How to Make Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni (Copycat Homemade Version)

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If you’re wondering how to make hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni, look no further! This homemade version is a family favorite! It’s just as simple as the boxed version, but you can be sure you’re using real ingredients that the whole family will love. Next time you’re looking for easy dinners to make under 20 minutes, this homemade hamburger helper recipe will be perfect for all your busy weeknights.

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This quick and easy one pot cheeseburger macaroni pasta recipe is perfect for a busy weeknight! Now that we are in the full swing of fall sports, practice, after school activities, and more, we are always on the lookout for 20 minute meals.

Cheeseburger hamburger helper brings back so many childhood memories! It truly is the perfect comfort food and a great recipe for a busy school night. It’s also a delicious dinner with a short cooking time, that can be made on a budget (which I love the most!)

However, any time you make the boxed stuff, the ingredient list is not going to be as healthy or fresh…which is totally fine every now and then. You will be shocked that this homemade cheeseburger macaroni recipe is just as easy as grabbing the box of hamburger helper. Once you try this one-pot dinner, you’ll be tempted to try making more easy recipes from scratch, I promise!

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Why You’ll Love This Cheesy Homemade Hamburger Helper

  • The best part about this simple recipe is that everything goes in to one pot for easy clean up! Cleaning up after our dinner mess is half the battle when it comes to cooking at home every night.
  • Cheeseburger macaroni is also a very frugal meal! The ingredients are easy to find and you probably already have most of these items in your pantry. The perfect meal when you’re in a pinch, and can’t thing of a thing to make!
  • This easy cheeseburger macaroni pasta meal uses real cheese, instead of a seasoning packet or cheese sauce, which makes it creamier and more delicious!
  • It’s also a meal that will easily appease your pickiest eaters. Macaroni plus hamburger equals HAPPY KIDS!

Grab your elbow macaroni noodles and some ground beef and let’s get started!

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Looking for more easy weeknight meal ideas? Check these out!

Equipment needed for this Recipe

You probably have everything you need to make this easy recipe in your kitchen tonight, but here a few helpful items if you are a beginner cook.

Ingredients needed to make One Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni (without boxed Hamburger Helper)

The ingredients for this recipe are fridge and pantry staples that you likely have on hand. Perfect for those weeks when you are short on cash in the grocery budget.

  • 1 lb Lean Ground Beef (or ground turkey for a healthier option)
  • ½ cup Chopped Onion (or onion powder if you have picky eaters that won’t like the chunks!)
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic (or garlic powder)
  • 2 cups Beef Broth
  • 3 cups Uncooked Elbow Noodles
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste
  • Optional: Add a little sour cream to make it extra creamy
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How to make Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni for Dinner Tonight

Step 1: Brown the ground beef in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes.

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Step 2: When the beef is almost finished cooking (very little pink remains), add the onion and continue to stir.

Step 3: When the onion is translucent, add the garlic and stir, continuing to cook for about 2 minutes.

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Step 4: Add the beef broth and bring to a boil.

Step 5: When the broth is boiling, add the elbow noodles and stir to cover. Bring to a boil and continue to simmer for 7 minutes or until the noodles are tender.

Step 6: Add cream cheese and stir until well combined.

Step 7: Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir to combine, melting the cheese completely.

Step 8: Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

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Tips & Tricks for Cheeseburger Macaroni

If you are feeding a larger family, this recipe can easily be doubled. Simply use a larger skillet and double all of the ingredients.

Need it to be done even faster? Cook the ground beef and onions ahead of time (even the night before) and store in the fridge until you are ready to make the macaroni.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I make this ahead of time?

A: Yes! This recipe can be made up to 24 hours in advance. Simply store in an airtight container in the fridge until you are ready to reheat and serve.

Q: How do I store leftovers?

A: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Q: Can I freeze this recipe?

A: Yes! This recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months. Store in a freezer-safe container or bag. When you are ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat on the stovetop.

Q: What’s the best way to reheat this recipe?

A: The best way to reheat this recipe is on the stovetop over low heat. You can also reheat in the microwave, but be careful not to overcook the noodles.

Q: Can I make this recipe with ground turkey?

A: Yes! This recipe can easily be made with ground turkey. Simply substitute the ground beef for ground turkey.

Q: Can I make this recipe with a different type of noodle?

A: Yes! You can use any type of noodle in this recipe, however, you may need to adjust the cook time depending on the noodle you use. For example, shells or penne will take longer to cook than elbow noodles.

Conclusion

This One Pot Homemade version of Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni is an easy weeknight dinner for busy families! It’s quick, easy, and delicious – everything you need in a 20 minute dinner recipe. And cleanup is a breeze because everything cooks in one pot. So next time you’re looking for an easy dinner idea, give this Cheeseburger Mac a try! You won’t be disappointed.

Copycat Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe

Copycat Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe

This homemade version of Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni is so easy to make, and even your pickiest eaters will be excited for this dinner.

Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 19 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Ground Beef
  • ½ cup Chopped Onion
  • 2 tbsp Minced Garlic
  • 2 cups Beef Broth
  • 3 cups Uncooked Elbow Noodles
  • 8 oz Cream Cheese
  • 2 cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper, to taste

Instructions

  1. Brown the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, about 5 minutes. 
  2. When the beef is almost finished cooking (very little pink remains), add the onion and continue to stir.
  3. When the onion is translucent, add the garlic and stir, continuing to cook for about 2 minutes.
  4. Add the beef broth and bring to a boil. 
  5. When the broth is boiling, add the elbow noodles and stir to cover. Bring to a boil and continue to simmer for 7 minutes or until the noodles are tender.
  6. Add cream cheese and stir until well combined.
  7. Add shredded cheddar cheese and stir to combine, melting the cheese completely. 
  8. Salt and pepper to taste and enjoy!

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 637Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 20gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 15gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 782mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 3gProtein: 37g

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

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  2. I had to use 4 cups of beef broth along with some milk to get the right consistency. Otherwise was good.

  3. The beef broth and the elbow macaroni ratios were way off. I had to use 4 cups of beef broth just to get my noodles to cook. I had a high hopes, but it’s a little bland. It’s not terrible and we will eat it, but just need to doctor it up a little bit more.

Shannon-Author-Test

hi! I'm shannon

I’m a wife, mom of three, doctor, and blogger! In 2018, I decided to turn my mom blog, into a personal finance blog so others could follow along on our journey to pay off over HALF a MILLION dollars in student loan and practice start up debt. I hope you enjoy following along, and maybe even find some inspiration along the way.