Homemade Hamburger Helper
Homemade hamburger helper is nostalgic comfort food made from scratch with ground beef and macaroni in a creamy cheddar sauce.
Equipment
- 1 6 qt enameled cast iron dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup chopped onion
- 1 Tablespoon ketchup
- 1-2 teaspoons Dijon mustard , plus more to taste
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt , such as Lawry’s
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- kosher salt , to taste
- ground black pepper , to taste
- 1 ½ cups dry elbow noodles
- 3 ½ cups beef broth
- 3-5 Tablespoons heavy cream , at room temperature
- 1 1/2-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, cook one pound ground beef and 1/2 cup onion over medium heat. Break apart the beef with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain any grease, if needed.
- Stir in 1 Tablespoon ketchup, 2 teaspoons mustard, 1 teaspoon seasoned salt, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, Kosher salt, and pepper. Cook 1 minute. Stir in the dry noodles and broth.
- Bring to a light simmer and cover with a lid. Cook 10 to 12 minutes, or until the noodles are tender. Stir halfway through cooking to prevent noodles from sticking.
- Remove from heat and pour off any extra liquid, if needed. Stir in 3 Tablespoons heavy cream and 1 1/2 cups cheese. Stir until melted. Add more heavy cream, if desired. Season to taste. Add hot sauce, if desired, to kick up the heat. For a creamier sauce add in extra heavy cream. Serve while hot!
Notes
Sneak in extra veggies when cooking the onions. Sometimes I'll add in chopped celery, bell peppers, or mushrooms.
Store: Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop, adding a splash of broth as needed to loosen the sauce.
Freeze: Freeze leftovers in an 8×8-inch metal pan tightly covered with foil. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then bake at 350°F until heated through. Add extra cheese before baking, if desired.
Nutrition
Calories: 295kcal, Carbohydrates: 22g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 7g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 3g, Trans Fat: 0.2g, Cholesterol: 63mg, Sodium: 885mg, Potassium: 358mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 2g, Vitamin A: 305IU, Vitamin C: 1mg, Calcium: 174mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
