Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
This easy, one-pot dinner is a copy of the popular Hamburger Helper recipe. This version uses “from scratch” ingredients to recreate this classic comfort dish in minutes. Flavorful and kid-approved, this is clean-ish eating at it’s finest.
Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni
Cheesburger Macaroni….those two words were my favorite to hear when I would ask my mom “what’s for dinner.” I absolutely LOVED Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni. It was so simple and cheesy and filled with carbs. And browned ground beef….which I could easily just eat out of the pan and be really, really happy.
Simple can be cool. And nostalgic and just in case you were wondering, mom….I used to eat about half the beef out of the skillet when you weren’t looking. Sorry….I have no self-control.
An easy weeknight dinner any time of year, this Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni recipe is ready in just about 30 minutes. If you’re not familiar with the Hamburger Helper version, it’s basically like macaroni and cheese with browned ground beef. A cheesy masterpiece we used to make from a box, this homemade version is made with real cheese, milk, onions, garlic and love.
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
This easy dinner comes together quickly, easily and inexpensively. This Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet is made in one pan so clean up is a breeze, too!
- Brown the ground beef until no longer pink and transfer to a bowl with a slotted spoon. Drain off all but two tablespoons of fat.
- Saute the onion in the pan until softened.
- Stir in the garlic and cook for one minute.
- Add the salt, pepper and garlic.
- Return the beef to the pan.
- Stir in the milk, chicken stock and macaroni.
- Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn to low. Simmer.
- Cover and cook until the macaroni is tender.
- Stir in the cheese and serve immediately.
Note: If you want a creamier consistency, you can swap the milk for heavy cream or Half and Half. This adds so much richness to the recipe.
What To Serve It With
Even though this is a one pot dinner, we like to serve Cheeseburger Macaroni with a little side dish sometimes.
These are our favorites:
If you don’t count salt, pepper and water….this Cheeseburger Macaroni Skillet recipe doesn’t require more then 7 ingredients. You probably already have everything you need to make it right now….and the one-pot deal keeps things clean in the kitchen. I hate dishes more than anyone I know, in fact, I have a sink full 80% of the time. So, one-pot dishes are king in this house. I’m sure you all agree.
More Easy Weeknight Dinners
- Taco Pasta Skillet Recipe
- Chicken and Dumplings Skillet Casserole
- Easy Skillet Chicken Cacciatore
- Beefaroni
Get the Recipe: Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 vidalia onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 cup low-fat milk
- 2 1/2 cups chicken stock (or broth
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 1 cup shredded colby jack cheese
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar
- 5 slices american cheese, cut into small pieces
Equipment
- 1 skillet
Instructions
- In a large skillet over med-high heat, brown the ground beef until completely cooked and no longer pink. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon and drain off all but 2 tablespoons of fat.
- Return the beef to the pan. Stir in the milk, chicken stock and macaroni. Bring the mixture to a boil and then turn to heat to low.
- Add the onion to the pan and sauté until softened. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the salt, pepper and garlic powder.
- Cover and simmer for 10 minutes or until the macaroni is tender.
- Remove from the heat and stir in the cheese until melted. Serve immediately.
58 Comments on “Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni”
Made this tonight. Very delecious! I added in a couple tablespoons of tomato sauce just because I have an opened can in the fridge I’m trying to use up. I also added shredded carrots just to sneak in some veggies. My sauce didn’t thicken, it may have been because my pan was too small. I did a quick corn starch slirry, problem solved. This was a very delecious recipe, and I will be making it again. Thank you!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the recipe! Great additions, love the tomato sauce…I’ll have to try that! Thank you so much for visiting!
I made this for Dinner tonight and my family loved it ! So much better than Hamburger Helper ..
I’m so glad your family loved it! It’s one of our favorite dinners. Thank you so much for coming back to share you experience. 🙂
Omg this is a fave among my kids these days… i am making it at least twice a week on demand! Soo good even i pig out on it!!
Thank you so much, Nicki! We eat this one a lot too, always a winner! I’m so glad your family loves it as much as we do.
Looks yummy, I’m going to whip some up soon. How about a homemade version of the HH Tuna Tettrazini? My family loves that? Anyone?
Hi Sherry! I’m working on this for you and should have a recipe soon! Stay tuned!
I definitely made some of the same mistakes when I first started making things from scratch. It’s kind of funny, though, looking back now! Clump city — LOL!! Your cheeseburger macaroni skillet looks terrific. I love the list of ingredients, too. Extra – yum 🙂
Thanks so much!
Would you believe that I’ve never actually has hamburger helper? I know, right! This looks really good though. I could totally eat this any night.
That’s crazy that you never had it…but really, it’s probably better that you don’t. Just try this recipe instead. 🙂
We never had HH growing up however almost every week my day would put the bug square electric frying pan on our huge wood kitchen table and make macaroni and beef….I dreaded it….truly. Blech! It was just macaroni, beef and red sauce added in – if he had thought to do this…the cheese alone would have made it a whole different story…YUMMM!
This is just amazing. We ate a lot of hamburger helper when I was a teenager. My mom passed away when I was 15, and none of the rest of us knew how to cook, let alone how to do anything else. Mom was like a superhero, she did everything and we never realized it. I was left with my dad, 2 brothers, then 2 of my brothers’ friends moved in, and my cousin. So I lived with 6 dudes. They hated to cook so we ate hamburger helper all the time. What is funny is I still crave it now, and I’m 46. You never grow out of it. I love making my own too. I’m going to give your version a whirl. Sending it to my son too. He’s been really enjoying cooking lately, so I think he’s going to really dig this recipe.
ps I still eat all the hamburger out of the pan. lol
This looks great! I am totally guilty of eating a lot of hamburger helper growing up. It was just so easy! However, this look about a million times better 🙂
We use to eat a lot of Hamburger Helper before I learned how to cook. But this looks like a much better version! I love that it’s one pot too! Awesome a winner in my book!
Aaaah yes, older and wiser… 😉 It is pretty amazing once you learn that from scratch doesn’t only taste better, it’s also just as quick. I love your from scratch version of Cheeseburger Mac, and so would my kids!
This sounds absolutely fantastic; Hamburger Helper was my go to food as well when I first lived on my own. Easy and quick but your skillet sounds so much better and yes, I have not eaten hamburger helper in a very, very long time 🙂
Oh yes, I had many of those “learning experiences” when I first started cooking. They didn’t always turn out so well. 🙂 This macaroni looks like the ultimate comfort food!
Ah, yes! Hamburger helper. 🙂 Your skillet dinner isn’t even comparable. It looks fantastic!
I have a version of hamburger helper I make at home and it’s honestly one of my favorite meals of all time. I need to try your version!
I know my grandsons would LOVE this!!!
So much better than packaged and store bought! Looks super creamy with all that awesome cheese!
I want to reach through the screen and grab a fork full of this
I know a certain grown up boy in my family who would be all over this! Can’t wait to try it!
I need to make this for dinner sometime!