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    Hamburger Helper

    Updated May 1, 2025 / By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    Everyone has memories of Hamburger Helper from their childhood. We’re making this comforting classic from scratch, and you’ll be surprised that the homemade version is as easy to make as the box!

    a pan of homemade hamburger helper made with pasta, ground beef, milk, butter, beef stock, cheese and spices
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    More of our favorite beef recipes

    The Best Hamburger Helper Doesn’t Come From A Box

    You know we love a challenge, and when we set out to make a hamburger helper recipe, we didn’t realize that it would be so easy to make a super tasty homemade version using fresh ingredients. We’ve got plenty of easy pastas kids will love, like our Easy Vodka Sauce, 4-Ingredient Stovetop Macaroni and Cheese, and Fettuccine Alfredo. We’ve also gathered our 30 Best Ground Beef Recipes, (Patty Melts, or Sloppy Joes anyone?) for more dinner ideas.

    ground beef, butter, pasta, shredded cheese, beef stock, milk and spices in prep bowls

    Hamburger Helper Ingredients

    • Ground beef

    • Tomato paste

    • Garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder

    • Sugar

    • Salt and pepper

    • Salted butter

    • Flour or cornstarch

    • Stock or water

    • Milk

    • Macaroni pasta

    • Cheddar cheese

    • Parsley, optional for topping

    ground beef, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper in a skillet
    ground beef, tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, mixed together in a skillet
    butter and flour being added to a pan with ground beef and spices
    stock and milk being added to a skillet with ground beef, butter, tomato paste and spices

    DIY Hamburger Helper

    1. Cook the beef in a large pot, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the beef to a colander set over a bowl to drain off the fat.

    2. Stir the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper into the browned beef. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined, about 1 more minute.

    3. Add the stock and milk and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add the elbow macaroni and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened, about 6 minutes.

    4. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Serve sprinkled with parsley if using.

    milk being poured into a skillet with ground beef, spices, and stock
    cooked macaroni noodles being stirred into a skill with cooked ground beef and creamy sauce
    shredded cheddar cheese being stirred into a pan of homemade hamburger helper
    a pan of homemade hamburger helper made with macaroni, ground beef, milk, butter, beef stock, cheese and spices

    How to Store Leftovers + Tips

    • Is Hamburger Helper hard to make? Since we’ve been making this home made Hamburger Helper, we can’t imagine going back to the store bought kind. Our recipe is easy to follow, easy to make, and easy to love!

    • We call for a very lean ground beef for this recipe, making it even healthier than the store bought Hamburger Helper.

    • Our homemade hamburger helper recipe calls for elbow macaroni noodles, but another popular noodle is the egg noodle. You can make it using your favorite noodle.

    • Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days, or in the freezer for up to three months.

    a pan of homemade hamburger helper made with pasta, ground beef, milk, butter, beef stock, cheese and spices
    a pan of homemade hamburger helper made with elbow macaroni, ground beef, milk, butter, beef stock, cheese and spices

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    Hamburger Helper Recipe

    Updated May 1, 2025

    By Holly Erickson & Natalie Mortimer

    • Serves:  4
    • Prep Time:  5 min
    • Cook Time:  15 min
    • Calories:  673
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    Description

    Everyone has memories of Hamburger Helper from their childhood. We’re making this comforting classic from scratch, and you’ll be surprised that the homemade version is as easy to make as the box!

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound 93/7 ground beef
    • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion powder
    • ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
    • ½ teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 teaspoon sugar
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
    • 2 tablespoons salted butter
    • 2 tablespoons flour or 1 tablespoon cornstarch (see Note)
    • 2 cups beef stock, chicken stock, or hot water (we like a combination of beef and chicken stock)
    • 1½ cups milk
    • 8 ounces macaroni pasta
    • 8 ounces freshly grated cheddar cheese, (about 2 cups)
    • Minced fresh parsley, for serving (optional)

    Method

    1. Heat a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Transfer the beef to a colander set over a bowl to drain off the fat.
    2. Return the beef to the pot. Stir the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, chili powder, sugar, salt, and pepper into the browned beef. Add the butter and cook, stirring, until melted, about 1 minute. Stir in the flour until thoroughly combined, about 1 more minute.
    3. Add the stock and milk and bring to a boil. Once the mixture is boiling, add the macaroni and cook, stirring constantly, until the pasta is al dente and the sauce is thickened, about 6 minutes.
    4. Remove the pot from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Serve sprinkled with parsley if using.

    Note:

    If using cornstarch, make a slurry by combining it with ¼ cup of cool water. Then you’ll skip adding the flour in step 2 and instead add the slurry to the pot in step 3 along with the stock and milk. 
     

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 673
    • Protein 47 g
    • Carbohydrates 51 g
    • Total Fat 31 g
    • Dietary Fiber 1 g
    • Cholesterol 139 mg
    • Sodium 958 mg
    • Total Sugars 7 g

    Hamburger Helper

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Phil

      Should you be adding the beef back to the pan first once it has finished draining the fat? Or do you add everything else from step two in first and then the beef back in? It doesnt say when to put the beef back into the pot. Sorry if this is obvious, Im a beginner.

      Transfer the beef back to the pan and then add everything in. No need to be sorry, we will fix that to make it more clear. Thanks Phil, hope you enjoy!

    • Cami

      Can you omit the sugar?

      Sure! Hope you enjoy.

    • Heather

      Thoughts on doubling this recipe to feed a bigger family?

      Go for it! hope you enjoy!

    • M

      If I were to make this recipe with ground chicken or turkey (can't eat beef) is there anything else you would recommend changing in the recipe? Or do you think I shouldn't make it if I can't use beef (i.e., the taste would be too wrong)?

      Subbing for chicken or turkey should work fine! Hope you enjoy!

    • Jeannie

      I tried to make this recipe lower in salt. Used unsalted butter but found that it needed more flavor so I added extra teaspoons of onion, & garlic powder and Italian seasoning. Also added more tomato paste. Good idea combining the 2 broths and used about half the bouillon flavoring with the same amount of water. Another thing is that the pasta didn't cook thoroughly with the amount of liquid so I added about a cup more. Let it boil about 5 more minutes, turned it off and covered it. It's really yummy!

      Glad you enjoyed it Jeannie!

    • Juli

      AMAZING! It smelled so good that it tempted my SO, who wasnt hungry, to come over to the kitchen to try some, then grab two servings. I love that this doesnt stick to the bottom of the pan, like my old recipe did.

      Thanks Juli, we are so glad you both enjoyed it!

    • Leandra

      Simple to make. Incredibly flavorful. I used ground turkey and served it with roasted asparagus. I can't wait to make it again!

      Thanks Leandra, so glad you loved it!

    • Riley

      I make this recipe time and time again. Truly delicious and super easy to make on a weeknight.

      Thanks Riley, we are so glad you love it!

    • Anna

      I grew up on Hamburger Helper but eventually learned I've have to go gluten free. This was easy to make with all gluten free ingredients and it was fun to recreate the dish I'd enjoyed so much when I was younger. Thanks for figuring out all the measurements. It turned out great!

      Thanks Anna, so glad you loved it!