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The Best One-Pot Creamy Homemade Hamburger Helper (Ready in 30 Minutes)

A spoonful of creamy, cheesy homemade hamburger helper being lifted from a skillet, showing long cheese pulls.
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Make a rich, cheesy, one-pot pasta dish at home that tastes better than the boxed version. This recipe uses ground beef and elbow macaroni in a creamy tomato sauce, perfect for a fast weeknight meal.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
  • 1 (8 ounce) can tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. In a separate small bowl, whisk together the beef broth, milk, and flour until smooth. Pour this mixture into the skillet along with the tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Stir well.
  4. Bring the liquid to a simmer. Add the elbow macaroni to the skillet.
  5. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
  6. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • For a tangier flavor, substitute 1/2 cup of the beef broth with 1/2 cup of crushed fire-roasted tomatoes.
  • If the sauce seems too thick after cooking, add a splash more milk or broth until you reach your desired consistency.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or ground Italian sausage for the ground beef.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://epicureempire.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-recipe/