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Homemade Cheeseburger macaroni is just about as easy as the boxed mix with lots of cheesy homemade flavor. Best of all, it’s on the table in less than 30 minutes!
Holly’s Recipe Highlights For Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Flavor: On the table in less than 30 minutes, the homemade version of Hamburger Helper has an easy seasoned cheese sauce.
- Recipe tip: Once the pasta is cooked, remove it from the heat before adding the cheese. This keeps the cheese from separating.
- Recommended tools: I love this meat chopper for cooking ground meat.
- Budget tip: Add extra pasta and sauce to stretch it even further. This recipe can also be made with less meat.
- Time-Saving Tip: Pre-shredded cheese can be used in this recipe, the sauce will not be quite as smooth, but still delicious.
Ingredients for Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Ground Beef – Choose lean ground beef and drain off any fat after cooking. Substitute with ground turkey or ground chicken.
- Sauce – The pasta is simmered with seasonings in chicken broth and milk until tender. Beef broth can be substituted, but we find chicken broth to give the best flavor.
- Cheese – Once the pasta is tender, stir in the cheese. A bold cheese like sharp cheddar cheese adds the most flavor. Try any cheese, but be sure at least one has a sharp, bold flavor.
Variations
- Swap the milk for light cream for extra creaminess or stir in a little sour cream or Greek yogurt before serving for a little tang.
- Change up the seasonings with a tablespoon of tomato paste or 1 teaspoon of dijon mustard.
- Add fresh vegetables like onion, celery, or tomatoes.
Serving Suggestions and Storage
There are a variety of flavors of Hamburger Helper; this version is a copycat cheeseburger macaroni recipe. I like to serve it with a simple and colorful side dish to complement the cheesy, meaty richness. Try steamed broccoli or peas and carrots.
- Cheeseburger macaroni will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Add a little bit of milk when reheating if needed.
- Store for up to 4 months in the freezer. Thaw in the refrigerator and reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Easy One Pot Ground Beef Dinners
Did your family enjoy this Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni? Be sure to leave a comment and rating below!
Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- ½ cup finely diced onion or 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 2 cups milk
- 1 ¼ cup chicken broth
- 1 ½ cups elbow macaroni
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ¾ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a small bowl, combine cornstarch, garlic powder, sugar, salt, paprika, and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Brown the ground beef and onion, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until no pink remains. Drain any excess fat.
- Add milk, broth, and uncooked elbow macaroni to the beef. Stir the cornstarch and spice mixture. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to a gentle boil, cover and cook for 9-12 minutes or until the pasta is cooked through, stirring occasionally. If needed, add more broth or water.
- Remove from heat and stir in cheese until melted. Serve hot.
Notes
- Depending on the brand of pasta and the size of the pan, you may need a little bit more or less liquid. Add extra broth or water as needed.
- Mild cheddar doesn’t have enough flavor for this dish.
- Remove the skillet from the heat before adding the cheese.
- For a little extra kick, add a dash of hot sauce, or some red pepper flakes.
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Beef, Casserole, Dinner, Entree, Lunch, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine American© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.
Increased amounts and made to your recipe and it is absolutely amazing!
Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely amazing! This was so easy to make and it turned out wonderfully. Truly delicious!
Better than a box mix, thanks for sharing
I made this for supper tonight. I’m really sorry to say that my husband asked to not make this again. I thought it was good but there was a vinegary flavor to it. Not sure where it came from. All ingredients were fresh and in good condition. My older son didn’t like it, but my youngest went back for seconds. So, I guess it was a 50/50 review in our home.
I made this tonight with ground turkey because that’s what we have. I also substituted 1 cup of milk for a cup of water and a cup of cottage cheese to add extra protein. It was so good! all the kids said it was better than hamburger helper!!! Thank you for the recipe!
Made this last night, I am on a diet so only ate a few bites and it was good. My son devoured it, said he would have eaten the whole pan … he is picky, so something new I can start making. Thank you :)
* Only change was I used beef broth instead of chicken.
my family likes this recipe, but next time, I need to cut down on the salt. it tastes very salty.
Very good. I used 1/2 pound ground turkey and 1/2 pound ground sausage.
Made it and everyone LOVED it. I did add a touch of velveta for creaminess and red pepper flakes.
This was DELICIOUS! I needed a last-minute idea for dinner and I didn’t have an onion on hand so I just used 2 tablespoons of minced onions and it was still so good! This will definitely be a repeat meal!
Yum! Quick and easy. I made this last week with ground beef and white cheddar, and again this week with ground turkey (what I usually get for these kinds of recipes) and yellow cheddar (just what was available). Honestly, I prefer it with the turkey, and the yellow cheddar gives it that unmistakable nostalgic Hamburger Helper look. It packs well for lunch the next day, though like any pasta dish, it does dry out a little bit as the noodles continue to suck up all the liquid. But it still tastes good. Will definitely be adding this to my rotation.
Really good, quick and easy recipe. I am lactose intolerant so I made it with lactose free milk. Also added chopped green pepper which added a good flavor.
This recipe is amazing, so quick and easy and the taste is awesome. I needed a quick meal to prepare for my husband to take to work and this worked wonderful, Thank you so much for this recipe definitely going in the recipe binder.
Made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! So tasty! Thank you
It was delicious and soooo easy!!!
Absolutely delicious! I love all your recipes as does my family! Will definitely be making this again!