Why Ditch The Box For The Homemade Version?
Cheeseburger macaroni Hamburger Helper was a staple in my house growing up. As a parent now, I understand why- it’s a fast and easy one-pot recipe. After my palate has changed as an adult, I found the flavor to be a bit artificial. One glance at the ingredients explained why.
Still searching for that comfort food flavor I remember, I created this whole food recipe to blow the boxed version out of the water. The whole family will love this one pan dinner. As far as a ground beef recipe goes, this is the one my toddler cleans her plate of every time!
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How Is Our Version Different?
Our real ingredients in this easy homemade hamburger helper recipe give you a nourishing, savory dish that will become a staple in your weekly rotation for family dinner.
I believe we’ve found a great flavor without some common additions friends have tried- chili powder, hot sauce, tomato sauce, or tomato paste. For this cheeseburger macaroni, I just don’t find these flavors to be necessary! I’ve found this to be a great recipe to reheat as leftovers.
What to Serve With Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper
My whole family likes this pasta served beside or over mashed potatoes (filled with plenty of butter and sour cream, of course). It also pairs well with vegetables or garlic bread.
My husband and I make roasted broccoli separately in our Ninja Crispi to add to this homemade hamburger helper, since little bellies don’t fare too well with the addition.
Whole Food Ingredients And Possible Substitutions
One pound of ground beef: We always use Kirkland Signature Organic Ground Beef (this comes in a ~1.25 lb pack, so I set aside the leftover ground beef). Your preferred ground beef will work great in this recipe, just be sure to remove excess grease if it’s a less lean ground beef. While I love a ground turkey dish, this is not a recipe I would use turkey as a substitute in.
Yellow Onion: The onion in our homemade version of cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper is a big part of the explosive flavor. Definitely don’t leave this one out! When cooking the diced onion, ensure that it has become soft and translucent. If the onion is not tender, it can throw off the texture of the whole dish.
Minced Garlic: We love minced garlic in our house- it’s a great way to add flavor and this recipe is no different. Add garlic to your preference. I find the classic hamburger helper recipes to be lacking in the garlic department! Tired of cleaning my garlic press, I personally use a shredder/zester like this one to mince my garlic.
Spices and seasonings- paprika, salt, pepper: Paprika gives the dish a great color as well as flavor, along with the rest complementing the meat and pasta.
While I have recommended quantities in the recipe, this is one area I encourage you to take your own liberties based on your family’s preference. For example, in our kitchen we use a heavy hand with paprika and different spices, but pepper things pretty lightly. Do as your family prefers!
Heavy Whipping Cream: Since HWC makes the sauce creamy, I don’t recommend substituting with milk. This will change the consistency of the recipe, though it will taste similar.
Kettle and Fire Beef Bone Broth: I highly recommend Kettle and Fire for your homemade hamburger helper. This is one of my Costco staples and adds so much flavor! It can be substituted for any beef broth.
Farfalle bowtie pasta: My favorite pasta to use for our homemade version of hamburger helper is “farfalle” bowties, though we have used several different shapes with success. When substituting, try to stick to varieties around the same size as bowties, like large elbows or shells.
Medium To Sharp Cheddar Cheese: Perhaps my biggest tip for this recipe- shred your own cheese! Bagged, pre-shredded cheese doesn’t melt as good due to the anti-caking agents added. It adds an extra step but pays off big time!
Parmesan Cheese: While you can make this homemade hamburger helper without Parmesan cheese, the addition takes the meal from good to great. My absolute favorite is the Kirkland brand Parmesan Reggiano from Costco, which we add every time!
Ingredients
1 lb ground beef
1/3 to 1/2 yellow onion
1-3 cloves minced garlic (preference)
1 tsp paprika
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup heavy whipping cream
1 Box Kettle and Fire bone broth (or 2 cups of beef broth)
2 cups bowtie (farfalle) pasta
2-3 cups shredded medium or sharp cheddar cheese
Optional, but recommended 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Finely dice 1/2 yellow onion and add to a large skillet (I use my 12 inch Lodge cast iron) with about 1/4 cup water. Cook covered on medium heat until translucent but not brown, burnt or caramelized. If the onions appear dried out at any point, add a splash of water. If you anticipate your pan might stick, add nonstick spray or a splash of oil to the pan before the onions.
2. Add 1 lb ground beef, 1 tsp paprika, salt, and pepper to the skillet of onions and brown meat. Drain excess fat/grease safely.
3. Add beef broth, 1 cup heavy cream, pasta, and garlic to the skillet. Simmer covered on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed. This is usually around 10-15 min once liquid is boiling. Lower heat and remove the lid towards the end to help the sauce reduce.
4. Once the pasta is done to your liking and the texture has thickened, add cheese as the final step. I recommend doing this very close to serving, as the cheese sitting in high heat for an extended period can cause separation.
5. Serve alone or with mashed potatoes or vegetables, and enjoy!
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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