Homemade Hamburger Helper

You’ll immediately go back to your childhood with this delicious recipe. This Homemade Hamburger Helper is a creamy, cheesy, and flavorful one-pot meal! Made with seasoned ground beef, tender macaroni, and a rich tomato and cheese sauce, it’s a comforting and easy weeknight dinner the whole family will love.

I love taking common and comforting family recipes and making them freezer-friendly. The trick with this is to add to noodles later on the day of cooking. This ensures they don’t become mushy.

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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground beef, browned and cooled
• 1 onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 12 fl. oz. evaporated milk
• 1 3/4 cups beef broth
• 14 fl. oz. tomato sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded

Day of Cooking

• 2 3/4 cup macaroni noodles

Assembly instructions:

1. Place shredded cheese in a quart-sized freezer bag.
2. Place all other ingredients in a large freezer bag.
3. Remove excess air and seal.
4. Staple together above the seal.
5. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.
2. Bring large bag contents to a boil in a large stovetop pot or skillet.
3. Add macaroni.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover.
5. Cook 12-16 minutes, stirring often until noodles are al dente.
6. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
7. Cover to melt.
8. Serve.

How to Serve

There are multiple ways you can serve this to make a delicious dinner. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley, extra shredded cheese, or a dash of red pepper flakes for a finishing touch. Or top with a dollop of sour cream or a drizzle of hot sauce for added creaminess and heat.

You can also serve it with a simple green salad, garlic bread, or roasted vegetables to balance the meal.

Or place the pot on the table and let everyone serve themselves family style with topping options on the side.

For more ideas like this one, check out our One Pot Pasta Puttanesca or One Pot Cajun Chicken Pasta.

Print

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

20 mins

 

Course: Main Course

Servings: 4

Calories: 681 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 lb. lean ground beef browned and cooled
• 1 onion diced
• 1 green bell pepper diced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1 tsp. Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp. paprika
• 1/4 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 12 fl. oz. evaporated milk
• 1 3/4 cups beef broth
• 14 fl. oz. tomato sauce
• 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded

Day of Cooking

• 2 3/4 cup macaroni noodles

Instructions

Assembly instructions:

1. Place shredded cheese in a quart-sized freezer bag.
2. Place all other ingredients in a large freezer bag.
3. Remove excess air and seal.
4. Staple together above the seal.
5. Freeze.

Cooking instructions:

1. Thaw.
2. Bring large bag contents to a boil in a large stovetop pot or skillet.
3. Add macaroni.
4. Reduce heat to medium-low. Cover.
5. Cook 12-16 minutes, stirring often until noodles are al dente.
6. Stir in 1/2 cup of the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese on top.
7. Cover to melt.
8. Serve.