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Homemade Hamburger Helper is the ultimate one-pot family dinner recipe! Made with ground beef, tender macaroni, and a rich tomato sauce, this quick and easy from-scratch version comes together just as easily as the box mix, yet tastes so much better!
Looking for more easy one-pot dinner recipes? Don't miss my recipes for Baked Rigatoni, Ground Beef Stroganoff, and Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls.
Hamburger Helper Made Better
One of my husband's all-time favorite meals as a child was Hamburger Helper. Now, he will happily trade the box for my homemade version of hamburger helper.
Just like the box mix, Homemade Hamburger Helper comes together with very little effort using just one pot in under 30 minutes. Unlike the store-bought mix, this version is lower in sodium and leaves the preservatives on the shelf.
Add a mandarin orange salad or green beans almondine on the side for the ultimate kid-friendly dinner--or husband-friendly meal in my case!😉
Happy Cooking! xo Kristen
Note on Ingredients & Equipment
You will find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card. Below are a few tips to help you make the right selections regarding specific ingredients.
- Ground Meat Options: Use ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken.
- Use Tomato Paste + Tomato Sauce: The tomato paste delivers rich tomato flavor, while tomato sauce helps to create the sauce.
- Elbow Noodles are Classic. Macaroni noodles grab the sauce and make the homemade version mimic the store-bought staple.
- Don't Skip the Worcestershire Sauce. It will help to enhance the flavors in this otherwise simple dish.
- Use a Large Deep Pan. That will ensure you can sauté the beef and simmer the noodles all in one big pot.
How To Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
The following tips are provided to help you achieve perfect results. You will find the ingredient quantities and detailed instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Brown Meat. Heat a bit of oil in a large saucepan. Once heated, add in the ground beef and sauté until the meat is fully browned, being sure to break the meat into small pieces as it browns. If needed, remove the skillet from the heat and drain off any grease before proceeding with the recipe.
- Toast Tomato Paste. Add in the tomato paste, onion powder, and garlic powder and let heat for just a minute or two. This will help to develop the flavor of the spices and tomato paste, making your final dish taste so much richer, and like it took much longer than 30 minutes to make!
- Simmer Noodles. Add the broth, tomato sauce, salt, and noodles and bring to a boil. Once boiling, turn the heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally until the noodles are al dente. If you notice the liquid is evaporating before the noodles are fully cooked, you can add in a bit more broth or water as needed.
- Finish with Flavor. Turn off the heat and stir in Worcestershire sauce and serve.
Recipe Modifications
- Homemade Cheeseburger Helper: Add 2 cups of freshly grated cheddar cheese to the dish along with the Worcestershire sauce and stir until the cheese has fully melted into the dish.
- Gluten-Free Modification: For best results, use Barilla brand of Gluten-Free elbow noodles and ensure beef stock/broth and Worcestershire Sauce are gluten-free. Other brands of gluten-free noodles can give off too much starch as they simmer, impacting the flavor and texture of the dish.
- Instant Pot Hamburger Helper: Speed up the process and follow my recipe for Instant Pot Hamburger Helper.
- Taco-Flavored Hamburger Helper: Add a Tex-Mex Spin to your hamburger helper using my easy recipe for One-Pot Taco Pasta.
Storage Instructions
- Refrigerate: Allow leftovers to cool slightly, transfer to an airtight container, and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Let cool fully, transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Defrost in the refrigerator overnight if needed. Transfer to a microwave-safe dish, add a splash of water or broth if needed, and cover with a damp paper towel. Reheat in the microwave in 1-minute intervals until heated through.
More Easy Family-Favorite Dinner Recipes
- One Pot Mac and Cheese
- Tex-Mex Chicken Skillet
- Cheese Stuffed Meatloaf
- Tater Tot Casserole
- Stuffed Pepper Casserole
- Mexican Spaghetti
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Video
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground meat, (beef, chicken, or turkey)
- 6 ounces tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 8 ounces tomato sauce
- 3 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth, + ½ cup more as needed
- 2 cups dried macaroni noodles
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
Instructions
- Add 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil to a large deep skillet or saucepan and heat for 30-60 seconds over medium-high heat. Once the oil has heated, add 1 pound lean ground meat to the pan and brown, being sure to break the meat into small pieces as it browns. Once the beef has fully browned, remove the pan from the heat to drain off excess grease, If needed.
- Add 6 ounces tomato paste, 1 teaspoon paprika, 2 teaspoons onion powder, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper to the pan. Cook over medium heat for 2 minutes, stirring to coat the meat with the tomato paste and seasonings.
- Add 8 ounces tomato sauce and3 ½ cups low-sodium beef broth to the pan, turn the heat to medium-high, and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the liquid comes to a gentle boil, stir in 2 cups dried macaroni noodles, and turn the heat to medium-low.
- Simmer, uncovered, for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until noodles cooked through and sauce is absorbed. If needed, add in up to ½ cup of additional broth if you see the liquid is evaporating before the noodles are tender.
- Once the noodles are tender, turn off the heat and stir in 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce. Taste to adjust seasonings and then serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This recipe was originally published in 2017 but was updated in 2024 with new step-by-step pictures.
Hi, quick question on the ingredients. Are you calling for 3.5 cups of beef broth or 1.5? It’s hard to tell from the way the list is published above. I attempted to make the dish, which was delicious, but I had to cut it with water as it was too thick to cook the noodles with only 1.5 cups of the broth. Thinking it’s supposed to be 3.5? Thanks for the great recipe! 🤗
Hey Austin! Sorry for any confusion, the recipe states 3 1/2 cups liquid. I am not sure where it was that you saw 1.5 cups. Let me know so I can fix that ASAP!!! Thank you!
May have been my mistake. I cut and pasted the recipe to print and it changed the 1-6 ounce can 1-8 ounce can of tomato paste/sauce respectively to 16 and 18 so when I fixed it I mistakenly changed 3 1/2 ounces to 1 1/2 thinking it meant three half cups or 1 1/2. Thanks so much for clarifying!
That makes sense now! Thanks for your reply Austin. I want to be sure the recipes are correct and easy to follow 🙂
I just love how darn easy this is! And real foods every time! Thanks for the recipe, Kristen, my family loves it!
YAY!!! I am so happy to hear that this is such a well loved recipe for your family! Real foods for the win!
I love this healthy option! So perfect for a weeknight meal!
Thanks Tayler! It makes a busy night SO much easier!
So salty. Otherwise, pretty yummy. Next time, I'll eliminate the salt.
Hey Kelly, Sorry this dish was a bit too salty for you. It may have to do with your beef broth. If you don't use low-sodium it would be overly salty.
definitely a great idea to make a boxed classic from scratch for a healthier option. I need to give it a try!
I hope you do David!
This looks better than the box. I can't wait to try this.
So much better than the box 😉
So easy---perfect for a busy weeknight! Reminds me of the goulash I used to make as a newlywed, but a heck of a lot better 🙂
It is very similar to goulash!