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Creamy Homemade Hamburger Helper Fix Easy Recipe for Quick Dinners

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A quick and comforting homemade version of Hamburger Helper featuring creamy cheese sauce, browned ground beef, and tender pasta. Perfect for busy weeknights with simple pantry ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound (450 g) ground beef (80/20 lean)
  • 2 cups (200 g) elbow macaroni (or small shells, rotini)
  • 2 tablespoons (28 g) unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons (16 g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 tablespoon dried parsley (or fresh parsley)
  • 2 cups (16 fl oz / 480 ml) beef broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup (8 fl oz / 240 ml) whole milk (or 2%, or dairy-free milk like oat milk)
  • 1 ½ cups (170 g) shredded cheddar cheese
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Optional: diced bell peppers, frozen peas, chopped mushrooms, spinach

Instructions

  1. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving a little for flavor.
  2. Sprinkle garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper over the beef. Stir well to coat evenly.
  3. Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and let it melt. Sprinkle flour over the beef and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes until mixture thickens and turns light golden.
  4. Slowly whisk in beef broth and milk, stirring to combine smoothly. Cook for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens.
  5. Stir in elbow macaroni, ensuring pasta is submerged. Cover skillet with lid, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking. Pasta should be tender but firm.
  6. Remove lid, sprinkle shredded cheddar cheese over the top, and stir until melted and creamy. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Optional: fold in cooked veggies like peas or diced bell peppers for extra nutrition and color.
  8. Serve immediately, spooning into bowls.

Notes

If sauce is too thick, stir in a splash of milk to loosen. If too thin, cook uncovered a few more minutes to reduce. Use freshly shredded cheese for best melting and texture. Browning beef well adds flavor. Stir pasta occasionally to prevent sticking. Can substitute pasta shapes and use gluten-free or dairy-free alternatives as needed.

Nutrition

Keywords: homemade hamburger helper, creamy hamburger helper, quick dinner, ground beef recipe, easy pasta dinner, comfort food

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