This homemade cheesy hamburger helper is a comforting meal full of so much flavor. Dare I say much better than the boxed hamburger helper! It is cheesy, creamy, and full of all the good spices. Let's make this easy and delicious meal together.
When I think of a comfort meal, meals like a hamburger helper come to mind. But also, when I am unsure of what to make, meals like hamburger helper also come to mind.
This cheesy hamburger helper is one of those meals that you most likely already have the ingredients on hand to make. It is always at your fingertips, yet it can be easy to forget about. Although when you make it, you'll be adding it to your weekly meal plan very often.
I love how creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor this cheesy hamburger helper is. It comes together within 30 minutes, so it is great for those busy weeknights. And somehow, it gets better when you have it the next day.
If you love quick, easy and delicious meals like this one, be sure to save this post so you can come back to it again! Now, let's make this cheesy hamburger helper together.
Tips to Make the Best Hamburger Helper
Keep the Grease - After we brown the beef, keep the grease in the pan. This will add so much flavor to the dish.
Broth - Don't substitute the broth for water. Using the broth will add depth and a richer flavor to the dish. It will also lead to more nutritional value as the noodles will soak up the nutrients from the broth.
Hot Sauce - For even more flavor, add in a bit of hot sauce into the dish to give it a bit of a kick.
Veggies - To make this a one pot balanced meal, try adding in some veggies! Whether it is peas, spinach, or beans, this will up the nutritional value and bring dinner together in one pot.
Cheese - In this recipe, we use mild cheddar cheese. However, for a stronger cheese flavor try sharp cheddar. Or for a stringy hamburger helper, use mozzarella cheese. Experiment with your favorite cheese or a combination of your favorites.
Why You Will Love This Homemade Cheesy Hamburger Helper
One Pot - This whole meal is made in one pot. Now for me, as I am sure it is for you, that is always a relief to hear. That means less dishes, less time, and so easy!
Versatile - There are so many ways that you can make this meal taste even better for your liking. Whether it is adding in a bit of spice, your favorite fresh herb, or your favorite cheese.
Simple - This cheesy hamburger helper uses very simple ingredients. Nothing special that you will be able to find at your local grocery store or even ones you already have within your home.
Comforting - I don't know if there is a better comfort meal than a good cheesy hamburger helper. It is warm, cheesy, and so creamy.
Cheesy Hamburger Helper FAQs
What cheese should I use for hamburger helper?
For our hamburger helper, we use cheddar cheese as that is a milder cheese that melts well. Our recipe uses mild cheddar, but you can also use sharp or medium.
Other cheeses you can use are Colby cheese. This cheese is mild and also slightly sweet but melts really well. A cheese similar to that is Monetary Jack. This cheese isn't as sweet but more buttery. For a spicier hamburger helper, consider adding in pepper jack. Whether it is the full amount or doing half pepper jack and half cheddar.
Can you add cream cheese hamburger helper?
Yes! You can add cream cheese to hamburger helper if you want it even more creamy and a bit rich. If you desire to do this, add in a bit after the pasta is cooked and just before you add in the cheese. Stir until the cream cheese is dissolved into the dish.
Other Comforting Recipes by Brick House on Green
Roasted Butternut Squash Tortellini with Sausage and Kale
Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches
Italian Wedding Soup in the Crockpot
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Ground beef - using local, grassfed beef will give you the ultimate flavor. As well as using 80 to 20 or 90 to 10 fat ratio.
Yellow onion
Garlic
Chicken broth
Milk
Cheese - in this recipe we use a mild cheddar cheese. However, if you like a stronger cheese flavor, feel free to add in or replace it with a different kind!
Pasta - this recipe uses the seashell shaped pasta. I have only tried it with this shape of pasta. A different shape pasta may or may not lead to a different consistency or needing different ratios.
Olive oil
Spices
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Italian Seasoning
Oregano
Tools You May Need
Large skillet or cast iron
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Wooden spatula
How to Make Cheesy Hamburger Helper Step-by-Step
To start, heat a large skillet or cast iron in medium high heat. Once heated, add in a drizzle of olive oil along with the diced onion and minced garlic. Give it all a good stir and cook until the garlic is fragrant.
Once the garlic is fragrant, add in the ground beef. Using a wooden spatula, break up the ground beef and allow to cook until browned.
Once the ground beef is browned, add in all the seasoning and stir well.
Next, add in the chicken broth, uncooked pasta, and milk. Allow the dish to come to a boil.
Once the dish boils, reduce to low and simmer until the pasta is tender and the liquid is all dissolved. There can be about a ¼ cup or so of liquid left as that will get soaked up by the cheese.
Lastly, add in the cheese stirring well.
Remove from the heat and enjoy!
Cheesy Hamburger Helper
This homemade cheesy hamburger helper is the ultimate comfort meal. Made with ground beef, lots of cheese, noodles, and all the good seasonings. It is creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- I yellow onion, diced
- 1 ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup milk
- 2 cups uncooked pasta, seashell shape
- 1 ¼ cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- To start, heat a large skillet or cast iron over medium high heat. Once heated, add in the drizzle of olive oil as well as the diced yellow onion and minced garlic.
- Once the garlic is fragrant, add in the ground beef. Using a wooden spatula, break up the ground beef and cook until fully browned.
- Once the beef is browned, add in the seasonings. This includes the salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, dried oregano, and paprika. Stir until distributed all around.
- Next, add in the uncooked pasta shells, broth, and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Once the mixture is boiling, turn down to a simmer. Allow the dish to simmer until the pasta is fully cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Stirring occasionally to help the liquid go down.
- Lastly, stir in the cheese, remove from the heat, and enjoy right away!
Notes
1. Keeping the grease of the ground beef after it is cooked will add so much flavor!
2. There can be a small amount of liquid left in the skillet before adding the cheese. Although, there should be no more than ¼ a cup. The cheese will help absorb a small amount of liquid.
3. Adding in hot sauce will give the dish a nice kick and flavor!
More From Brick House on Green
Sourdough Hamburger Buns from Scratch
Leave a Reply