I wasn’t introduced to Hamburger Helper until I got married. It was part of my husband’s bachelor meal rotation which consisted of 3 meals; Hamburger Helper, spaghetti with Ragu sauce, and Clusters cereal. Seriously, that was his diet. Bless his heart.
I grew up with a meal very similar to Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper but it was homemade and called cheesy beef and macaroni. It was a quick, cheap, wholesome, weekday meal that my mother made often on PTA nights or whenever we were really pressed for time/money.
I thought I was done with boxed Hamburger Helper and then I had my son. Kids LOVE Hamburger Helper! We ended up getting a box one day when we were out of town and he loved it. I didn’t mind though. It was easy to make, made him happy and that little glove is adorable. Well, one day when I was making his favorite kind, Cheeseburger Macaroni I decided to look at the ingredients, and what the heck!
I’m not normally an ingredient snob but why the long list of ingredients, dyes, msg, and weird stuff just to make a pot of macaroni, beef, and cheese? I ended up throwing it away and making a pot of homemade hamburger helper. We’ve been doing it this way ever since.
This homemade Hamburger Helper uses real ingredients: macaroni, meat, milk, water, cheese, and spices, THAT’S IT! It tastes fresh, comforting, cheesy, meaty, and filling, just like it should. And best of all it’s just as quick as the boxed version. I use ground turkey in place of beef simply because we don’t eat much red meat. For the cheese, I use a mixture of shredded cheddars. Hamburger Helper uses ricotta as well and sometimes I’ll mix a little of that in for creaminess but only if I have some on hand which I usually don’t.
If you’re a true, die-hard Hamburger Helper fan you may find that it doesn’t taste EXACTLY like hamburger helper. I think it tastes waaay better and Isaac doesn’t even know the difference, but if you’re trying to ween your addicted, older kids off of it then you may want to throw in a little processed cheese for a familiar taste.
Watch me make this Homemade Hamburger Helper from start to finish!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef or ground turkey sometimes I use only 1/2 lb
- 1/2 cup onions diced
- 1 tablespoon butter optional
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup cold water
- 2 cups elbow macaroni uncooked
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt or seasoning salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 3/4 teaspoon oregano
- 3/4 teaspoon parsley
- 3/4 garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- Brown ground meat in a skillet over medium heat until almost done.
- Add in onions and cook until tender.
- Drain fat from pan.
- Add remaining ingredients except for the cheese.
- Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat, cover and cook until pasta is tender, about 10 minutes. Stirring occasionally.
- * Do not over cook pasta. I usually taste check it at 9 minutes.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheese. The sauce may be thin.
- Let pasta sit to thicken the sauce, meanwhile adjust seasonings if needed.
- Serve and enjoy.
Notes
Use various cheeses if desired.
Add taco seasonings for a chili mac.
Chopped tomatoes are good in this as well.
Want veggies? Peas or broccoli works great!
Hot sauce anyone?
Amazing recipe. My very picky 8 year old asked for 2 extra helpings.
Y’know, I ‘accidentally’ made this recipe once in college; I was hungry, busy with homework, but needed a quick and easy meal, and I made this recipe.
I really love this healthy alternative to Hamburger Helper. I’ve been making this a long time and it comes out perfect and delicious every time. My kids love it. The hubby loves it. It’s one of those meals that feels like a warm hug! Thanks for sharing!
Followed this recipe exactly, and the sauce was liquid and didn’t set with more time; cooking off the liquid wouldn’t have fixed it because then the pasta would be overcooked. The cheese stuck to the beef and didn’t flavor the macaroni. This indicates lack of absorption, so has to do with using cold water and non-warmed milk. Once I changed that, the recipe worked…just not as written.
I’ve never left a review for a recipe before, but… I found this recipe a few years back and tried it out. SO GLAD I DID. I recommend this recipe to anyone that mentions hamburger helper. It really is so wholesome & delicious. I try to stay away from processed foods as much as I can so this makes such a great meal. I usually add a couple spoonfuls of sour cream at the end to thicken the sauce & make it a tad richer. Absolutely delicious!!
I have been cooking this recipe for years!! I am cooking it tonight too. My family and I love this recipe! I’m really glad we found it. I was so surprised when I first made it years ago how the spices together make the hamburger helper taste. I was first starting out cooking then and creating meals healthier than their box counterparts. And this was such a delight! Thank you so so much for creating it!
Absolutely love this recipe! It is now one of my son’s favorites, and we make it often. It is so flavorful and much much better than the old boxed version. Thank you so much for sharing it, it has become a staple in my family since I discovered your blog!
I’ve made this recipe for years and absolutely love it. I can’t believe I never left a review! It’s perfect the way it is. Thank you so much for a healthier alternative to the boxed stuff.
I’m so glad you’ve been enjoying it! : )
Thanks so much for this recipe. I have made it many times, my whole family loves it but my husband has been getting indigestion from the beef and cheese being too much for him he thinks. I wanted to try it with turkey to see if ground turkey gives better results for him but couldn’t get any at the store right now (hoarders :-/) and could only get ground chicken. Have you ever tried it with chicken or only turkey? Do you think either would be the same or should I hold off until I find ground turkey?
I only use ground turkey with this recipe and it’s perfect
Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you! I have been craving HH Cheeseburger Macaroni forever but have been hesitant to buy due to all the processed ingredients.After finding many recipes online, I decided to give this a try. BRAVO! Perfect! Super easy to make ( I used ground turkey and used Lower Carb Pasta) and oh so flavorful! Better than the box! This is perfect! Thank you!
Absolutely delicious! My family inhaler this!!! Thank you for another fantastic recipe!!!
Found it bland.
It needs depth in flavour
I will add garlic and sauté the beef with some wine. Instead of parsley I would use oregano.
Looks like someone didn’t follow the directions. This recipe includes oregano. Not sure where you went wrong but the flavor is spot on.
Don’t know which recipe u used….Maybe u missed the oregano but this was great
Made it with 1.5 lbs of ground beef and 1/2 italian blend 1/2 cheddar cheese.
All I had was small shells noodles. It’s really the spice blend that makes this recipe, it tastes just like the box in terms of flavor. I think the sugar does help it
Just wanted to let you know that I’ve been using this recipe for years. It’s one of my family’s favorites. Thank you for sharing this wonderful recipe!!
Exactly how much is “3/4 garlic powder”?
I doubled the recipe but it was kind of liquidy
This was better than my typical recipe. I didn’t add sugar by the way. Thank you!
This was great!! I also didn’t add sugar, but everything else was perfect.
I have made this recipe from your site for over a year. It is delicious and my kids devour it! I usually double the recipe for three boys, my hungry husband and me.
I didn’t skip any steps and did as instructed. My pasta was not done I had to add more milk and water and it still wasn’t done. Finally just turned the stove off and called it a loss. What a waste of time and food.
I like this dish.I follow a bland /soft diet because of digestive issues.I left out the spices except for a tiny bit of pepper.I don’t like store brand hamburger helper because it contains garlic which I cannot tolerate.Thanks for sharing your recipe.
I absolutely love this recipe, and so does the family! I’ve made it at least a dozen times. This is perfect for a midweek dinner when you’re strapped for time. The spices really make it! Thank you
I tend to follow new recipes by the book. This recipe by itself is a tad bit on the bland side, so you may want to adjust the seasonings as recommended at the end of the instructions. And this is just my opinion but the sauce absolutely needs some sort of thickener (such as flour for instance). Most of us practically grew up on Hamburger Helper in our youth but I’m not used to having cheese sauce that’s runny/watery, especially after letting it sit on the stove for low heat for a while. This recipe is okay for most but I think that I’ll be trying different variations of this recipe that can be found online in the future.
I’m cutting right now and tried this recipe with ground turkey breast and Banza chickpea shells for noodles and only 4oz of cheese. Holy crap it was good and for 40g of protein a serving it can’t be beat for the flavor. The spice mix was perfect. If I can make that much substitution and it still tastes bomb, the recipe as written must be amazing. It tasted better than the boxed meals by a mile. Please continue your magic in the kitchen.
Please seek help if you feel the need to harm yourself. You’re not alone.
Holy crap God bless your sweet soul, Sly! But I *think* she means “cutting” in the bodybuilding sense of the word. Kind of you to offer support though.
I would have searched the comments for an answer to this question, but I don’t have all day to argue with your site, it only loads 2-3 comments at a time! Lol
Have you tried freezing this as a make-ahead meal? How was it?
LOL@arguing with my site. I’m going to fix that right now! Oh and I’ve never frozen this before.
I made this and it was really good. I didn’t add the sugar because I thought that was strange. I also didn’t put in the oregano or paprika because I didn’t have any.
How hard would this be to do in the Crock-Pot?
We LOVE this recipe. I have this book March and hand written in my deck of recipe cards. Have made it so many times! So much better than the Box version and so easy to make. I always add a can of diced tomatoes in it for extra flavor and veggie representation. A red bell pepper is also delicious diced up and cooked with the onion in this.
Just made it using beef broth instead of plain water. Also used half Velveeta and half cheddar (all I had)…..’It was awesome. 5 Stars
Love this! It’s my go-to meal! I usually double or triple the spice mix.
I made it for dinner last night and it was a hit! It tastes just like hamburger helper. Just healthier. It was surprisingly very filling too! Thank you!
I have made this several times and switched between elbow macaroni, jumbo shells, and also different cheeses! It is so good! My kids love it and they are picky eaters, especially my toddler!
This dish is absolutely delicious! My whole family loves it!????It’s better than Hamburger Helpers version! Thanks for sharing this recipe with the ?!
Really great! I added more spices than the amount called for, and about 8 oz. sour cream and it made it super creamy and delicious!
I want to make this a day in advance, how will it reheat?
I used vegetable broth instead of water, and added a little bit more of that and a little half and half. It was delicious! So similar to the Hamburger Helper I used to love. I stopped making box recipes, but finding awesome replicas are great.
Is there a way to transfer this to a casserole dish and finish in oven? Using it for a supper club 70s night.
This is really good. I added a can of mushroom soup and it came out nice and creamy
Just made this for my collegiate -HH Mac & cheese is her favorite. I had already cooked ground beef the day before not knowing what I was going to cook. I decided to make a homemade version of HH and I saw the multiple stars listed next to your recipe. My daughter added more salt paprika & cayenne pepper in her bowl. I add a couple of drops of hot sauce. In our family everyone seasons their own portion for taste – my father’s rule.
Awesome base-recipe, and so many things you can add!!
Made this tonight and it is absolutely delicious! I have fond memories of hamburger helper from when I was a kid but every time I try it now it tastes like garbage lol
I have tried a few “helper” knock off recipes and this is by far my favourite! I’m going to send it to my friend 🙂
This has become a family favorite for us. We always add stewed or diced tomatoes and sometimes, corn. We substituted almond milk and gluten free noodles tonight and it still turned out good. Thank you for this great recipe.
Thanks. I was perplexed about what to make for dinner. This was super simple and delicious. I did have to cook the pasta for 12 minutes but that was the only variation.
This cheeseburger macaroni is great!! Better than boxes by far and I love that my family isn’t getting the processed and unnecessary ingredients.
Simple and delicious! Definitely something to try with taco seasoning and mexican cheese as well.
I love this recipe with all my heart❤ I make a big batch and I use ground venison since I have so much in freezer from hunting season…. freezes great! Thanks for posting!
I made this for my family for dinner. Just great. Love the fact that it’s not processed. Will make again.
Seriously this is sooooo dang good! Easy too. I make ahead and reheat at dinner time. Everyone loves it. I have to double the recipe because everyone loves it so much.
its actually “overcook” not “over cook” but still good.
I was craving hamburger helper all week. My goal this year is to stop using boxed food. Especially when it has powdered cheese in it… bleh xP. So found this recipe on my Google search.
This recipe is so easy and takes no time at all. I added a little extra garlic powder for it as I love my garlic and it is so freaking good. Definitely going in the recipe book.
I used lean ground beef and in place of the
water I used 1 cup of beef broth. Left all
other ingredients as is. Was delicious !!
I made my hamburger helper with turkey instead.
I use turmeric instead of paprika,I also use
Truvia instead of sugar. I also use raw cow milk.
My grandson love it .”
I was initially going to make spaghetti for Sunday dinner, but decided to go to my favorite cook, Diva for something different. I found this hamburger helper recipe and it did not dissappoint. It was tasty send my kids devoured it!! This will be a go to recipe for me.
Great recipe! I would probably cut back on the salt if adding extra cheese as it already includes salt. I added 2 blocks (16 oz) and it came out a bit too salty for my kids. My husband and I enjoyed it.
I make this recipe all the time. I cannot eat dairy so I sub almond milk, vegan butter, and a cheddar cheese alternative. Works wonders for the classic hamburger helper taste without any added unnatural ingredients.
I had to tone down the oregano when I made this because the first time it was all I could taste! But other than that this recipe is really good
Love love loveeeeee this..! For some reason I got a craving for hamburger helper today, but i wanted to use turkey so I figured I’d just google a recipe to make at home. After i read the reviews i knew it was worth making and i was not disappointed! I used 4oz of cream cheese like one of the reviews said and it was HEAVENLY! In addition to the cream cheese, I added my sugar afterwards since i like to control the sweetness with each time i eat, and it was even better. Also, i used large elbow macaroni instead of the normal size.. I put about a cup and a half of noodles because they were larger but it was still awesome. Definitely will be adding this to my recipes!
Oh my this was really yummy! I was skeptical but needed a quick dinner and with such a high rating I went for it and now I think it will be a regular in my arsenal of recipes!
I found this recipe years ago and it’s been a staple ever since! I
I made this recipe (my second time) I added 2 large table spoons of velvetta and 2 cups velvetta shredded cheese…. I added just a little bit more water my husband and I LOVED IT. thank u so much!!!
I was thinking about this recipe the other day because I watched a Tasty video including 1LB of beef and somehow homemade hamburger recipe wasn’t included. I’m going to end up making this either before or after Thanksgiving as one of those meals that’s not that huge, but still filling. This is a good idea and I would love to eat this dish again.
So good, everyone loved it! I had ground chicken on hand so used that and some of the cheese was an Italian 5 cheese blend, we also threw in some peas. Yum.
I’ve made this twice – once as-is, and it was delicious! Second time I added a little bit – chipotle chile powder gave it a nice smoky flavor, combo of cheddar and mozzarella cheese, and bc I was too lazy to make a side dish, I threw in some fresh diced tomato and a couple handfuls of spinach right before the cheese. It was amazing. Thank you for this awesome comfort food recipe!
This was amazing! Used taco seasoning AND peas.
I made this tonight, only I added 2 oz cream cheese and 1 oz home made blue cheese dressing and it is to die for!!
This is my favorite online recipe EVER! Thanks for posting this–my husband loves it, and it’s super easy!
I cook my ground beef beforehand and store it in the freezer in glass Pyrex, then just defrost it when I want to add it to a meal. This works perfectly! Also, I use soy milk instead of regular milk, and it turns out great!
Love this! Thank you SO MUCH!!!
Great recipe, flexible. I tried to be healthy, so used just 1 cup of cheese and it’s still great. Will add steamed broccoli next time and fold in with the cheese at the end. Other veggies would work also. Thanks!
I sought out this recipe because one day, after not having had HH for decades, I found myself craving it. But because (a) things we loved in the blush of youth rarely every turn out to taste good to us as adults (looking at you, Twinkies), and (b) I hate cooking out of a box, especially if it contains anything in powder form, I was determined to find a homemade recipe for HH. And it looks like I lucked up on the right one!
OMG, I’ve had to make this twice in the span of a week, because my 9-year-old LUH-HUH-HUUUUUVS it. Says it’s the “best dinner EVER!” He took it for lunch the day after I made it the first time, and then was crushed when his dad ate the rest of the leftovers. So he asked for it for dinner every day thereafter, until (a mere 6 days after I made it the first time) I made another batch.
I used 1.5 times what the recipe calls for for most of the ingredients (we’re pigs), 2 x the shredded cheese and added 4 oz. of cream cheese. (What can I say? Cheese is my jam.)
Thank you so much! Three months from now I may be sick to death of this recipe, but at the moment, I am loving you for it.
I keep coming back to this. So simple and delicious and none of the yuck ingredients. Thank you!!! I love that you can customize with veggies or different cheeses.
Thank you for posting this!! Since I have to stay on a Celiac diet, Hamburger Helper’s been off the menu since I was a kid. But now that I’m pregnant I’ve been seriously craving it! This recipe is exactly what I needed. Using gluten free noodles, of course 🙂 And it’s super quick for the days when my husband and I have a lot on our schedule. Thanks again!
My son has Celiac and he loves this! We use Barilla gluten free elbow noodles and they work great with it.
I loved this recipe. I used different cheese and added more spices but it was really good and easy.
It’s all about making it your own! Fabulous!
Thanks so much for sharing this information! I don’t like all the sodium and bad ingredients in boxed foods, so I always make my own recipes and this has been a big help!
Yumtastic entire family enjoyed. Appreciate the video too.thank you. Can u make bunch of ThankingsGiving main dishes + sides meals soon to get ready and test out b4 Nov hits. That would b awesome!!!
This is by far the best hamburger helper recipe I have found! I found this recipe a few months ago and make it almost once a week now. Perfect for me because I don’t eat red meat and I can’t use beef broth. Absolutely delicious! 🙂
My guys loved it. Added multiple cheeses…it was a hit.
Thank you!
At what point would you add veggies? I think I want to add a little broccoli into it for my family.
we grew up on hamburger helper and yes its nasty now, but I’m so going to do this….love it thank you
How big would you say servings are ? Normally I find “serves 6” means I need to at least double that to make enough for my family.
I added spinach and oh man… yummy
I absolutely love this recipe (and, as a visual learner, I greatly appreciated the video attachment).
I haven’t eaten cow’s milk for years so it’s also great to know this recipe works perfectly by utilizing almond milk, soy butter sticks, and almond-based cheddar cheese in place of all the above milk ingredients.
This is the best!!!
My family loves…
Easy , quick, cheap, and hearty!!!!!!!
I love it..
Will never buy hamburger helper again….
I just made this and it is awesome. I did not have much cheese on hand or.milk so i added cream cheese (half package), 1/4 cup water to make 2 cups of milk and about 1/4 parmesan cheese. I only had about 1 cup cheddar in the house. It is delicious. Thank u.
This is a solid recipe. I wanted to use up some egg noodles, so I used those instead of macaroni. Very good, kids loved it. Now to wait and see if my husband likes it too! Thank you for the recipe!
My three year old dubbed this “Tasty-roni”. We have it about once a week. Thanks!
Cleaning out freezer – had nothing thought out or prepared for dinner – found hamburger on verge of being freezer burnt. Didn’t know what I was going to do with it. Googled homemade Hamburger Helper. Made it exactly as called for – I loved it husband even more. Quick, easy, and really good.
I made the Hamburger helper on last night and I must say you where absolutely right. It was delicious! There are no leftovers. I won’t be buying anymore of that box stuff.
Thanks soooo much!
Really enjoyed this recipe! I used ditalini pasta instead of elbows and a little less milk, and it turned out great. Thanks for sharing.
Hello Divas. I was tired and bored this evening, so I decided to give this recipe a try. I have, in the recent past, created my own versions of some of the Hamburger Helper offerings, and it can be fun. Mine were the tomato-based versions.
I found a couple of thing with this recipe s I recommend changing. One, sauté the onions first, then add in the hamburger. Add some salt to the onions to get them to “sweat”. Two, add a little cornstarch & water to the mixture, which will thicken it. This allows you to add more liquid, if you prefer. You can see cornstarch in the main ingredients, it’s pretty harmless.
Why bother measuring 3/4 of a teaspoon. Who does that? Just use 1 tsp, the added spices actually benefit the mix (try it).
What I took as a larger issue with this recipe was the amount of cheese called for, it’s way too much. I recommend backing off on that. As is, the boxed dinner is actually better for you. This version is so artery clogging, you can barely see the meat or noodles; I nearly gagged, so I had a bowl and threw the rest out.
I am so glad I found your site. This was an AMAZING recipe. I like things a little spicy so I made the addition of a few chipotles in adobo sauce and your recommendation of a fresh chopped tomato. DELICIOUS!!!!! 🙂
Happy accident with this recipe… Went to grab the milk and we were out! Had a can of sweetened condensed milk in the pantry so used 1/4 cup of that with 3 cups of water. It was so yummy! My daughter who usually turns her nose up at cheeseburger mac devoured it!
Wow, I would have never thought to use a sweet milk with this. Glad it worked for you!
Making it now and it smells amazing
I have made this so many times and my entire family loves it. We grew parsley in our garden and my four-year-old loves to pick the fresh ingredients. Thank you so much for sharing this, I’m a HUGE fan.
Thanks so much! I’m glad you liked it!!
Easy and good! I added some Tobasco and a little feta cheese. We will have this again.
This is super delicious and easy. Thank you for the recipe. It was a hit!
I’ve made your recipe 5 times now and have been brave enough to make tiny changes according to what I have available. Thank you so much for making this recipe for their world.
This is becoming the recipe that i go to for people who have just moved or are sick. Thanks so much!
I’m so glad to hear that Charlotte!
This is a great recipe! It is one of my go-to’s when I don’t have a plan, short on time, and low on groceries. I’ve made it more than a dozen times and everyone loves it. It taste delicious making it just as the recipe calls for, although I prefer increasing spices to 1 1/2 times what it calls for, and I double the noodles (4 cups) for 1# of ground meat. Tonight I am cooking the noodles in water because I am out of milk, and I just stir the cooked noodles in with the beef. I do have almond milk though, which I add at the end and put just enough to make it creamy. It tastes wonderful this way too. Thanks so much for sharing your recipe!
luv ur recipe. wanna know how to put more spices in it.
I love this recipe! SO much better than the boxed stuff. I made a batch with ground beef and a batch with ground turkey, both were so good. Gonna put them in the freezer for easy meals during the week 🙂
I was just about to ask how well it freezes. Did it hold up okay?
This is a very good recipe. I too am like your husband and have had my fair share of hamburger helper, but it’s something my wife would never have in the house. This is sooo much better, made with fresh ingredients. This will become a family favorite I did a test run on my two youngest, (14 & 10) and they loved it. The whole family will be getting this treat on my night to cook!
I can;’t wait to make this!! Thanks so much!
This was the BOMB! Flavor was all there. As a mom, I refuse to feed my kid boxed processed meals with a bunch of ingredients that I can’t pronounce. He loved this and so did my hubby. I followed it exactly as written (with one exception.. I had to add another cup of milk at the end with the shredded cheese because I think that I simmered too high so all of the moisture was good). 5 Starts.
I needed something quick d easy to fix and this was perfect as written. Thanks!
I have made this recipe many, many times. My whole family loves it. I do use a little more spices than it calls for, but we love the flavor. I also use gluten free pasta and it turns out wonderfully. I have passed this recipe on to my mom and sister in law, all of whom like it just as much as my family and I. It is definitely a keeper!
I made this tonight as best as I could with the ingredients in I had on hand. I subbed basil for oregano, regular spaghetti for elbow macaroni, and cooked the pasta separate from the dish. Because I cooked it separately I skipped the water in the sauce. Oh! I also only had Monterey Jack on hand for the cheese. All in all it turned out DELICIOUS and I can’t wait to try it exactly as the recipe calls for!
This was really good! I actually misread and put the cheese in with the rest of the ingredients but it turned out fine by stirring frequently. I also didn’t have paprika or chili powder but it still tasted very similar to hamburger helper, but obviously way better.
Just wanted to say thank you for this recipe! I tried it for the first time last year and now it’s a favorite in our house. I substitute Morningstar crumbles since I don’t eat meat, but it’s still so delicious! 🙂
Quick and easy recipe! Tastes really good! I just wish their was nutritional info to compare it to Hamburger helper. Thank you for sharing this recipe!!!
This was a great base recipe. I did add more liquid. I did abt 3c milk and 2c water. I used bowtie pasta as that’s what I had. I added a little extra on spices. At the last minute my daughter said to taco it up. I also added abt 3-4Tbsp of cream cheese and then when I took it off the heat added in cheddar cheese. I also used ground turkey. We’ll see what the rest of the family thinks in about 15 min.
Oh and I would omit the butter next time as cheddar cheese already tends to be oily when it melts.
The recipe looked good, so I doubled it and I added a can of Busg’s beans ( regular size) a large can of Rotel ( juices drained) and it was great. would definitely make this again
Been a fan for along time and this recipe is great (how I found you–I Googled “homemade hamburger helper” thinking someone must have figured it out!) This recipe is a constant fave with my kids. I also just tried adapting it to make a “homemade stroganoff hamburger helper” since stroganoff is a favorite of my husband’s. Basically the same except also sauteing mushrooms as well as beef and adding sour cream at the end instead of cheese. Also very tasty.
Delicious, quick and popular recipe. 🙂
Could I use sour cream or cream cheese to replace milk? I don’t think we ever have milk in the house.
It was sooo good. Used whole wheat macaroni instead so i wouldnt feel so guilty on my diet, couldnt even tell!
Thank you for this was wonderful recipie it was fast and easy
Honestly this is NOT a good recipe. There really is no similarity in taste to the boxed meal. I’m happy it was a cheap meal to prep because it was really just a waste.
So sorry to hear you didn’t like it.
You must be used to all the crap msg. And not real ingredients in the box. Says alot about how unhealthy you eat good luck
obviously you prefer processed food…the fact it tastes ‘real’ is what i believe we are happy about
I understand that you didn’t like the recipe however i think there is a more constructive way of sharing on Mrs Diva’s blog. If you love to cook like I do then maybe tasting the mixtures during the prepping time would assist you in making any necessary adjustments to the recipe. Then posting those helpful suggestions so that others can benefit from it. One thing I know is that everyone’s tastebuds are different so you have change recipes to make you enjoy that meal better. I am very busy and a lot of times I will watch the video instead of reading the recipe which has turned out disastrous. Those recipes i rushed through and forgotten this or that and the recipe turns out differently. I have learned to read the recipe AND read the comments of others who have done so I found out any new information. This way I can find out any hurdles that may arise. ????
P.S. It takes a lot of time and effort to blog about your interests and I think that when you go on someone’s website and try their suggestions it should be like coming to someone’s home for dinner. We never tell the hostess that they didn’t prepare the dinner correctly…we just play over in our minds what ingredients we could have added in to make it better!
My husband had a HUGE craving for hamburger helper. I’m not a big fan of all of the questionable ingredients, so I was thrilled to find this recipe for a homemade wholesome version. I made it with whole wheat pasta and added some peas. It was delicious, and almy 18 month old also loved it! Thanks!
There was not enough liquid, so was kind of sticky. Otherwise, this was yummy!!! Kids loced it!!
This was super easy and very delicious! I used Velveeta since it’s the only cheese we had at the time. My picky husband loved it! Thank you for this wonderful recipe.
My kids absolutely love this homemade version of Hamburger helper. I have been making your recipe for years once or twice a month. You just can’t go wrong with this meal!
Wow! Was this yummy. My husband and I were talking about the days that we used to have Hamburger Helper when our families ran out of money. We were saying that it would be nice to have our kids try it without all of the harmful ingredients. Our kids, who are picky eaters, loved it too. Will definitely be making again! Thanks for the post.
I’m glad you read the label. This recipe sounds wonderful and is just what I was looking for. Thanks for sharing!
I’ve been making this recipe every week for the past 3 months. My boyfriend can’t get enough of it. Thanks for sharing!
OMG, I grew up eating Hamburger Helper but had not introduced it to my kids yet. This recipe was spot on and DELICIOUS! My kids loved it and now it’s a go too. The nights I want to make something delicious and quick! Thank you for sharing.????
This tasted exactly like the HH I had as a kid. Wonderful deconstruction of that recipe.
Thank u for the recip I made this and it was amazing ^.^ was so good and easy ! Definitely gonna make it again !
Have made this a number of times and tweeked the seasonings to taste. The first time was the only time I did not have issues with the meat clumping together once I began adding the cheese. I really can’t figure out why. Any thoughts? Otherwise, the dish is awesome. Great flavors, great meal. Much better than anything in a box.
Absolutely delicious
I am so excited to share this recipe with loved ones
Thank you for this post.
Yayy!! So glad you enjoyed!
This recipe is in my rotation thank you so much the boxed hamburger helper doesnt stand a chance with this homemade recipe. Thanks Monique.
Outstanding. For some reason I got in the mood for Hamburger Helper after years of not having it. Since I did not have the box mix I wondered how hard it would be to cook from scratch. As I suspected making homemade hamburger helper is very easy – as easy as making it from the packaged box made by General Mills. It has to be one of the easiest meals in general to prepare, and making it from scratch without the MSG and other sketchy ingredients in the packaged box version results in a far better tasting and better for you meal. My four boys and a few of their friends devoured it in record time. Even the pickier eaters gobbled it up.
I used egg noodles because we did not have elbow macaroni and improvised on the spices using garlic powder, salt, pepper, Cookies flavor enhancer (amazing rub if you have never tried it) and oregano to flavor the meet along with a generous amount of diced onions cooked with the meat. It turned out phenomenal. I highly recommend this recipe!
I don’t usually comment, but wanted ya’ll to know that this is awesome and so simple! I added frozen mix veggies and it was delicious and satisfying! My husband LOVES boxed hamburger helper and wants this recipe over it any day! Thanks so much ma’am for giving me something simple and healthy to feed my family!!!
ps… it truly is as versatile as she mentions, I’ve used egg noodles, macaroni, ground beef, ground turkey, ground chicken, broth instead of water, veggies… you get the point 🙂 LOVE LOVE LOVE this!
I took out some ground beef this morning, with the intention of making Hamburger Helper for dinner. I discovered we were out of Hamburger Helper, and then I thought about how simple of a meal it really is, so I turned to Google for some recipes. I am so glad I discovered yours, it turned out really good, and was super easy too! Thanks!
Yayy!!! So glad you guys enjoyed!
I’m making your recipe right now. Smells amazing!! I’m sure it will taste just as good as it smells.
What is considered as one serving 1 cup 2 cups???
Thanks for a great alternative to chemicals!!
Just made this for dinner! Thanks for the recipe. Can’t wait for the family to taste.
This taste exactly like hamburger helper!! Love it!!
This is amazing!! Easy to find all the ingredients around the kitchen. Made mine with turkey, and it was a hit 🙂
We made it vegan and gluten free. Used TVP. Wow!
Wonderful recipe! Super easy and very tasty – thank you! We will certainly be making this again 🙂
Thanks so much Rachael!
This is amazing!!! I’ve tried many versions of hamburger helper, this one is by far the best!
I made this, my husband was hungry for hamburger helper. I found this online and made this. My family gobbled this right up!!
I’ll never buy hamburger helper again!! Thanks so much!! This recipe is a definite keeper!!
I was wondering if I can use whole wheat string noodles instead of regular noodles as a substitute
it should be fine.
Love this, and my picky kids will eat it too. We tried it with ground turkey, and it was awesome. I can think of lots of other fun additions to try too – once my kids are hooked. 🙂
I’ve made this several times now – everyone loves it, and my dad requests it frequently!
So glad to hear that!!
I’ve made this a few times now and it is so delicious! It’s part of my regular meal rotation now! I love the ease of one skillet meals like this. Great job!
Made this tonight with whole wheat shell pasta. It was soooo good!! Way better than the boxed meal!
This was great! I didn’t change a thing!
I don’t normally comment on recipes but this one was too good not to! It’s easy, affordable, and delicious! Thank you!!
I’ve made this recipe multiple times and I LOVEEEEE it !!!
But I just decided I’m going to try making it with whole wheat noodles and ground turkey ! I bet it will still be amazing but healthier.
I made this tonight; it was absolutely delicious, and my little girl couldn’t get enough! I made some minor substitutions: I halved the amounts of salt, chili powder and paprika (I only had smoked paprika in the house). I added evaporated milk for all but half a cup of the regular milk and the sauce thickened up as soon as the cheese was added. Definitely a keeper!
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Just made this recipe and it came out delicious however my sauce wasnt thin at all it actually thickened itself before i added the cheese… Tr ing to figure out if left the stove on too high but either way will definitely make this again.. Thanks
My husband and I really enjoyed this!
Just made it! My 7 year old is a very picky eater, He is eating his 2nd serving. So much better than the box.
I love this recipe! It feels good to be feeding my family pure wholesome food that my kids will actually eat! Thank you!
I wonder why my milk curdled? Have yet to taste it, will come back with an update, but I’m just bummed to discover after 9 minutes the milk curdled.
Soooo good, and so incredibly easy to make!!!
This looks awesome! Can’t wait to try it for dinner tonight. We used to buy hamburger helper all the time, but stopped when we quit eating processed food. I’m always looking for good, wholesome recipes.
Side note: This could EASILY be gluten free. Simply replace regular macaroni with a gluten free version.
THANK YOU!!
Just made this recipe, and it tastes great! Very easy and simple to make. Also found a new meal to make for my picky eater.
Thank you for the excellent recipe. Was online trying to find ideas to cook the ground beef – for a quick meal! Ever have those days where you just can’t come up with anything, even though you know a gazillion recipes? Watched the Youtube as well. I’m using Lentil pasta in my hamburger helper also. Have a blessed day! ~
I converted all of the seasonings to make with 4 lbs of hamburger cause I had to feed 8 ppl. It was awesome! Great recipe. Thanks so much!
So quick and easy. The kids loved it!
Very good, sauce was a little thin so I added a little cornstarch (and a pinch of Chyanne)
So delicious thank you for a great recipe!
I looked at several “homemade hamburger helper” recipes and I chose yours. I’m glad I did – it was delicious. Thank you for sharing!
Just made this recipe and it is absolutely AMAZING. Way better than the box, so yummy.
Super quick and really delicious! I added 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce and some bellpeppers. Great recipe!
This is my go to if I am strapped for time or dinner ideas. My daughter loves this dish! ! It’s quick and easy. A must for a busy working mom or dad.
Awesome recipe!. I did half seasoning salt half Himalayan salt & added 1/4 cup of frozen spinach when I added the noodles. I used a different noodle as well. Also i used 1 cup onion rather than half. I was out of milk so i did 1 cup coffee cream and 2 cups water We LOVE hamburger helper and this is even better!
Awesome, brings back great times. Maybe the person might read this and remember us?
I found this recipe when searching for a homemade version of Hamburger Helper. It is delicious! My whole family loves it and it’s so quick and easy. It tastes so much better than the boxed version in my opinion.
SO EASY, SO GOOD!! This coming from a guy who can barly make mac n cheese out of a box. It tasted like I spent all day making it in the kitchen, in realality it took about 25 min prep and then the rest of the time was baking. Highly recomed especially if you are a working family and want a hearty filling meal.
Oh my god, girl you have outdone yourself. I have made this 4 times over the past 2 weeks and I just can’t get enough!! I used to love hamburger helper as a little kid and now that I’m older and off to college, I thought I would get reacquainted with the box mix but, now that I’ve tried this- hell no. It’s so full of flavor and spice and it definitely brings the comforting flavors of beef and cheese as well. Ughh, I’m in love with this recipe. So simple but so much better than the box.
Oh my gosh!!! I was having a nasty pregnancy craving for Hamburger Helper and decided to google “homemade hamburger helper”. Your recipe was the first to pop up. I’m so glad I found this. It was soooo good! Totally hit the spot. Thank you!
Could always add some cream cheese to help thicken it up also. I LOVE cream cheese!
This is my go-to for Hamburger Helper-esque taste now! I add in more pasta and a can of evaporated milk because my hubby eats, like, four servings! He was raised on the boxed stuff and I won’t make that processed garbage. So this is our compromise. My three year old downs it! Great recipe!
This is absolutely delicious and a keeper. I make it vegetarian with meatless crumbles. Thank you!
I made this tonight and there was only about a 1/2 cup left we loved it!!! My 15 yr old wants me to make the stroganoff now LOL
I am making hanmurgerhelper for dinner and I have s taste for it it good to try something once in awhile and were making it homemade!and this is her daughter that is helping her !yay I love to cook.
Made this tonight and my family loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
This is the best! These other boxed foods are processed! Don’t eat msg. Or nitrates, however hard not to eat them!
I’m currently living in Germany with my husband. I alway ate Hamburger Helper growing up as a kid, but they don’t really have any similar to the taste here. I wanted to make Hamburger Helper one day for lunch and stumbled upon this recipe. The finished product turned out great. When my husband took his first bite it was like the inner child came out haha. He said this is now his favorite food to eat. Will definitely be recommending this recipe to others.
Made this for dinner last night using whole grain rotini. My 3 fussy teenagers and my husband LOVED it! I hate serving my family processed and prepackaged foods so very rarely buy hamburger helper (now I will NEVER buy it again 🙂 I also added some chopped up bell peppers…delicious!!!With the extra add-ins I found I had to add a bit more liquid so that my pasta was covered. The next time I make this I will double it and make up some frozen dinners for hubby’s lunch 🙂
just made this a la kitchen sink. It was delicious but turned out REALLY watery and never really thickened! I used buffalo meet and penne pasta. Is that why? My one year old ate it but would love to master it next time. Anyone have the same problem? Thanks! Also used real garlic and real parsley. 🙂
Hi Stephanie 🙂
I have been searching for the perfect homemade hamburger helper recipe when I came across this one. Most I have seen require c
Honey, within adding all of the seasonings add 1tbsp of corn starch and that is what will help thicken your watery sauce, you can use corn starch to always thicken any sauce that is thin, this is very popular in chinese cuisine, try it out!
Stephanie, garlic powder and dried parsley are ‘real’ ingredients, just not fresh! Maybe your source is different, but my spices are just garlic, dehydrated and pulverized, and just parsley, dried and crumbled. Don’t fear the spices! Although there’s certainly nothing wrong with using fresh.
Monique – this was delicious! I cook a lot from scratch, and this was the meal that my 2 and 4 year old raved about. The 2 year old had three servings!
Hey I just made this tonight and knew I’d have a problem with thickening because I use almond milk. Just put in a little cornstarch! 🙂
I made this for dinner and it turned out great. My dad liked it a lot ( he wasn’t afraid to eat what I made).
🙂
Waaaay too spicy, burned my kids’ mouth!
I have never had hamburger helped before, but if it tastes anything like your recipe, it’s amazing! I followed the recipe exactly and it is so, SO good!
I just love you. Like everyone else I tweeted it to our liking. For instanced I used honey instead of sugar and more spices and milk. Great recipe. My daughters ate it all and was like it smells good the whole time I was cooking it. Thanks!
Great recipe! This was a hit with my family. In my opinion this taste better than the box!
I love this …Thank you very much… I made it for supper tonight and I didn’t have any cheddar cheese, but I did have Velveeta,I used that instead. Knowing velveeta was on the salty side I used less salt .Turned out very tasty!!!My hubby loved it!!
I’m like you, I often only use a half pound of meat, plus I find that no salt or sugar and 1 cup of cheddar is plenty. Everything else is the same. Love your recipe. Thanks for sharing it and your story 🙂
This recipe was so good. Made it on a humbug, last minute meal hunt. I had ground turkey and needed a good, quick recipe with ingredients I had on hand. Instead of elbow, I used small pasta shells. I also added a can of diced tomatoes with green peppers & onions combined. I did add a wee bit more milk & water. I did not make enough, as the food came to a boil I knew it would be a hit. I will definitely keep this recipe on deck.
Thanks Diva
My hubby loves pasta. I Google home made hamburger helper and came across this recipe. I just finished making it! I used ground chicken instead of turkey and fat free milk. I just had a sample and it’s Delicious! I can’t wait for my hubby to taste it! Thank you for the recipe!!
This was fantastic. Thank you!
This recipe is fantastic! I think it tastes pretty close to the box version. I added some frozen mixed veggies for some added nutrition. Soo good, thanks!
Amazing! My Family loved this and it tasted exactly like I hoped. I had to double up on the spices for our liking, but I’m still giving 5 stars. and I also add nearly an extra cup of milk and also of water…but that’s because I used wheat macaroni noodles. Thanks for the wonderful recipe!
I never made Hamburger Helper because my husband had a heart attack and I need to watch his sodium in take plus my son really liked it we all thought it very cheeses and excellent I would defentily make it again.
Use earth balance vegan mac and cheese and just use soymilk no earth balance spread and use vegan beef crumbles 🙂 All cholesterol free and low fat!
hi! Quick question: when adding tomatoes or broccoli, when would you add it to the cooking? Thanks!
I came across this website just by searching homemade hamburger helper and I did put it with the box Mac and cheese but boy did I get an instant hit with my family. My two year old even did the “mm mm mhmm” with a mouthful of the stuff. Definitely a repeat recipe! Thank you!
I made this last night and it was great, a hit with my husband, who refuses to even look at the boxed Hamburger Helper. Every recipe I have made from you is great! So glad I found your site! Keep up the good work, you’re helping me out! 🙂
I loved hamburger helper as a kid but never bought it for my kids because of the high sodium content and other not so good ingredients. I was excited to try this and it was a big hit for my boys and husband. I think it tastes waaaay better than the boxed stuff. Keep the awesome recipes coming 🙂
This was yummy! However, it was bland with the amount of spices indicated in the recipe. I kept adding more to make it more flavorful- next time I might double or triple some of them at the start. Also, I don’t eat cheese, so it wasn’t creamy enough. Next time I think I’ll add a little half and half or heavy cream to make it richer. This totally hit the spot though!!
Wait, Melinda… you don’t eat cheese, yet searched for homemade Hamburger Helper? And gave this 2 stars as a review? This recipe was fine. I tweaked it, too. Your desire to write a review and give it 2 stars “because you don’t eat cheese” is like going to a vegan restaurant and giving them a 1 star rating because THEY DON’T SERVE MEAT.” You’re the worst and you clog the internet.
This was really good! I was very pleasantly surprised. We used 3 cups pasta and an extra cup each of water and cheese. I also used 1/2 ground beef, 1/2 lentils.
My daughter loves Hamburger Helper, but I stopped buying it. One day I put some hamburger and boxed mac and cheese together and hey homemade Hamburger Helper. I went on line to find a recipe for homemade hamburger helper and came across this recipe. I did not have cheddar, so I used Velveeta and Parmesan cheese and this was fantastic. My daughter has yet to taste it but I know she will love it. This is a keeper and I will be trying more of Diva’s can cook recipes.
This recipe is fabulous! Very delicious. You sound just adorable in your video too. Thanks so much for sharing this healthy and more flavorful alternative!
This is delicious! And it freezes well. So I have individual sized containers ready to defrost in the microwave and voila! dinner in minutes on a busy night. This recipe is definitely a keeper!
My wife made this last night and was sooo much better than the box, never again will we eat the processed stuff 😀
Thanks for a good recipe! I used 1/2 a lb ground turkey and whole wheat shells. It was delish! I forgot to add butter so my sauce didn’t quite thicken but it was still good.
i love this recipe! making again tonight!
Great recipe! Since I can’t have milk (but can have cheese) or wheat, I subbed rice milk and brown rice noodles. It was quite tasty! The rice noodles soak up more liquid though, so next time I will increase the amount of liquid. Thank you for sharing! It was super easy, and the whole family liked it.
Thank you for this!! I had no idea what to make for supper and all I had was a handful of about 4 different types of noodles and 3 mostly empty packages of different shredded cheeses (I did have all of the other ingredients). You saved supper and the family loves it.
My boyfriend eats like a little kid and loves this stuff. But I think it’s gross. I will admit, I am a food snob but I want to give this a try. I bet my boyfriend will love it and I think I might like this over the box version. Thanks so much for sharing this recipe.
BTW I love your videos!
Morgan
making this right now so have not tasted it yet but I used Italian seasoning in place of oregano and through in a can of cream of mushroom soup because it might be the only way to sneak in veggies
I mean velveeta
I Made this using velvet and it was SIMPLY AMAZING!!! OMG GREAT recipe!!
Thank you for this great recipe. I didn’t expect it to be so fast and easy to make! (I didn’t watch the video beforehand ;)) I used whole wheat macaroni and added frozen spinach, mushrooms and red peppers. We really enjoyed it!
I made this tonight and I thought it was delicious! I loved the ground turkey as a healthier option and I used also substituted Organic 2% milk. Also, I used the Barilla brand shells and it was a nice change from the elbow macaroni. Please continue sharing your recipes! 🙂
For the parsley and oregano, did you use it fresh? Will I get the same results with dried herbs?
Is onions optional because my husband hates onions, will it taste the same?
My 17 year old son made this while I was away and raved about how good it was. The other night he made some for me and OMG. It does not taste like boxed Hambuger Helper …. It tastes much much much BETTER!!!! Thank you or sharing this!
thanks for this recipe! My daughter and I loved your commentary in the instructional video, made us laugh 🙂 thanks again!
This recipe was simple and awesome! I will be recommending this one and others to my friends!
I made this last night for dinner, and it’s so much better than the box brand. I can’t have preservatives that are in those HH mixes, so I’ve been searching for the best version of cheeseburger macaroni. This one is delicious and gets my hubby’s approval, too. 🙂 Thank you!
This is amazing, I made this for dinner this evening and it was a hit! It not only tastes better than the box version, is so much better for you without all those preservatives and food dyes!
This was delicious. Thanks so much!!
I found your amazing and tasty recipe a few months ago on pinterest. I have been looking for a healthy way to still enjoy a comfort food like hamburger helper. This recipe is fast and easy and even more flavor than the box. And my daughter loves it!!! Thank you!!!!
This dish came out AMAZING! My nine year old daughter loved it! Thank you Monique!
Alright so! I am 17 years old and I do most of the cooking at home. I’ve been super busy so when I came across your page I was so excited! I try to Cook semi-gourmet food. Such as last week I was cooking chili, baked ziti, spaghetti and tons of others, last night I slipped and we had a box dinner I felt guilty because the ingredients are sooo sketchy so tonight (in all teenage last second fashion) I threw this together and it was perfect!!! Thank you so much for your recipes!!!
I made this recipe my family loved it:) I only added only 2 cups of cheese and 1/2 cup of sour cream to make it cheesy and creamy!!!
Just made this for my husband and me. Delicious!
Great recipe! I added some Valentina sauce to liven it up. Thanks!
Very good recipe!!!
Thank you for the recipe, I will try it soon. I tried something similar today, but your recipe looks better. 😉 One little thing: you didn’t write down teaspoon when you listed the garlic powder in the recipe; no biggie, I’m positive that it is to be tsp, but thought I’d bring it to your attention. 😉 Very nice, and great video and pictures! Will come back to rate it once I’ve actually tried it.
Cooking is not one of my strong suits right now, but I made this tonight and it tastes great!!! Almost makes me consider cooking more often…Almost–lol! THANKS!!!
I’ve only made this a few times and I think I got some of ingredients wrong, but I still can’t tell the difference between this and hamburger helper! It’s delicious!
Thanks for making this recipe for us to use, Monique.
p.s.
I’m a kid! Didn’t see that one coming, did you?
I found this recipe on Pinterest and thought I’d give it a try. My family loves Hamburger Helpers. But I’ve always been concerned about the sodium & other stuff that goes into it. Made it tonight and loved it! I left out the onions (I don’t like them & my son may eat them, depending on what day it is). I think next time I might try a different cheese. I used sharp cheddar cheese & to me it didn’t have much of a “creamy” taste. My son, who is going through the picky stage of eating, gave it a thumbs up. This will definitely stay in my recipe folder.
Made this last night, we had an early evening lesson and needed a quick dinner that wasn’t junk. yum! I was unsure about adding the cheese straight up, but it worked just fine. I added chopped bell peppers shortly after the onions, and skinned diced tomatoes, from my garden, when I added the milk etc. I strongly recommend an MSG free seasoned salt, it really makes it wonderful!
I made one batch for myself and one for my coworker’s 10 year old. He loved it and so did my family! It was MUCH better than the box and much more food. This recipe is definitely going to be on repeat!
Picky eater tested,mother approved lol
Thanks again for another delicious,easy meal.
This does taste similar to hamburger help but the
Author is right,it is way better.
This dish was fast and delicious and will definitely be a keeper. As u mentioned, 1/2lb of ground meat was perfect, any more would have been too much. I used 1/2tsp salt because the cheese was pretty salty. Lastly I had ground hot pepper and used that. For me the heat was perfect but too much for my toddler. Next time I’ll adjust accordingly. I love your recipes and appreciate all that you do. Thanks so much!
I made this using meatless Morningstar Crumbles. It was absolutely delicious. It will be a go to meal in my house. I added mushrooms and broccoli. Thank you for sharing!
I made this tonight and was pleasantly surprised! It was delish! Hubby & 8 yr old had seconds & my 6 & 4 year old cleaned their plates…bravo!
I just made this recipe for a late dinner and I must say it was better than the box version. Thank you diva for keep my belly full. You are a blessing
OMG! AMAZING!! I was whimsically looking up Hamburger helper copycat recipes and found this. My 5 yr old son saw the pic and said he wanted it for lunch. This recipe was super easy. I even had both my kids (5,2) help with mixing everything in. (I pre-mesured everything, so it was all quick dump and stir) I try to keep 1lb packs of frozen cooked ground beef on hand, because, let’s face it, some days we all have that one day that started with it’s tail lit on fire and you drop into bed at night, trying to silence the voices telling you about the shower you missed… but I digress. I also happened to have extra chopped onion from a previous meal. This tossed together so quickly! And DELICIOUS! BOTH kids asked for seconds! After I finished lunch, I turned right around and made up two mix pouches of the spices, and added some powdered milk I have on hand. All I’ll need to do for those is warm a ground beef, toss in the spice packet, and add 3 Cups of water! Top with cheese and tada. Even faster! YUM
I made this as per the recipe. Only difference was I had a little bit more of the beef on hand than the recipe called for so I also added a half more cup of the pasta (cavatappi was all I had that was similar to macaroni) and a pinch more of each spice and it was deeeelicious!
Adults and toddler all raved over it so it will be a family keeper. It’s filling (without being heavy), quick and simple to make too! Thank you for this great weeknight meal idea! 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner it was SO easy and SO GOOD! I added diced green peppers and tomatoes in addition to the diced onions. Being that I had 1.5lbs of ground beef, I had to double the recipe (only the spices, with the addition of 1/2c milk, 1/2c water and 4c of cheese instead of the 2c the recipe calls for) with these minor adjustments this dish came out PERFECT! I just ate the last bite in my plate as I’m typing this message! I’m going to try the Chili Salmon with Pineapple, Mango Salsa next! can’t wait to come back to the site and leave a review! Thanks Diva for the recipe! keep em’ coming!! 🙂
This was excellent, and so quick & easy with all items that I had on hand. I will NEVER buy the boxed version again! I added a big dollop of cream cheese in addition to the cheddar to make it even extra creamy and cheesy! A KEEPER! You def. need to tweak the seasonings at the end, as the recipe suggests. I added a little garlic salt, as well.
I htought it was about time to commend you for your recipes for for showing us the steps. THANK YOU!! I made this dish tonight, it is delicious. I also have made your potato salad, mac n cheese (which my family liked better than mine and they thought mine was good), strawberry lemonade and peach lemonade (and I added the peach drink to some iced tea which was just as delicious!! Thank you so much for helping me to feed my family!
I made this tonight and boy was it a hit! My family loved it!! Especially my 4 year old! This is most def going in my recipe book!
This was a hit! We loved it. I don’t buy processed foods very often and my family was so excited to have “hamburger helper” tonight! Thank you.
OMG…luv this recipe…I have picky children, but 2/4 enjoyed it much. This is now a family recipe that I plan to use continuously…Thanx Hun!!
I made this last night and added a can of diced tomatoes as well as 4 cups of fresh spinach. Delish!
I’ve been lurking divascancook for almost 2 weeks now. I’ve written down many of your recipes, & went grocery shopping for A LOT of things that were required to make some of your recipes. I am a 22 yr old college student & between school, work, my sorority…getting a chance to just cook is just sooooo brain wrecking! Plus, I’m a beginner cook. This was my 1st recipe I tried off your page…
Made this tonight for my begging, starving boyfriend. Wanted to cook something fast before we went to the movies, just to get him full & to shut up. Came out DEELISH! First time making something OUT of a Hamburger Helper box. Plus, I don’t really like the Cheeseburger Hambuger Helper in the box. But THIS is SO GOOD! I think I reduced some of the seasoning because I’m still trying to learn how to measure stuff l0l, but I adjusted the seasoning toward the end. My boyfriend ate his plate in 2 minutes & 30 seconds. Did he even chew!? Thanks Monique!
Just made this, and I was delish! I did change it a little. I used 3 cups of pasta, and upped the water to 3 cups, and I only used one cup cheese, and it was still very cheesy. Next time, I’ll use 4 cups of pasta, and up t water even more. My almost-teenager son, a 12 y.o. had three helpings! I will make this again often! Thanks for posting!
I made this tonight and it was a hit with the family. This is the third recipe from here that I have made this week and they were all delicious . Thank you for your creative meal ideas. I have rediscovered my joy in the kitchen because of this website.
Tried this, and we loved it!
Loved it! I actually had everything in my pantry, which is very unusual. This was so awesome! I love the fact that I could pronounce everything that went in it. I got the best of both worlds… Healthy and delicious.
Delicious! We are eating this for dinner right now. My husband also lived off hamburger helper so this satisfies his taste for it and my desire for it to be a bit healthier. We use lean beef in our house. Thanks for sharing your recipes! We are having your peach cobbler for dessert!
Love your video and intro notes. Good points: Video: You don’t waste time, you just get to the cooking and I love that about cooking videos. Natural ingredients: Every item you use should be things folks have in their kitchen. Those are my fav recipes.
I’m about to cook this now.
Keep doing ya thang girl!
This dish was so tasty and filling, we both went back for seconds. I will be adding this to my monthly meal rotations.
Thank you!!! I can’t wait to eat this. So much healthier than the box! Love your site!
Hi Monique! I’ve made many of your recipes and LOVE each of them. I took beef out the freezer this morning and was going to make spaghetti until I found this Hamburger Helper recipe…we’ll be trying this tonight. Thanks!!
IM ALL OVER THIS! YUMMY!
Hi 🙂 this looks great, can you tell me how much cheese to use? Carmen