One Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Whip up a quick and delicious meal with this One Pot Hamburger Helper recipe. Savory ground beef, pasta and a creamy sauce all in one pan!
I love a good one-pot meal! I have shared many of the ones we make when we are camping, but these kinds of meals are a great way to save prep time and clean-up for an easy weeknight dinner at home too.
Most importantly, one-pot meals are so easy to make!
Too busy to make this right away? Pin it for later! Pin this post to your favorite board on Pinterest and it will be there when you’re ready!
Today, the recipe I am sharing is a homemade version of Hamburger Helper.
Unlike with a store-bought box of Hamburger Helper, making your own homemade version allows you to have total control over what ingredients go into your food.
And it really is easy to make!
Serve this one-pot Hamburger Helper with a simple side salad and some garlic bread and you have yourself a meal that the whole family will love. Even the picky eaters!
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Rest: 5 min
Total: 30 min
Yield: 8-10 servings
One Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe:
Ingredients:
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup diced tri-colored peppers
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 16 oz uncooked pasta (3 cups)
- 2-8oz cans of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese
Directions:
1. In a large skillet, brown the ground meat and chopped onion.
2. Once browned, drain off any excess fat. Add in the minced garlic.
3. Add salt, pepper, paprika, and parsley.
4. Stir to mix, then add beef broth, tomato sauce, milk, and the pasta.
5. Bring everything to a boil and turn the heat down to a simmer.
6. Cover with a lid and cook for 12-15 mins.
7. Stir occasionally to make sure the pasta doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
8. Once pasta is cooked, add in the cheese and stir.
9. Turn off the heat and cover to let the cheese melt.
Variations:
- A sprinkling of red pepper flakes, chili powder, or hot sauce would give this dish a little kick.
- Try adding garlic powder, onion powder, Worcestershire sauce, or Italian seasoning.
- Boost the tomato flavor by adding in some tomato paste.
- Whole milk can be replaced with 2%, 1%, or even skim, but that change will effect the creaminess of your final product.
- Substitute vegetable broth for the beef broth.
- Instead of using beef, try this recipe with ground chicken or ground turkey and chicken broth.
- Replace the peppers with your family’s favorite vegetable. Or simply include extra veggies along with the peppers.
- Top with fresh parsley before serving.
Tips and Tricks:
- If you are worried about your meat sticking, use a little bit of olive oil in your pan.
- I prefer to use smaller pasta shapes, such as pasta shells or elbow macaroni, for this recipe. If you want to use larger pasta, you may need to increase the total amount of liquid and adjust the cooking time to be sure it is thoroughly cooked. Al dente is good. Crunchy isn’t!
- Save time by using frozen vegetables in your cooking. They are an excellent substitute for their fresh counterparts. Using frozen can also save you money, because they last a lot longer.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
The next time you are looking for a quick and easy meal idea, try today’s one-pot Hamburger Helper recipe. You won’t be disappointed! While you’re at it, give this delicious broccoli orzo pasta or lemon chicken a go too.
If you love this one pot hamburger helper, please give it a five start review and share it on Facebook and Pinterest so others can enjoy it too!
One Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 diced yellow onion
- 1/2 cup diced tri-colored peppers
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 16 oz uncooked pasta 3 cups
- 2-8 oz cans of tomato sauce
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp oregano
- 1 tsp parsley flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 1. In a large skillet, brown the ground meat and chopped onion.
2. Once browned, drain off any excess fat. Add in the minced garlic. - 3. Add salt, pepper, paprika, and parsley.
- 4. Stir to mix, then add beef broth, tomato sauce, milk, and the pasta.
- 5. Bring everything to a boil and turn the heat down to a simmer.
- 6. Cover with a lid and cook for 12-15 mins.
- 7. Stir occasionally to make sure the pasta doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
- 8. Once pasta is cooked, add in the cheese and stir.
- 9. Turn off the heat and cover to let the cheese melt.
Nutrition
