Homemade Hamburger Helper
One-pot dinner is done in no time. It’s my version of Homemade Hamburger Helper that is bursting with flavor. It’s a classic Macaroni Cheeseburger with cheesy pasta and lean ground beef. Weeknight dinner made easy!
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best to serve with:
- Garlic bread
- Mixed green salad
- Fruit bowl
- Or sandwich it between 2 hamburger bun. Kind a like Sloppy Joe but better.
For the spices:
- Dried basil
- Dried thyme
- Dried oregano
- Garlic powder
- Or you can use a tablespoon of Italian seasoning
watch how to make it
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recipe
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Equipment
- Dutch oven or deep wide pot
- knife
- cutting board
- Spatula
- Measuring cups
- Measuring spoons
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 6 oz. canned tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- 2 cups dried macaroni, or any short pasta
- 4-5 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mild cheddar cheese
- handfull chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the Dutch oven with oil. Add the onion, saute until tender. Add the garlic, continue sauteing until fragrant. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add the garlic powder, dried basil, dried thyme, dried oregano, and smoked paprika, stir until well combined.
- Add the ground beef, cook until no longer pink. Add Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, honey, and brown sugar, stir to combine.
- Add dried macaroni, continue stirring until well combined. Add the broth, lower the heat, cover, and simmer for 2-3 minutes or until the macaroni is cooked. Check and stir to make sure it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- Add half of the Parmesan and Cheddar cheese, continue stirring. Then, add the rest of the cheeses before serving.
Notes
- Use at least 4 cups of broth. If it’s drying out, then add more broth until the macaroni is cooked. Make sure the pasta is “al dente” do not overcook or it’ll be mushy.
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Hi there! My name is Jen.
I’m a mom of 2 wonderful girls. I love to prepare and cook home-cooked meals. Cooking and planning your meals might sound like another chore added to your already long list of things to do. Believe me, I’ve been there. However, cooking more meals at home is worth all the effort. After years of cooking for my family and teaching culinary classes, I can honestly say that I have more control over the quality of the ingredients I use. That means I’m eating a lot healthier. Eating healthy doesn’t have to be boring or don’t have to eat the same thing repeatedly. There are ways we can do to naturally enhance the flavor of our food and enjoy home-cooked meals.