Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
This is a quick and cheesy comfort-food meal made with ground beef, macaroni, and a creamy cheese sauce, inspired by the classic boxed Hamburger Helper. Perfect for weeknight dinners!
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, chopped (optional)
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 ½ cups water or beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp mustard powder (optional)
Instructions
- Cook the beef
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with onions until fully cooked.
- Drain excess fat.
- Add pasta and liquids
- Stir in macaroni, water or broth, milk, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and mustard powder.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer.
- Simmer until pasta is tender
- Cover and cook for 10–12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni absorbs most of the liquid.
- Add cheese
- Remove from heat and stir in shredded cheddar cheese until creamy.
- Serve
- Enjoy hot, optionally topped with extra cheese or chopped parsley.
Tips
- Add frozen peas or corn for extra veggies.
- Use different cheeses (like mozzarella or pepper jack) for a twist.
- For a creamier version, add a splash of cream along with milk.
I can also give you a homemade copycat version that tastes just like the boxed Hamburger Helper but with fresh ingredients and no preservatives. Do you want me to do that?
