Instant Pot Hamburger Helper is sure to become a family favorite! This easy version of Hamburger Helper, or American Goulash, is ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish and made entirely in the pressure cooker.
Don’t have a pressure cooker? Make my stove-top Hamburger Helper instead! Looking for more Instant Pot Recipes? Check out all my Healthy Instant Pot Recipes.
My husband LOVES Hamburger Helper. As a child he loved the boxed version, as an adult, he greatly enjoys my homemade version, which is a staple at our house.
I have had many requests for an instant pot version of my stovetop Hamburger Helper. And I am here to deliver with an easy, delicious recipe that your family will beg for again and again.
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper is made in one pot and comes together in LESS than 30 minutes. It is picky-eater approved, economical to make, and incredibly tasty!
This instant pot version is almost identical to my stove-top version. The bonus of using the instant pot is that once the meat has been browned, this meal is hands-off and the noodles cook up perfectly!
How To Make Hamburger Helper in Instant Pot
Step One: Saute Beef
- Turn Instant Pot to saute and allow to heat up.
- Once the instant pot has heated (the Instant Pot will say Hot).
- Add in the ground meat and brown up, breaking up into small pieces as the meat cooks.
- Once the meat is browned, turn off the pressure cooker.
- Drain off any fat if desired.
Step Two: Scrape up Browned Bits
- Add in beef broth to Instant Pot and scrape up all the browned bits off the bottom of the Instant Pot.
Step Three: Add in Remaining Ingredients
- Add in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and tomato sauce and stir to combine well.
- Add in noodles and gently push down into sauce–do NOT stir into sauce.
Step Four: Pressure Cook Hamburger Helper
- Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
- Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
- Then do a quick release of any remaining pressure–be sure stand away from vent knob when releasing pressure.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce into the hamburger helper and serve.
How to Double
If your family is like mine, you will want to double this recipe! My kids BEGGED for leftovers in their school lunches.
To double your recipe, simply double the ingredients. The cook time will remain the same!
Avoiding the Burn Notice
There are 3 things you can do to help avoid getting the burn notice when cooking in your Instant Pot.
- Start with a clean inner pot. Make sure the bottom of your inner pot is clean from residue from former recipes–I use steel wool to get that bottom perfectly clean in between uses.
- After browning the meat, add in beef stock and scrape up any browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
- Do not STIR in noodles, just gently nudge them down until covered with the liquid.
Instant Pot Recipes using Beef
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef or chicken or turkey
- 3 cups beef stock low sodium
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 3 cups elbow noodles about 8 ounces
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute and allow to heat up.
- Once the instant pot has heated, add in the meat and brown up, breaking up into small pieces. Once the meat is cooked, turn off the pressure cooker. And drain off any fat if desired.
- Add in beef broth to Instant Pot and scrape up all the browned bits off the bottom of the Instant Pot. Turn the Instant Pot off.
- Add in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and tomato sauce and stir to combine well.
- Add in noodles and gently push down into the sauce.
- Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes (hit manual and adjust time by using +/_ buttons until timer reads 3).
- Once cook time has elapsed, let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes. Then do a quick release of any remaining pressure--be sure stand away from vent knob when releasing pressure.
- Stir in Worcestershire sauce into the hamburger helper and serve.
Equipment Needed
Notes
- Feel free to use any ground meat your like for this recipe.
- Both whole wheat and regular elbow noodles work. I find Barilla brand of gluten free noodles works best if making this gluten free.
Silly question but I was confused by the “about 8 ounces” listed in gray after the 3 cups of noodles: “3 cups elbow noodles about 8 ounces”. It’s 3 cups total, right? Thank you.
Yes Danya, 3 cups.
Could I add a can of diced tomatoes to this? My husband likes his chunky, lol.
Thank you!
ABSOLUTELY!!! My kids hate the chunks, hence why I leave it out. Just add in place of tomato sauce.
When doubling the recipe, do you need to extend the time on pressure cook?
No, but it will take longer to come to pressure–so keep that in mind 🙂
I used no name tricolour rotini (not gluten free) and had to add 3 mins. Other than that it was the perfect recipe!! My kids loved it!!
Hi Ash! I am glad you enjoyed the flavor. If you choose to use another type of noodle other than elbow noodles, the cook time will change–just as it does when you are boiling noodles on the stove 🙂 A good rule of thumb is to cut the suggested cook time in half and then let pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
I found it to be the opposite. I got a burn message without mixing the noodles in. I scaped the bottom, stirred and put back on.
Hi Victoria! I am sorry for your issues. It sounds like you may not have scraped off the browned bits of ground meat off the inner pot. Be sure to do that really well. Also, be sure to turn OFF Your instant pot after sauteing so that the liquid does not evaporate. I hope that helps.
Do you think this would work using just 2 cups of beef stock? Maybe adding more tomato sauce?
Hi April! You need thin liquid to cook the noodles. I would use water (and extra seasoning) if you don’t have enough stock.
Great thanks so much!!! Want to make this tonight but only had 2cups of beef stock
I made this last night. First time making pasta in my IP and it was magical how the liquid just disappeared 😛 I added some shredded marble cheese and parmesan cheese because who doesn’t like cheese.
Has anyone tried freezing after cooking? Good or bad idea?
Hi Tynesha! Isn’t it amazing to see how well it works?
I have frozen leftovers before. It freezes well and reheats well after being defrosted.
Question for Instant Pot Hamburger Helper: do you add the noodles uncooked or cooked? Could you use ramen noodles?
Thank you so much! Can’t wait to fix this!
Hi Angela, I add the noodles UNCOOKED. I would not use ramen noodles as they have a different cook time and would require a change in the amount of liquid used. Hope you enjoy 🙂
Would I be able to double this recipe?
Yes, as long as it does not fill your Instant Pot more than 2/3 of the way full 🙂
Kristen, or instead of Mac
This sounds really good, my family likes meals like this. Do you ever add cheese to this or instead of Mac. add sliced potatoes. Also I have never used a pressure cooker, does it work well and is it easy to clean?
Hi Tim! It is one of our favorites! We do like to stir shredded cheese in at the end of the cook time–and it is delicious. As for using potatoes–that would take quite a bit of tinkering with to get right, so I would not recommend it. I ADORE my instant pot. You can read more about my Instant Pot 101 (https://amindfullmom.com/instant-pot-101/)–or I have a stove top version (https://amindfullmom.com/clean-eating-hamburger-helper-skillet-sundaysupper/) if that is better for you.
How well would this work with Tinkyada Brown Rice noodles? Also, what kind of worcestershire sauce do you use? Thank you!
Hi Deborah, I have used Barilla GF pasta with success but have not tried this recipe with the Tinkyada brand–however, I would think it would work, as long as this brand does not create too much foam when cooking (which then would not be suitable for the Instant Pot). Sorry I don’t have a more definitive answer. As for Worcestershire sauce, I use French’s but any brand will work.
After making this quick and easy Instant Pot version, I’ll never buy the boxed stuff again! Thanks so much for sharing!
YAY! So glad you enjoyed Jessica!
This brought me right back to childhood! But it was so much better than the boxed stuff!
I am so glad you were able to enjoy a childhood favorite.