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Homemade Cheeseburger Helper is so easy to fix and better than anything you can buy in the store. Skip those box mixes and make this delicious hamburger helper recipe from scratch.

A wooden spoon stirs a pot of creamy homemade Cheeseburger Helper, featuring macaroni mixed with a savory, cheesy sauce and ground beef casserole garnished with chopped parsley for added color and flavor.
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Dinner is a breeze with this simple to make homemade hamburger helper. You do not need to buy those kits at the store for hamburger helper. It is SO easy to make this easy meal.

I promise it tastes much better and is actually very simple. Once you see how quick and easy it is, you will always make it this way. You may even like this Crock Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni or Hamburger Hash Recipe for another easy beef recipe.

Table of Contents

Why We Love This Recipe

You only need a few simple ingredients to make homemade hamburger helper. This easy skillet meal is not hard at all. Our kids love this and we all get excited when homemade hamburger helper is for dinner!

This has become my go-to recipe when we have a busy weeknight. It makes the comfort food and everyone cleans their plate.

Ingredients

Top view of ingredients for a homemade cheeseburger helper recipe. Various bowls and measuring cups contain elbow macaroni, ground beef, shredded cheese, milk, water, chopped onion, minced garlic, and seasonings, all arranged on a light surface.

Scroll to the bottom for the full recipe and ingredients in the recipe card.

Variations Ideas

  • Change Meat – Substitute ground turkey or ground chicken instead of lean ground beef.
  • Change Cheese – You can easily use other types of cheeses when making this homemade version of hamburger helper. Try it with sharp cheddar cheese or Pepper jack is good if you like it a little spicy.
  • Change Pasta – Use any type of pasta you prefer. While elbow macaroni is traditional in this dish, any type will taste great. You can even make it with gluten-free pasta.
  • Vegetables – Add bell peppers with the onion for even more delicious flavor. Spinach is also a great addition.

How to Make Homemade Cheeseburger Helper

A white pot containing raw ground beef and chopped onions is placed on a light-colored countertop, ready to create a homemade Cheeseburger Helper. A wooden spatula rests inside the pot, while a white and blue checkered cloth is partly visible on the left side of the image.

Step 1 – Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet (we used cast iron) over medium heat.  Drain any remaining fat from the pan.

A white pot filled with cooked ground beef is being mixed with various spices and minced garlic by a wooden spoon, creating a delectable Homemade Cheeseburger Helper. The pot is sitting on a light gray surface next to a blue-checkered cloth.

Step 2 – Season the beef with the paprika, garlic, salt and pepper.  Stir to combine thoroughly.

A large white pot sits on a light gray surface with a wooden spoon resting inside. The pot contains macaroni, ground meat, and a bright orange sauce, resembling Homemade Cheeseburger Helper. A checkered kitchen towel is draped to the left side of the image.

Step 3 – Stir in the water, milk and pasta and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 9-12 minutes until the pasta is al dente.

A white pot sits on a white and blue checkered cloth. Inside the pot, there is a mixture of cooked pasta, ground meat, and shredded cheese, with orange and white cheese on top. A wooden spoon rests in the pot, ready to stir this delicious Homemade Cheeseburger Helper together.

Step 4 – Stir in the cheeses over the cooked pasta and heat until the cheese is completely melted. Let stand for a few minutes until the sauce thickens. Serve warm and enjoy! It is that easy.

Expert Tips

  • Skillet – We use a cast iron skillet and it’s perfect for this recipe. I have the Lodge cast iron skillet but you can see all the different brands here.
  • Preparing Vegetables – I use a small food chopper or processor to quickly and easily dice the onions.  If you do not have one of these, I highly recommend them. They are such a time saver. I usually just chop the entire vegetable and freeze what I don’t need. It’s so nice to be able to just take diced onion or bell peppers out of the freezer for recipes.
  • Pasta – The broth cooks the noodles so there is no need to cook the pasta before adding to the mixture.
Top view of a skillet filled with Homemade Cheeseburger Helper, featuring macaroni pasta, ground beef, and garnished with chopped parsley. The skillet is surrounded by fresh parsley, an onion, uncooked macaroni, and a blue checkered kitchen towel on a white surface.

Serving Suggestions

This easy homemade hamburger helper recipe is the best comfort food and we all love it. It is a childhood favorite and now I can easily serve to my family.

If you want to get some veggies in there, a simple side salad goes great with it and only takes a few minutes to prepare. Roasted Green Beans are also really tasty too with it. We just keep it simple.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper Creamier

If you prefer a creamier taste, stir in sour cream towards the end of cooking time. This will give it a creamy texture with extra flavor.

How to Store Leftover Hamburger Helper

Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.

How to Reheat Leftovers

Reheat the leftovers in the microwave or the stovetop depending how much you have leftover. You may need to add a tablespoon of milk to give it a creamy texture again.

A bowl of creamy macaroni and cheese mixed with ground beef, reminiscent of a homemade Cheeseburger Helper. A fork is lifting a portion of the pasta, showcasing the saucy, savory mixture. The dish is garnished with finely chopped parsley. In the background, a side bowl of corn is visible.

More Easy Skillet Recipes

We love to hear from you. If you make this Homemade Cheeseburger Helper Recipe, please leave us a comment.

Review Pin Print
A white bowl filled with creamy macaroni and cheese, reminiscent of Homemade Cheeseburger Helper, garnished with chopped herbs. A fork is placed in the bowl, ready to scoop some of the pasta. A blue and white striped napkin is partially visible on the right side. Another bowl of plain macaroni is in the background.

Homemade Cheeseburger Helper

4.82 from 27 votes
Homemade hamburger helper is so easy to fix and better than anything you can buy in the store. Skip those box mixes and make this hamburger helper recipe.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings 6
Cuisine American
Course Main Course
Calories 573
Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

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Instructions

  • Brown the ground beef and onion in a large skillet (we used cast iron) over medium heat. Drain any remaining fat from the pan.
  • Season the beef with the paprika, garlic, salt and pepper. Stir to combine thoroughly.
  • Stir in the water, milk and pasta and bring to a boil.
  • Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 9-12 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
  • Stir in the cheeses over the cooked pasta and heat until the cheese is completely melted.
  • Let stand for a few minutes until the sauce thickens.
  • Serve warm and enjoy!

Recipe Video

Nutrition Facts

Calories 573kcal, Carbohydrates 31g, Protein 33g, Fat 34g, Saturated Fat 17g, Cholesterol 114mg, Sodium 823mg, Potassium 447mg, Fiber 2g, Sugar 5g, Vitamin A 1177IU, Vitamin C 1mg, Calcium 461mg, Iron 3mg

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
4.82 from 27 votes (20 ratings without comment)

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Comments

  1. Barbara says:

    5 stars
    We absolutely loved the Homemade Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper! My husband said it was some of the best food he’s ever tasted! Thank you!

  2. Heidi says:

    My son loves this recipe and being able to make from scratch is great. I used ground turkey instead of beef.

  3. Carrie Barnard says:

    We like the leftovers

  4. Autumn says:

    Does the leftovers taste good? I have found that the tastier something is when first cooked then the reheating is good compared to not being good to begin with.

  5. Jill says:

    5 stars
    So easy and so good. Will definitely be making again.

  6. TRACY LUCAS says:

    5 stars
    Awesomeness!
    Very simple and everyone loved it!

  7. Carrie says:

    Oh, I haven’t tried that before. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Nikki says:

    I have made this for years…..I use a box of mac and cheese

  9. Carrie says:

    I hope you love it! My family and I all love this easy recipe.

  10. Jim Cobb says:

    5 stars
    Looking forward to trying this. Glad to cut the sodium without sacrificing flavor whenever I can.

  11. Carrie says:

    This serves 6 people

  12. Ashley says:

    How many people does it serve? For the above recipe

  13. Carrie says:

    I’m so glad you enjoyed it Marc! Thank you for sharing!

  14. Marc Haukenberry says:

    Lasr night I made the lasagna it was awesome! I jazzed it up a little bit to make it my own, but stayed with the basic recipe you gave us. Thank you! Shared with all my friends and family, definitely making again instead of spaghetti ! Bon Appetit – Marc Haukenberry

  15. Carrie says:

    I’m so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for taking time to leave a review and comment.

  16. Tanya says:

    4 stars
    I made this and my family really enjoyed it. I love it when I can take another box recipe off my list of things to make! I did season it a lot more though with garlic and additional onion powder.

  17. Linda Fisk says:

    5 stars
    I made this for our dinner last night and used sharp cheddar with mozzarella. It tasted much better than the boxed stuff and will surely make it again and again, but with less pasta.

  18. Justin says:

    5 stars
    I won’t go back to the box stuff anymore cuz when I looked at the ingredients on the box I couldn’t believe how much sodium was in there but with this homemade recipe u don’t hardly get any sodium which is good for me cuz I got heart disease not to mention it’s a quick and easy meal for a cold winter day

  19. Carrie says:

    Great to hear! Thanks for sharing 🙂

  20. April Hernandez says:

    Made this today, tried it after I added the cheddar and I think it was perfect without the mozzarella! Definitely going into our dinner roation!