Description
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is a comforting and easy one-pot meal featuring lean ground beef, tender pasta shells, and a creamy, cheesy tomato sauce infused with Italian seasoning. Perfect for a quick weeknight dinner, this recipe uses simple pantry staples and can be customized with ground turkey for a leaner option.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Aromatics
- 1 pound lean ground beef, or ground turkey
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
Dry Ingredients and Seasonings
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon seasoned salt
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
Liquids and Dairy
- 2 cups low-sodium beef broth, or chicken broth
- 1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream, or half and half
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Pasta
- 8 oz small pasta shells, or small elbow pasta
Instructions
- Cook the Meat and Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef or turkey until fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain excess fat if necessary. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until softened and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add Flour and Seasonings: Sprinkle the flour over the cooked meat and stir well to coat, cooking for about 1 minute to remove the raw flour taste. Add Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir to combine evenly.
- Pour in Broth and Tomato Sauce: Slowly add the beef or chicken broth and the tomato sauce to the skillet, stirring constantly to prevent lumps. Bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Add Pasta and Simmer: Stir in the small pasta shells, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and let simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and has absorbed much of the liquid.
- Stir in Cream and Cheese: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the heavy cream or half and half until smooth. Then fold in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve Hot: Serve the homemade hamburger helper immediately, garnished with extra cheese or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- Use ground turkey as a leaner alternative to beef.
- Ensure pasta is fully cooked by adding a bit more broth or water if needed during simmering.
- For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half and half or milk, but the sauce will be less rich.
- This recipe can easily be doubled to feed a larger crowd.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat on the stovetop or microwave.
Keywords: homemade hamburger helper, ground beef pasta, easy weeknight dinner, one-pot meal, creamy tomato pasta, cheesy pasta skillet