Description
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is a creamy one-pot dinner made with seasoned ground beef, tender pasta, tomato sauce, heavy cream, and melted cheddar cheese. It is ready in 30 minutes and makes a comforting family-friendly meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, or chicken broth
- 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 8 ounces small pasta shells, or small elbow pasta
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, or half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan with a lid, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat until fully cooked.
- Remove the cooked ground beef from the pan and set it aside, leaving about 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan.
- Lower the heat to medium, add the diced onion, and cook for about 5 minutes until softened.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir for about 1 minute to cook off the raw flour taste.
- Slowly stir in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and pasta, then stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a simmer, cover with the lid, and cook for 12 to 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender.
- If the pasta needs more liquid before it finishes cooking, add 1/4 to 1/2 cup extra broth as needed.
- Stir in the heavy cream and shredded cheddar cheese until the cheese melts and the sauce turns creamy.
- Add the cooked ground beef back to the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes until heated through.
- Remove from the heat and let the pasta rest for 1 to 2 minutes so the sauce thickens before serving.
Notes
- Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: Reheat gently on the stove over medium-low heat or in the microwave in short bursts, stirring often. Add a splash of broth or cream to restore the creamy texture.
- Make Double: Use a large deep-sided pot or Dutch oven to double or triple the recipe.
- Gluten Free: Use gluten-free pasta and replace the flour with cornstarch. Gluten-free pasta may need extra broth and a slightly longer cooking time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 610
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 780
- Fat: 34
- Saturated Fat: 17
- Unsaturated Fat: 14
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 43
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 32
- Cholesterol: 115