Ditch the box and make this Instant Pot Hamburger Helper just as easily! This all-in-one recipe for Hamburger Helper is a tastier, healthier version of the classic boxed staple and is ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish!
Made with ground beef, tender elbow noodles, and a perfectly spiced tomato sauce, this Instant Pot version of Hamburger Helper, sometimes referred to as American Goulash, is a family-favorite meal.
My husband loves Hamburger Helper. As a child, he loved the boxed version but as an adult, only my homemade version will do.
While the stove-top version of this classic is simple to make, making it in the Instant Pot is EASIER and mostly hands-off.
Not only is this recipe picky-eater approved, economical to make, and incredibly tasty, but it is also so much better for you than the boxed version. It is lower in sodium, preservative-free, and you can control the quality of ingredients. Win-win!
We make this simple meal often at our house and after seeing just how perfectly this dish turns out, I do believe Instant Pot Hamburger Helper will become a staple Instant Pot recipe at your house as well!
Ingredients Needed
- Ground Meat: Use ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken for this recipe. I personally prefer using lean ground sirloin for flavor and because it has very little grease.
- Noodles: Elbow noodles are classic in Hamburger Helper and this cooking time has been determined using elbow noodles. To use another type of noodle may result in needing to cook longer. I have used Gluten-Free Barilla elbow noodles with success in this recipe. I can not speak to success using other brands of gluten-free noodles.
How To Make Hamburger Helper in Instant Pot
Step One: Saute Beef
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Turn Instant Pot to saute and allow to heat up.
- Once heated, add in the ground meat and brown up, breaking up into small pieces as the meat cooks.
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Once the meat is browned, turn off the pressure cooker and drain off any fat if needed.
Step Two: Scrape up Browned Bits
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Add in beef broth to Instant Pot and scrape up all the browned bits off the bottom of the Instant Pot. This will help to prevent a burn notice.
Step Three: Add in Remaining Ingredients
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Add in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and tomato sauce and stir to combine well.
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Add in noodles and gently push down into sauce--do NOT stir into sauce. You want the noodles just submerged into the sauce.
Step Four: Pressure Cook
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Cook on high pressure for 3 minutes.
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Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally for 5 minutes.
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Then do a quick release of any remaining pressure--be sure to stand away from the vent knob when releasing pressure.
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Stir in Worcestershire sauce into the hamburger helper and serve.
Recipe Tips and Notes
- How to Double the Recipe: To double your recipe, simply double the ingredients. The cook time will remain the same, it will just take a bit longer to come to pressure.
- 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 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.
- Storage Instructions: Leftover Hamburger Helper can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, you may want to add in a splash of beef stock or water, as the noodles tend to absorb the sauce as they sit.
- Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper Instructions: If you would like a cheesy version of Hamburger Helper, stir in 4 ounces of diced Velveeta Cheese or 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese AFTER cooking. The residual heat should be enough to melt the cheese.
- Adding Flavor: Feel free to saute 1 small onion and 2 cloves of minced garlic with the beef. I use garlic and onion powder instead for a dish that is approved for picky palates.
More Instant Pot Beef Recipes
If you enjoyed this Instant Pot version of goulash or hamburger helper, I would love for you to leave a comment below.
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
This easy instant pot version of Hamburger Helper, or American Goulash, is ready in less than 30 minutes from start to finish and is a family favorite meal!
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Servings: 6 people
Calories: 423kcal
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef or chicken/turkey
- 3 cups low-sodium beef stock/broth
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 3 cups elbow noodles about 8 ounces
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to saute, add oil, and let heat.
- Once the oil has heated, add in the meat and brown it fully, breaking it up into small pieces. Once the meat is cooked, turn off the pressure cooker. Drain off any fat and return the inner pot back to the inner pot.
- Add 1 cup of beef broth to the inner pot and use a spatula or spoon to scrape up all the browned bits off the bottom of the inner pot.
- Add in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, paprika, and Worcestershire sauce, and stir well to combine.
- Add in noodles and gently push them down into the sauce. You want the noodles just submerged into the liquid. Top the noodles with tomato sauce.
- Set to cook on high pressure for 3 minutes (hit manual or pressure cook and adjust time by using +/_ buttons until the timer reads 3).
- Once the cooking 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.
- Fluff the noodles with a fork to incorporate everything. Taste and adjust seasonings if needed and serve.
Equipment Needed
Notes
Ground Meat: This recipe works using ground turkey, beef, or chicken.
Noodles: Both whole wheat and regular elbow noodles work. I find Barilla brand of gluten-free noodles works best if making this gluten-free. Using another shape of noodles may result in needing to change the cooking time, so I don't recommend it.
To double this recipe, simply double the ingredients. The cook time will remain the same, it will just take a bit longer to come to pressure.
Storage Instructions: Leftover Hamburger Helper can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 days in the refrigerator and can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, you may want to add in a splash of beef stock or water, as the noodles tend to absorb the sauce as they sit.
Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper Instructions: If you would like a cheesy version of Hamburger Helper, stir in 4 ounces of diced Velveeta Cheese or 2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese AFTER cooking. The residual heat should be enough to melt the cheese.
Nutrition
Calories: 423kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 719mg | Potassium: 785mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 340IU | Vitamin C: 3.1mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 3.5mg
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This post was originally published in 2018 but was updated in 2021.
J.P. Shandra
Hi Kristen,
Great recipe. I have had my IP for a couple years now, and came across your cooking blog then as well.
Your site is my first stop when searching. I’m blind and your recipes are detailed, easy to follow, and always what’s expected. Thanks for that!
This was a winner!! Tasty and not from a box. My cooking collection and IP confidence greatly improved with your help. More adventurous now. 😊
Kristen Chidsey
Hi J.P. First, I am so grateful you found my site easy to navigate and the recipes easy to follow. I am also glad you enjoyed this recipe and hope you find many more to enjoy!
Amanda
Excellent. I put diced onion in with the meat while it was Browning. And added the cheese mentioned in the notes at the end. The macaroni was quite soft. 9 kids ages 2-19 and my husband, we all loved it. Thank you.
Marc Krasner
Simple review... loved it! Kids loved it (tough critics!). Very easy to make. Better than the box!!!
Kristen Chidsey
That is huge praise! Thanks for sharing Marc.
Jamie Lynn Allen
Hi. I only have one can of french onion beef stk. W that work?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Jamie Lynn! Is it the condensed soup? If it is, that will not work. If not, it will definitely add a lot of flavor and sodium so I would omit the salt.
Gayle
A question concerning the browning of the hamburger. In another post I received (I'm new to this), you had directions for browning 1-2 lbs of hamburger as a block, i.e. basically the way it comes in the packaging, and then breaking it up. Can the hamburger for this recipe be browned this way?
Kristen Chidsey
Hi Gayle! That recipe was for cooking FROZEN ground beef. If you want to start with frozen beef, then yes, start the recipe following those directions in the link 🙂
Jane Saunders
I was drawn to this recipe because of the fun name (I'm from the UK) - it's a keeper of a recipe. So good.
Kristen Chidsey
So happy you gave it a try and enjoyed Jane!
Katie
Delicious!
Dayna
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.
Kristen Chidsey
Yes Danya, 3 cups.
David
Thanks for sharing this recipe. I made it today with a few changes. I added diced tomatoes and sautéed onions and doubled everything except the beef stock. It was truly delicious. I did get a burn food notice but when I released the steam and stirred it it was fine. I had two helpings. I think next time I’ll make a single batch instead of double.
Kristen Chidsey
Hi David! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed so much! I am sorry you had a burn notice, although it sounds like it may have been a false alarm. Just be sure to fully scrape off browned bits off the bottom of the inner pot and then layer the tomatoes on top of the pasta and that should help.
Nikki
Could I add a can of diced tomatoes to this? My husband likes his chunky, lol.
Thank you!
Kristen Chidsey
ABSOLUTELY!!! My kids hate the chunks, hence why I leave it out. Just add in place of tomato sauce.
Amanda Rivera
When doubling the recipe, do you need to extend the time on pressure cook?
Kristen Chidsey
No, but it will take longer to come to pressure--so keep that in mind 🙂
Gwen Lindsey
If doubling the recipe doesn't require doubling the time, but the pot will take longer to come to pressure, wouldn't it be best to reduce the total time under pressure? Since the building of pressure is also cooking to some extent. Love your site!
Kristen Chidsey
That is a great question Gwen! After many experiments, I have found it is best to just keep the cooking time the same.