Description
A quick, creamy, and comforting homemade version of Hamburger Helper that comes together in under 30 minutes using simple ingredients like ground beef, elbow macaroni, and a rich cheese sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound 80/20 lean ground beef
- 1 box (16 oz) elbow macaroni
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 1 1/2 cups sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Water for boiling pasta
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package directions, draining one minute early to keep al dente. Reserve one cup of pasta water before draining and set pasta aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and diced onion, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon. Cook until beef is no longer pink and onions are translucent. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving some for flavor.
- Add minced garlic and tomato paste to the skillet. Stir constantly for about one minute until garlic is fragrant and tomato paste darkens slightly.
- Pour in beef broth and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly, then reduce heat to low.
- Stir in heavy cream and softened cream cheese. Whisk until cream cheese is fully melted and the sauce is smooth.
- Add paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
- Add the cooked macaroni to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat. If too thick, add reserved pasta water; if too thin, simmer for another minute.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Serve immediately.
Notes
Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Shred your own cheese for better melting. Brown the beef well for flavor. Keep heat low when adding cream cheese to prevent breaking. Do not freeze as pasta may become mushy.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: hamburger helper, copycat recipe, creamy beef pasta, quick dinner, comfort food, ground beef recipes, cheesy pasta, weeknight meals