Description
Homemade Hamburger Helper is the ultimate comfort food, ready in just 30 minutes. This creamy, cheesy dish features tender pasta and savory ground beef, making it a hit for busy weeknights or family gatherings. Effortlessly customizable, you can swap out proteins or add veggies to suit your family’s tastes. Enjoy the nostalgic flavors of this beloved meal, made healthier and tastier right in your kitchen.
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 oz) can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 8 oz small pasta shells (or small elbow pasta)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef until fully cooked. Set aside and reserve some grease.
- Sauté diced onion in the same pan until soft, adding minced garlic for the last 30 seconds.
- Stir in flour for a minute, then gradually add broth while stirring to prevent lumps. Bring to a boil.
- Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and pasta. Simmer covered for about 12–15 minutes until pasta is tender.
- Mix in heavy cream and cheddar cheese until melted. Return the cooked beef to the pan and heat through.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 29g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 43g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 85mg