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Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

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★★★★★

4.3 from 20 reviews

This homemade Hamburger Helper is a comforting and easy-to-make skillet meal featuring seasoned ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a creamy Velveeta cheese sauce. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s perfect for a quick family dinner that delivers rich, savory flavors without any processed ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale

Meat and Seasonings

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • ½ tsp pepper
  • ½ tsp dried thyme
  • ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 2 tbsp ketchup

Liquids and Pasta

  • 2 cups beef broth
  • 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
  • 1 cup milk

Cheese

  • 1 ½ cups Velveeta (cubed)

Instructions

  1. Cook the ground beef: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, cook the lean ground beef over medium heat until fully browned and no longer pink. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish leaner and avoid greasiness.
  2. Season the beef: Add garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, dried thyme, dried oregano, and ketchup to the cooked beef. Stir well to combine all the flavors evenly throughout the meat.
  3. Add broth and pasta: Pour in the beef broth and bring it to a rolling boil over high heat. Once boiling, add the dry elbow macaroni and stir to prevent sticking. Reduce heat to medium-low and cover the skillet with a lid. Simmer for about 8 minutes, stirring occasionally until the pasta is tender but not mushy.
  4. Incorporate cheese and milk: Add the cubed Velveeta cheese to the skillet and stir continuously until the cheese melts completely into a smooth sauce. Then stir in the milk to make the sauce creamy and luscious. Heat through and serve hot immediately.

Notes

  • For a lower-fat version, use extra-lean ground beef or substitute ground turkey.
  • You can swap Velveeta for cheddar cheese, but it may affect the creaminess and melt quality.
  • If the sauce is too thick, add a splash more milk or broth to reach your desired consistency.
  • Stir frequently during melting to prevent cheese from sticking or burning to the pan.
  • Leftovers can be refrigerated up to 3 days and reheated with a little milk to loosen the sauce.

Keywords: Homemade Hamburger Helper, Ground Beef Skillet, Cheesy Beef Pasta, Easy Weeknight Dinner, Quick Comfort Food

Find it online: https://foodiecara.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-recipe/