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Complete with taco-seasoned ground beef and an irresistibly cheesy cheddar sauce, my one-pot Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe is a winner with everyone - not just the kids. Have dinner on the table in just under 30 minutes, and with only one dish to clean, too!
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Cheeseburger Helper Recipe
To be honest, it wasn't until much later in my life that I tried Hamburger Helper for the first time. It wasn't one of my childhood foods, and I preferred to make dinner from scratch most nights when my own kids were growing up. Needless to say, when I needed dinner in a pinch and grabbed a box of it just to try, I was surprised by how much I loved the flavor!
It was in that moment that I started experimenting with making my own homemade hamburger helper recipe, and I'm excited to share it with you today. It's creamy, cheesy, and packed with taco flavor; just one bite, and you won't be able to help loving it.
Best of all, you can make this cheesy taco pasta recipe using just one pot in only 30 minutes, so there's barely any cleanup and you'll have dinner on the table in record time. Homemade hamburger helper is so much better than the boxed version, and you can customize it however you want. I know you'll love it, so let's get started!
Reasons you'll love this dish
- It takes less than 30 minutes to make.
- It's an economical recipe everyone at the table will love!
- Everything is made all in one pot.
- Many of the items used are typical pantry items, so the ingredients are easy.
- Cheesy taco pasta is perfect for feeding a crowd. You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed more people.
- It tastes even better the next day!
Homemade Hamburger Helper Ingredients
- Ground beef, or ground chicken, if desired
- Onion
- Garlic
- Olive oil - only if using ground chicken
- Chicken broth; beef or vegetable broth may also be used
- Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- Whole milk, at room temperature
- Tomato paste
- Taco seasoning; in a packet, or homemade taco seasoning
- Medium pasta shells; pick your favorite kind of pasta shell
- Cheddar cheese, grated or shredded
- Monterey Jack Cheese, grated shredded
- Cilantro, for garnish (optional)
How to Make Hamburger Helper
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat for 7-10 minutes until fully cooked. If you're using ground chicken, also add olive oil.
- Once browned, drain the ground beef, then return to the heat.
- Add broth, Rotel tomatoes, milk, tomato paste, and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil.
- Add pasta and mix through, then cover and simmer over low to medium heat for 10-12 minutes. Throughout cooking, stir to prevent the pasta from sticking.
- Grate the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses while the pasta cooks. Set aside.
- Taste the pasta to make sure it is cooked through. If necessary, cover and cook for longer until done.
- Turn off the heat and stir in cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses until fully melted.
- Serve hot, garnished with cilantro if desired. Enjoy!
Note: The images above show ground chicken rather than beef. You can use any ground meat, but bear in mind some take longer to cook than others, such as ground turkey.
Hamburger Helper Recipe Tips
- While this recipe uses ground beef, you can change it up and use another ground meat, such as chicken or turkey, or even a plant-based alternative if you prefer. Just keep in mind that ground turkey will take longer to cook.
- If you prefer a spicy taco pasta, use the "Chili Fixins" Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies for extra heat. Feel free to adjust the taco seasoning to your taste if so.
- Grating your own fresh cheese for this recipe yields a creamier texture, but you can use pre-packaged shredded cheese for convenience, if you prefer.
Storing Leftovers
- Store leftover homemade hamburger helper in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator after cooling.
- You can also freeze this dish! Add to an airtight, freezer-safe container after cooling, then freeze for up to 3 months.
When reheating, add a little extra milk and cheese if needed to bring it back to the right consistency. You can reheat it in the microwave or on the stove over low to medium heat.
Homemade Cheeseburger Helper FAQ
Try adding black beans, corn, fresh tomatoes, avocados, green onions, or jalapenos. There are so many options, you can't go wrong! Your favorite taco toppings will taste great in this dish. I even love to add a dollop of sour cream.
You can use any type of pasta you prefer, including spaghetti (though it may break while you're cooking). Shells and macaroni are the best for this dish, but experiment and see what your family likes best!
Beef Pasta Recipes
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📋 Recipe
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef or ground chicken
- ¼ cup onion finely diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 2 cups broth chicken, beef, or vegetable
- 1 10 oz. can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained
- 1 cup whole milk at room temp
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 oz. packet taco seasoning
- ½ lb. medium pasta shells
- 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded
- 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese shredded
- Garnish with cilantro
See our Beef Temperature Chart for helpful tips on cooking any cut of beef!
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook ground beef, onion, and garlic over medium heat for 7-10 minutes until fully cooked. If you're using ground chicken, also add olive oil.1 lb. ground beef, ¼ cup onion, 2 cloves garlic, 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- Once browned, drain the ground beef, then return to the heat.
- Add broth, Rotel tomatoes, milk, tomato paste, and taco seasoning. Bring to a boil.2 cups broth, 1 10 oz. can Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies, undrained, 2 Tablespoons tomato paste, 1 oz. packet taco seasoning, 1 cup whole milk
- Add pasta and mix through, then cover and simmer over low to medium heat for 10-12 minutes. Throughout cooking, stir to prevent the pasta from sticking.½ lb. medium pasta shells
- Grate the cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses while the pasta cooks. Set aside.
- Taste the pasta to make sure it is cooked through. If necessary, cover and cook for longer until done.
- Turn off the heat and stir in cheddar and Monterey Jack cheeses until fully melted.1 cup cheddar cheese, 1 cup Monterey Jack Cheese
- Serve hot, garnished with cilantro if desired. Enjoy!Garnish with cilantro
Notes
- While this recipe uses ground beef, you can change it up and use another ground meat, such as chicken or turkey, or even a plant-based alternative if you prefer. Just keep in mind that ground turkey will take longer to cook.
- If you prefer a spicy taco pasta, use the "Chili Fixins" Rotel Tomatoes with green chilies for extra heat. Feel free to adjust the taco seasoning to your taste if so.
- Grating your own fresh cheese for this recipe yields a creamier texture, but you can use pre-packaged shredded cheese for convenience, if you prefer.
Nutrition
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