingredients on hand, so I decided to give it a try. I was NOT disappointed! I whipped it up in our electric skillet in about 15 minutes, and it was so delicious! My boyfriend loved it as well. Way better than boxed Helper, and we even had leftovers! Yum!!
Breanna! Thanks so much for taking the time to come back and let me know! So happy to hear this tonight 🙂
I use this as a base recipe and have added
Mushrooms, Diced tomatoes, canned corn,
Mild diced chili’s. You’re only limited by your imagination.
This recipe amazing this is my second time making it and its 10000000 times etter then the chemical filled boxes and everybody loves it.thank you.
Anyone have a recipe for the Chicken Helper that had chicken, rice & mushrooms?
Made this for my mom and boyfriend tonight and they absolutely loved it. Tasted so good !
That looks delicious. I really ought to try and make it, hopefully one of these days. Thank you for posting a wonderful recipe, ashley!
Again, this was delish! Added fresh basil, I have lots and I need to use it. Hubby happy happy seconds. Keeping this as a favorite.
I’m so happy to hear this!
So thankful for bloggers like you! I needed a recipe without beef broth and here it is. It was perfect and so delicious! Saving this to make again!
Wow! Thank you so much! you just made my day