Deciding what to make for dinner is hard enough already. Little Susie likes only chicken nuggets, little Bobby doesn’t eat anything green and your spouse is still holding on to their childhood aversion to onions. Combine these factors with the exorbitant cost of groceries and it’s enough to leave anyone feeling deflated and defeated in the middle of the produce section. Thankfully, solutions like this homemade Hamburger Helper recipe are here to save the day (and your wallet).

This one-pot recipe isn’t just affordable and easy to make but is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that will satisfy everyone at your table. While you could grab a box of Hamburger Helper off the shelf, we love this made-from-scratch copycat recipe because it’s every bit as flavorful and creamy as the original but skips all the mystery additives and preservatives. Now, I know what you’re thinking: “I bet homemade Hamburger Helper takes way longer to prepare.” Nope! This is a 30-minute meal your family will love.

Lesson of the day: Quick and affordable comfort food doesn’t have to come from a box. The next time you’re feeling a little lost with meal planning, head to the store with this recipe in your back pocket. It will never steer you wrong.

Ingredients for Homemade Hamburger Helper

• Onion: For maximum family appeal, we finely dice the onions as small as possible for this recipe, making them nearly imperceptible to even the most ardent of onion avoiders.
• Ground beef: For the best taste and texture, choose 1 pound of ground beef with a fat content of 15 percent or less. While higher-fat options are flavorful, they may cause the sauce to taste overly greasy in this ground beef recipe.
• Seasoning: A blend of salt, black pepper, chili powder, paprika, garlic powder and ground mustard is the secret to replicating the iconic flavor of the boxed Hamburger Helper.
• Tomato paste: Just a smidge of tomato paste adds a hint of robust tomato flavor to the sauce. If you don’t have tomato paste, try adding 1 to 2 tablespoons of ketchup as an alternative. Tomato paste might be worth grabbing, though, especially because there are so many other delicious recipes to make with tomato paste—and you’ll definitely have extra.
• Beef broth: Using beef broth rather than water infuses the pasta and sauce with extra-rich, beefy flavor.
• Milk: A touch of milk adds extra richness to the sauce. You may use whatever type of milk your family drinks at home.
• Elbow macaroni: Humble elbow macaroni is the classic noodle shape for making our old-fashioned homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.
• Heavy cream: This ingredient makes the sauce infinitely richer and creamier—and velvety smooth. It’s the ingredient that will make you never go back to the boxed version again.
• Cheddar cheese: For the best taste, opt for an extra sharp cheddar cheese to give the sauce as much cheese flavor as possible. We also highly recommend grating the cheese fresh from the block, if possible.
• Parsley: A sprinkle of vibrant, green parsley is the perfect way to add a touch of color and freshness before serving this homemade cheeseburger Hamburger Helper.

Taste of Home