Description
Discover the ultimate comfort of Homemade Hamburger Helper, a quick one‑pot dish featuring smoked beef, creamy shredded cheese, and al dente elbow macaroni simmered in savory beef broth. Perfect for busy families, this recipe delivers rich flavor, velvety sauce, and a satisfying cheesy texture in under 30 minutes. Ideal for weeknight meals, it pairs well with simple sides and offers easy variations for extra veggies or spice, making it a versatile staple for any home kitchen!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound smoked beef
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat and brown the smoked beef until fully cooked.
- Stir in garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper; cook for 1 minute.
- Add beef broth, bring to a boil, and scrape the pan bottom.
- Add elbow macaroni, reduce heat, cover, and simmer 10‑12 minutes until pasta is tender.
- Remove from heat and fold in shredded cheese until melted and creamy.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra cheese or parsley.
Notes
- For extra nutrition
- stir in frozen peas or chopped carrots during the last five minutes of cooking. Use a sharper cheddar for a deeper flavor
- or mix mozzarella for extra stretch. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of broth.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: One‑pot
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: Homemade Hamburger Helper, easy beef pasta, homemade macaroni cheese, quick dinner recipe, family comfort food, one-pot beef dinner, how to make hamburger helper, cheap dinner ideas, weeknight meals, creamy beef pasta