Hamburger Helper Recipe

Course: Dinner, pasta

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 15

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 45

Servings: bowls

Calories: 675kcal

Hamburger Helper is easy to make at home! Wow kids and adults alike with this amazingly comforting and nostalgic copycat recipe.

Boil 6 cups of water in a large pot set over high heat, then add the pasta and cook for 7 minutes. Drain and set aside.
8 ounces dry elbow macaroni
In the meantime, heat the olive oil in a large pan set over medium heat. Add the onion and stir and cook until it becomes translucent. Stir in the garlic and stir just until it becomes fragrant, about 30 seconds.
1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ white onion, 3 cloves garlic
Add the ground beef then crumble and cook until it is no longer pink.
1 pound ground beef
Stir in the tomato paste, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, paprika, salt, and pepper, and cook for another 2 minutes.
2 tablespoons tomato paste, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon ground paprika, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Pour in the beef broth, milk, and sour cream, and whisk until fully combined.
1½ cup low-sodium beef broth, 1½ cups milk, ½ cup sour cream
Bring it to a low simmer over medium heat, then stir in the cheddar cheese until fully melted.
3 cups freshly shredded cheddar cheese
Add in the cooked pasta and stir for 3-4 minutes, or until the pasta starts to emulsify and become creamy.
Serve immediately with freshly minced parsley for garnish, if desired.

You can swap the elbow macaroni for any other short pasta shape, such as shells, bowties, or penne.
In place of the olive oil, you can use vegetable oil, canola oil, avocado oil, or unsalted butter.
In place of the beef, you can use ground chicken, turkey, lentils, or diced tofu.
In a pinch, you can swap the Worcestershire sauce for soy sauce.
In place of the beef broth, you can use vegetable broth.
In place of the milk, you can use cream cheese, plain yogurt, evaporated milk, plant-based milk, water, or more beef broth.
In place of the sour cream, you can use plain yogurt or vegan sour cream.
Feel free to swap the cheddar cheese for Colby, Swiss, Monterey jack, or vegan cheddar.
For spicier Hamburger Helper, add a bit of chili powder or hot sauce.
You can sneak in spinach at the end of cooking.
For the thickest, creamiest Hamburger Helper, I recommend using whole milk and full-fat sour cream.
Use freshly-shredded cheddar cheese for the best consistency. Pre-shredded cheese is coated in starch that can cause it to melt unevenly.
Feel free to taste and adjust the seasonings to your personal tastes.

Storage: Store Hamburger Helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.