If you’re a parent or child of the ’80s, you probably remember the Hamburger Helper puppet—that ever-cheerful, inexplicably four-fingered cartoon mascot who was always waving you to dinner with a little help from his handy box of dried pasta and seasonings. But while that flavor is nostalgic, sometimes a homemade meal is what you’re craving. If you’re in the mood for beef, this is one dinner that’s guaranteed to reward your cravings.
What makes Homemade Hamburger Helper better than the store-bought version?
There’s absolutely no shame in pulling a box from the pantry to help you get dinner on the table in a hurry. But if you have a handful of extra minutes, making this recipe from scratch yields a richer, more flavorful dinner. The spices in your pantry are more potent, the fresh onion and garlic add more robust flavors than the dried versions in the box mix, and the broth and tomato sauce bring a deep, savory richness to the beef and pasta.
What do I need to make Homemade Hamburger Helper?
Everything you need to make Hamburger Helper from scratch is most likely already in your fridge and pantry right now: one pound of hamburger meat, four slices of bacon, dried seasonings, canned tomato sauce and broth, a little cream or milk, and some fresh onion and garlic. It’s comfort food, fast—and we all need more of that right now.
Can I use any pasta in Hamburger Helper?
Technically, you can use any pasta in this recipe, but to make it feel like classic Hamburger Helper, it’s best to use a shorter pasta, like elbow macaroni. You can use longer pasta if that’s all you have, but be warned that your brain may try to convince you that you’re eating spaghetti! Anything short, like rotini, penne or even shells, will encourage a more enthusiastic high-four from the Hamburger Helper glove. ?
Is Hamburger Helper a one-pot recipe?
Yes, Hamburger Helper is actually made all in one pot! The broth, combined with the tomato sauce and cream, is just enough to help cook the pasta while the meat simmers.
Ingredients
Directions
- In a large Dutch oven, cook the ground beef, bacon and onion over medium heat, stirring, until the ground beef is cooked through, the bacon is rendered and the onion is softened, 12 to 15 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute.
- Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, heavy cream, paprika, hot sauce, salt and pepper to the beef mixture. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium. Add the pasta and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente, about 8 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the cheeses until fully melted and creamy. Garnish with green onion or parsley, if desired.