Trust me, this homemade hamburger helper recipe, while similar to the boxed original, is about 100 times better! Instead of just ground beef added to pasta with dehydrated cheese, my version of the pasta recipe is dressed up with crispy bacon, fresh garlic and onion, white wine, heavy cream, 2 types of cheese plus a pinch of paprika for a little kick. The recipe serves 8.
Are You Ready for a DIY Hamburger Helper Recipe
If you’re younger than a baby boomer, Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper might not have been a staple in your house. For me and my friends it was on our weekly rotation growing up along with spaghetti casserole with ground beef. It’s still around so you may have tried this boxed pasta mix where all you have to do is add hamburger.
It was first introduced in 1971 as a boxed dinner that came with pasta and seasoning and you just added hamburger and water. A fast and simple meal to prepare for busy families. I haven’t tried the boxed version recently but we loved it as kids and it makes a great meal when you need some comfort food. Their advertisement stressed that it was so easy that kids could help make it.
Trust me, this homemade hamburger helper with beef and bacon, while similar to the original, is about 100 times better. Instead of just ground beef added to pasta with dehydrated cheese, bacon, garlic and onion help layer in the flavor and then fresh cheese, not powdered, finish the dish. And yes, kids can help with this DIY hamburger helper!
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This homemade hamburger helper with beef has a creamy cheese sauce with a little kick. Not quite as cheesy as mac and cheese with beef brisket, but just as scrumptious. If you’re a hamburger helper fan, you might also like the cheeseburger macaroni.
It’s still a one pot meal but takes a few more minutes than the boxed version. However, I think you’ll find that the flavor is worth the extra steps. Like the original, it all cooks in one pot.
Why You’ll Love this Cheesy Hamburger Helper Recipe
- This is a nostalgic meal for me.
- A classic comfort food that will feed a crowd.
- Easy ingredients, this fresher version helps you layer in flavors and textures for an amazing dinner.
- I can’t get enough of dinner casseroles with pasta
- You can make it in one pot!
What You’ll Need for DIY Hamburger Helper
- Lean ground beef – while beef with a little fat in it adds flavor, I like using lean ground beef in this recipe. You’ll be adding the beef and bacon to cooked onions and they add plenty of flavor. Feel free to substitute ground chicken for the ground beef.
- Onions, Bacon and garlic– these serve as the base for the whole dish and packs it with flavor.
- White wine – to deglaze the pan.
- Chicken broth, cream, hot sauce, paprika and a bay leaf – these will form the sauce. If you don’t like spicy food, then start with just 1-2 tablespoons of hot sauce. ⅓ cup will make it pretty spicy but not overly so.
- Pasta– try using a curved pasta like macaroni or conchiglie so that the sauce has something to cling to.
- Cheese – Both American and cheddar for a creamy sauce. For the American cheese have it cut from the deli.
Simple Steps to the Best Hamburger Helper
Step 1
Saute the onions until soft and add garlic.
Step 2
Add bacon and ground beef to the onions and brown, cooking until the liquid has evaporated. If there’s a lot of grease in the pan, then drain it.
Step 3
Add white wine and cook until evaporated. Add chicken broth, cream, hot sauce and seasonings and bring to a boil.
Step 4
Add pasta and cook until it is al dente. Reduce heat and add cheddar and American cheese, stirring until melted.
The entire recipe will take about 45 minutes start to finish. It’s one of those recipes that’s easy to follow and doesn’t require constant stirring so you can do other things while it’s cooking.
I love one pot meals like taco spaghetti or queso chicken, nobody likes to do dishes. And while this recipe is not quite as simple as those, the extra steps add so much depth. It’s also great for leftovers as the pasta has time to absorb even more of the flavors.
If you’re feeling nostalgic for the past or just want a great one pot meal the entire family will love, then give this recipe a try.
What to Serve with Hamburger Helper
This is a one pot pasta and beef meal, and really doesn’t even need a side, but a Greek salad or spinach salad goes great with the richness of the sauce. You could also serve some roasted asparagus to add some veggies.
How to Store Leftovers
Let it cool and then store in the fridge for 3-5 days. It will also freeze well and stay fresh for 2-3 months.
To reheat, you can use the microwave or warm in a skillet.
More One Pot Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
Adapted from the NY Times
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DIY Cheesy Hamburger Helper with Beef & Bacon
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon canola oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 5 strips bacon chopped (½ lb)
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 cup white wine
- 3 cups chicken stock
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Texas Pete hot sauce
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 bay leaf
- 8 ounces pasta elbow or canehiglie
- 5 ounces American Cheese
- 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese grated
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a Dutch oven or large pot over medium low heat and add onions, season with salt and pepper. Cook until softened, 3-5 minutes, add garlic and cook for about a minute.
- Increase the heat to medium high and add chopped bacon and ground beef. Cook until it has browned and the liquid has evaporated. If there is grease, drain it.
- Add white wine and allow it to reduce until almost dry, about 5 minutes.
- Add chicken broth, cream, hot sauce, paprika and bay leaf and bring to a boil. Once the liquid is boiling, add pasta and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and add cheese stirring until melted, season with salt and pepper and sprinkle with chives.
Barbara’s Tips + Notes
- If you are using ground chuck, you will need to drain the grease.
- For the American cheese, get it from the deli.
- If you don’t like spicy food, decrease the hot sauce to 1-2 tablespoons.
Nutrition
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Michael K Curry says
Fantastic!
(This review was provided by a family member)