Easy Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

If you’re looking for an easy, budget-friendly dinner that your whole family will actually eat, this homemade hamburger helper is perfect! It uses ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen, it stretches a pound of ground beef, and it comes together in just one pot. It’s the kind of comforting meal that fills everyone up without emptying your grocery budget.

I found this recipe online in a mom’s group and we tried it for the first time this weekend. It was easy – and delicious! It’s much cheaper than buying the boxed version—and it tastes so much better too. Instead of relying on a seasoning packet, this recipe uses ingredients we almost always have on hand like broth, pasta, and canned tomatoes. The result is a creamy, cheesy skillet meal that’s hearty enough for even the hungriest kids and teens.

This recipe is also a great way to stretch your grocery dollars. A single pound of ground beef goes a long way when combined with pasta and a rich, cheesy sauce. If you’re feeding a bigger family, you can even add extra pasta or toss in vegetables you need to use up in the fridge. And you can customize it – use half and half instead of heavy cream for a lighter taste, plus you can use any pasta you have.

Meals like this are exactly why I love simple, homemade cooking. They’re affordable, filling, and easy enough for busy weeknights. When dinner needs to be quick, comforting, and budget-friendly, this homemade hamburger helper delivers.

Ingredients:

1 pound lean ground beef
2 – 10 oz cans beef broth
8 ounces (1/2 pound) dried pasta shells
1 14.5 can of petite diced tomatoes, not drained
8 ounces sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
Salt and pepper to taste
2-3 tablespoons of cornstarch
Garlic and onion powder to taste
Water

Instructions:

Cook beef, season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Drain grease.
Add beef broth, petite diced tomatoes, and shells. Cover shells with broth and add lid.
Simmer on medium low until noodles are done, about 20-30 minutes.
Mix cornstarch with water to create cornstarch slurry. Add to the mixture and stir to thicken. (May need to repeat depending on desired consistency.)
Add heavy cream or half and half, and cheese. Add a little sprinkle of seasonings again. Serve immediately.

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