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Hamburger Helper

Snejana Andreeva - 1

By Snejana Andreeva

on Sep 20, 2024, Updated Jan 22, 2025

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As any immigrant can tell you, our families prioritize home cooking over everything else. This is why I made my own version of Hamburger Helper which bridges the gap between homemade and classic American . Although this recipe contains no processed ingredients, it still comes together in just ⏲️ 30 minutes and has all those classic flavors that we all grew up with. It’s comforting and hearty, so I know your family will love it. This dish feels like one giant hug in a bowl!

  • Why You’ll Love Hamburger Helper
  • How to Prepare
  • Nonna’s Tip 🍝
  • Variations and Substitutions for Hamburger Helper
  • Similar Recipes
  • Best Served With
  • Common Questions
  • Hamburger Helper Recipe

Why You’ll Love Hamburger Helper

My Hamburger Helper recipe has all the comforting textures and flavors of pasta, ground beef, and 🧀 cheese but with a little upgrade . Let’s face it: my ancestors would haunt me if I didn’t throw in some earthy paprika, sweet 🍅 tomato paste, and flavorful beef broth to make it taste like it’s been slow-cooking for hours. This dish is perfect for a weeknight meal and freezes beautifully, so you can make a big batch and have some for another night. This is cold-weather cooking at its best: hearty, warm, and satisfying for the whole family.

A white bowl filled with cooked elbow macaroni mixed with a meaty tomato sauce. A few fresh basil leaves garnish the dish. A spoon is partially visible, resting in the macaroni, which looks flavorful and hearty. - 3

How to Prepare

🔥 To a big pot on medium-high heat, add the oil and let it get hot.

🥩 Once it shimmers, add in the ground meat, breaking it apart and cooking until the water evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to brown.

🧅 Once browned, add in the onions and stir.

🧄 Next, add in the minced garlic and stir.

🍅 Now, add the seasonings tomato paste, and stir again.

💧 Add in the water, broth , and any small pasta shape of choice.

🌡️ Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick.

🧀 Once the pasta is cooked, add in grated cheddar of choice and enjoy!

Nonna’s Tip 🍝

Once you add the pasta, make sure to continuously stir to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

A white bowl filled with creamy macaroni beef pasta garnished with fresh basil leaves. The pasta is coated in a rich, savory sauce and chunks of ground beef are mixed throughout. A silver fork rests on the side of the bowl. - 4

Variations and Substitutions for Hamburger Helper

  1. My favorite pasta to use in this Hamburger Helper is small shells or elbow macaroni, but you can certainly use any pasta shape you like or have in the pantry.
  2. You can use 🥕 vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth instead of bone broth in this recipe. I suggest using a good quality, unsalted (or low in sodium) broth with minimal ingredients.
  3. Instead of 🧀 Cheddar cheese, you can also use Parmesan, mozzarella, or Manchego. Anything melty would work!
  4. Make this recipe dairy-free by using your favorite non-dairy melting cheese.
  5. You can use ground 🍗 turkey, beef, pork, veal, or chicken and they’ll all be delicious.

Similar Recipes

A white bowl filled with a Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls mixture of cooked cabbage and ground meat, garnished with chopped herbs, sits on a light surface with a wooden spoon resting on the rim. A beige cloth is partially visible beside the bowl. - 5 A white bowl filled with a Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls mixture of cooked cabbage and ground meat, garnished with chopped herbs, sits on a light surface with a wooden spoon resting on the rim. A beige cloth is partially visible beside the bowl. - 6

Deconstructed Cabbage Rolls

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A bowl of hearty chili with ground meat, red and white beans, chopped peppers, green onions, and a swirl of sour cream on top, served with a wooden spoon on a wooden table. - 9 A bowl of hearty chili with ground meat, red and white beans, chopped peppers, green onions, and a swirl of sour cream on top, served with a wooden spoon on a wooden table. - 10

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Best Served With

  • Serve this Hamburger Helper recipe with some buttery garlic bread .
  • Serve this hearty dish alongside a fresh 🥗 Simple Green Salad or my Lemon Parmesan Salad .
  • Serve this with any simple veggie : steamed 🥦 broccoli or beans, roasted carrots, or sauteed mushrooms.

Common Questions

My favorite is small shells or elbow, but you can absolutely use any pasta shape you like or have in the pantry.

You can certainly use vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth instead of bone broth in this recipe. I suggest using a good quality, unsalted (or low in sodium) broth with minimal ingredients.

Cheddar cheese is classic but Parmesan, mozzarella, or Manchego would be delicious, too. Any melty cheese of choice or a combination you love.

This Hamburger Helper recipe is so versatile. You can use ground turkey, beef, pork, veal, or chicken and they’ll all be delicious.

Make this Hamburger Helper recipe gluten-free by using any gluten-free pasta of choice instead.

Yes! You can absolutely use your favorite non-dairy cheese instead of cheddar. Just make sure it melts nicely.

I haven’t personally tried it, but I think this Hamburger Helper would definitely work using a plant-based ground or even crumbled tofu.

Yes, you definitely can freeze a portion of this for another quick meal!

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Video

Equipment

  • ▢ Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • ▢ Nakiri Knife
  • ▢ Cutting Board
  • ▢ Liquid Measuring Cup
  • ▢ Box Grater
  • ▢ Large Pot

Ingredients

  • ▢ ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • ▢ 400 grams lean ground beef
  • ▢ 1 onion , diced
  • ▢ 3 cloves garlic , minced
  • ▢ 1 tsp salt , to taste
  • ▢ ½ tsp pepper , to taste
  • ▢ 1 tsp paprika , to taste
  • ▢ ¼ cup tomato paste
  • ▢ 2 cups beef bone broth , unsalted
  • ▢ 1 cup water
  • ▢ 1.5 cups elbow pasta
  • ▢ 1 cup cheddar cheese , grated

Instructions

  • ▢ To a big pot on medium-high heat, add the oil and let it get hot. Once it shimmers, add in the ground beef. You can also use ground turkey or chicken to lighten this recipe up.
  • ▢ Break the meat apart, and cook until the water evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to brown.
  • ▢ Once browned, add in the onions and stir. Add in the minced garlic and stir. Now, add the seasonings tomato paste, and stir again.
  • ▢ Add in the water, broth, and any small pasta shape of choice. My favourite pasta is small shells or elbow pasta but you can use any of choice.
  • ▢ Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick. Once the pasta is cooked, add in grated cheddar of choice and enjoy!

My Notes

Nutrition

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Hamburger Helper

Equipment

  • Measuring Cups + Spoons
  • Nakiri Knife
  • Cutting Board
  • Liquid Measuring Cup
  • Box Grater
  • Large Pot

Ingredients

  • ½ tablespoon olive oil
  • 400 grams lean ground beef
  • 1 onion diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 tsp salt to taste
  • ½ tsp pepper to taste
  • 1 tsp paprika to taste
  • ¼ cup tomato paste
  • 2 cups beef bone broth unsalted
  • 1 cup water
  • 1.5 cups elbow pasta
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese grated

Instructions

  • To a big pot on medium-high heat, add the oil and let it get hot. Once it shimmers, add in the ground beef. You can also use ground turkey or chicken to lighten this recipe up.
  • Break the meat apart, and cook until the water evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to brown.
  • Once browned, add in the onions and stir. Add in the minced garlic and stir. Now, add the seasonings tomato paste, and stir again.
  • Add in the water, broth, and any small pasta shape of choice. My favourite pasta is small shells or elbow pasta but you can use any of choice.
  • Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick. Once the pasta is cooked, add in grated cheddar of choice and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Hamburger Helper https://themodernnonna.com/hamburger-helper/ September 20, 2024