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Ultimate Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet (Copycat Hamburger Helper)

A close-up of a white bowl filled with creamy, cheesy homemade hamburger helper mixed with ground beef and elbow macaroni.
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Make a rich, creamy, and satisfying cheeseburger macaroni skillet from scratch. This recipe captures the flavor of your favorite boxed meal using simple ingredients for a quick weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, chopped
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
  • 3 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup milk (whole or 2%)
  • 8 ounces elbow macaroni pasta
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons cold water (slurry)

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat. Drain off any excess grease.
  2. Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the diced tomatoes (with their juice) and the beef broth. Bring the mixture to a simmer.
  5. Add the dry elbow macaroni to the skillet. Stir well to combine.
  6. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the skillet, and cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is nearly tender.
  7. Stir in the milk. Bring the mixture back to a gentle simmer.
  8. In a small bowl, whisk together the cornstarch and cold water to create a slurry. Pour the slurry into the simmering sauce while stirring constantly. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  9. Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese and Monterey Jack cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
  10. Serve immediately as a quick creamy ground meat dish.

Notes

  • For a richer flavor, use whole milk instead of lower-fat milk in the sauce.
  • You can substitute ground turkey or ground chicken for the beef in this ground beef pasta skillet.
  • To make this a gluten free version, use gluten free elbow macaroni and ensure your broth is certified gluten free.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://rosatasty.com/homemade-hamburger-helper-recipe/