# Homemade Hamburger Helper

A creamy, cheesy, homemade version of the classic boxed Hamburger Helper, made with simple pantry ingredients in one pan.

- Servings: 6 servings
- Prep time: 5 min
- Cook time: 25 min
- Total time: 30 min
- Cuisine: American
- Category: Dinner
- Language: en

## Ingredients

- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- kosher salt (optional)
- black pepper (optional)
- 1 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp chili powder
- 1 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 2 cup short-cut pasta
- 2 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 3/4 cup milk
- 1 tbsp worcestershire sauce
- 2 tsp yellow mustard
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1-3 tsp pickle brine (optional)
- 1 1/2-2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- fresh parsley (optional)
- green onions (optional)
- crispy shallots (optional)

## Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, garlic and onion. Season with salt and pepper and cook, breaking up the beef, until browned and the onion is soft.
2. Stir in the smoked paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder and oregano. Cook for 1 minute.
3. Stir in the uncooked pasta, beef broth, milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, ketchup and optional pickle brine.
4. Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened.
5. Remove from the heat and stir in the cheddar until melted and creamy.
6. Taste and adjust with additional salt, pepper or pickle brine. Top as desired and serve hot.

## Equipment

- high-sided skillet

## Tips

- Shred your own cheddar and stir it in after taking the pan off the heat for a smoother sauce.
- Use macaroni, shells, or cavatappi pasta.
- If the sauce gets too thick before the pasta is done, add a splash of beef broth or milk.
- If you don't have pickle brine, you can leave it out.
- Freshly shredded cheese melts better than pre-shredded.

## Source

- Original video: https://theeastcoastkitchen.com/hamburger-helper-that-brings-back-the-90s/?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&fbclid=PAZnRzaAVjsu5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBwZG9mAmZkaWQWUSJcDElZxQ-WQ8-PTbxwXhL0fT2xhXNydGMGYXBwX2lkDzEyNDAyNDU3NDI4NzQxNAABp8AoyWZzQPtm45InuoohgspDq_TkzGDsiBPBT_Pe3anipFZ8hvm0Tis7Xl8D_aem_yUKkbwOtsreq22ybJIJy2g
- Recipe page: https://www.cliprecipe.com/recipe/136916dd-4fc6-467d-b5c9-5cacecc8177f
- Extracted: 2026-11-13

Extracted from the video by Clip Recipe (https://www.cliprecipe.com). Quantities and steps are as stated or shown in the video. Site guide for agents: https://www.cliprecipe.com/llms.txt