Description
This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a quick and comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a cheesy tomato-infused sauce. It’s a flavorful and satisfying dish perfect for busy weeknights, combining savory spices and melted cheddar cheese for a delicious family-friendly dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef (80-85% lean)
- 1 cup finely chopped sweet yellow onion
Spices and Sauce
- 4 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 ½ teaspoons sweet paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¾ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups low sodium beef broth
Pasta and Cheese
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni pasta, uncooked (8 ounces by weight)
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat and Brown: Heat the olive oil in a Dutch oven, large skillet, or heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and finely chopped yellow onion. Cook while crumbling the beef until it is browned and the onions are soft. Drain excess grease if necessary.
- Add Spices and Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste, sweet paprika, dried oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
- Add Broth and Pasta: Pour in the low sodium beef broth and stir to combine. Add the uncooked elbow macaroni pasta.
- Simmer and Cook Pasta: Bring the mixture to a simmer. Once simmering, reduce heat to maintain a moderate simmer, cover the pot, and cook, stirring every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking. Continue for about 12 minutes until the pasta is tender but the sauce remains slightly brothy.
- Finish with Cheese: Turn off the heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Use 80-85% lean ground beef for the best flavor and texture.
- Add finely chopped vegetables such as carrot, bell pepper, or celery during the browning step to increase nutritional value.
- For a less intense beef flavor, substitute half of the beef broth with water.
- To make the dish creamier, replace 1 to 1 ½ cups of the broth with whole milk.
- Stirring frequently during cooking helps prevent the pasta from sticking and ensures even cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
