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BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni (Hamburger Helper Copycat)

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homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

Sometimes it’s those simple comforts that hit the spot best.

I grew up in health-conscious home where things like Hamburger Helper were only served on very rare occasions.  And I’m grateful for a mom who took the time to cook healthy, wholesome meals for her family.  I now do the same.  But on those rare occasions we certainly enjoyed those quick, less-than-healthy meals.  Let’s face it, they taste pretty good.  I specifically recollect those moments of eating Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni and Tuna Casserole.  Probably because it was so infrequent.

So here is a version of it you can eat and enjoy without any worry about of the nasty ingredients that typically accompany pre-prepared foods.

Like this ingredient list below from Hamburger Helper’s Cheeseburger Macaroni – you don’t have to worry about any of those items I’ve emphasized in bold:

“Enriched Macaroni (wheat flour, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Corn Starch, Salt, Enriched Flour (wheat flour, niacin, iron, thiamin mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid), Sugar, Ricotta Cheese* (whey, milkfat, lactic acid, salt), Tomato*, Monosodium Glutamate, Maltodextrin, Citric Acid, Partially Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Modified Corn Starch, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Paprika, Spice, Color (yellow lakes 5 & 6, yellows 5 & 6), Mono and Diglycerides, Cheddar Cheese* (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Yeast Extract, Enzyme Modified Blue Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Cream, Whey, Enzyme Modified Cheddar Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Butter Oil, Nonfat Milk, Blue Cheese* (milk, salt, cheese cultures, enzymes), Sodium Caseinate, Silicon Dioxide (anticaking agent), Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Citrate, Calcium Caseinate, Enzymes.*Dried”

Now compare that with our ingredient list:

“Macaroni, beef, onions, tomatoes, avocado oil, spices, sugar, flour, milk, beef broth, cheddar cheese”

And that’s including the out-of-box ingredients of beef, milk and broth.

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

With a clean list of ingredients you can feel good about what you’re feeding your family.  Our kids love this cheeseburger macaroni and I don’t have to worry about what’s in it.

Ready for the table in 20 minutes, there simply is NO good reason to every buy the packaged stuff again!

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

Ready to get cooking?

1

Let’s get started!

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef until no pink remains.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-8

Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-1

Stir in the tomato paste and add the seasonings and flour.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-2

Add the milk and beef broth and stir.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-3

Stir in the macaroni.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-5

Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-6

Cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until the macaroni is done.  I prefer mine a little al dente and check after 9 minutes.

Cheeseburger-Macaroni-prep-9

Add the cheese.

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

Stir until the cheese is melted.

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

For serving you can garnish it with a little chopped fresh parsley if you like.

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

Dinner is served.

Enjoy!

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

4.88 from 32 votes
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BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni (Hamburger Helper Copycat)
Prep Time
5 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
20 mins
 

No junk ingredients and tastes WAY better than store-bought!

Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 565 kcal
Author: Kimberly Killebrew
Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil
  • 1 small onion ,finely chopped
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
  • 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour (Gluten Free: dissolve 1 tablespoon cornstarch in the beef broth)
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 3/4 cup natural non-MSG beef broth
  • 2 cups dried whole wheat elbow macaroni pasta
  • (Gluten Free: Use GF Macaroni)
  • 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
  1. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and brown the ground beef until no pink remains. Add the onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in the tomato paste, seasonings and flour. Pour in the milk and broth and stir. Stir in the macaroni.
  2. Bring to a boil then reduce to medium-low, cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes or until the macaroni is done. For al dente check after 9 minutes.
  3. Stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted.
  4. Serve immediately garnished with some chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Nutrition Facts
BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni (Hamburger Helper Copycat)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 565 Calories from Fat 297
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 33g 51%
Saturated Fat 15g 75%
Cholesterol 101mg 34%
Sodium 905mg 38%
Potassium 685mg 20%
Total Carbohydrates 36g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Sugars 6g
Protein 31g 62%
Vitamin A 18.5%
Vitamin C 3.8%
Calcium 39.8%
Iron 19.1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

homemade cheeseburger macaroni hamburger helper copycat recipe

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175 Responses

    • My kids have never had the boxed stuff either, Heather. And there’s absolutely zero point in making the boxed stuff because the homemade version is every bit as quick to make!

      Reply

      • Not really. It also costs more to buy all the ingredients. I would rather make something better than glorify a cheap style dinner. 😋

        Reply

        • Yes, it costs a little more to cook this meal from scratch than to pay 99 cents for a box full of chemicals. But that’s one of the benefits of cooking from scratch, right? To avoid the junk ingredients in pre-prepared meals.

          Reply

          • Second time making this for my family and we love it! I never had hamburger helper when I was young but my husband had it all the time. So now it’s the best of both worlds. And it definitely DOES NOT cost more than the box stuff. All the spices, broth, tomato paste, milk, noodles and ground beef (frozen) I had and didn’t need to make a trip to the store. All of which are used again in our house. As long as your pantry and fridge are properly stocked, this is definitely a go to. Thank you for sharing!

            Reply

        • This was amazing – our entire family loved it! Much better than boxed. 👍 Will definitely be adding to our meal rotation.

          Reply

        • No, it doesn’t cost more, it’s cheaper. I’ve tripled the meal and it’s cheaper with all natural ingredients, could even be cheaper if you are cheap with the beef or cheese if you have to, been there, done that….

          Reply

    • Thanks, Justine! With small kids at home and being torn in dozen direction all at once, I love quick and easy go-to dishes like this one :)

      Reply

    • Haha, Ginny! As much as my husband enjoys more involved and adventurous foods, he loves it when I make simple comfort food like this :)

      Reply

    • Thanks, Claire! Simple, quick and delicious comfort food – a great option especially when you’re in a hurry.

      Reply

    • It’s something quick and yummy I can make for my kids without worrying about what they’re eating!

      Reply

    • Thanks so much, Patricia! :) I know, I always wonder WHY they have to pack so much crap into those boxes?! And it’s like I mentioned to another comment, there simply is no good reason to make the boxed stuff when you can make it just as quickly homemade – and much healthier!

      Reply

  8. Comfort food is the best kind of food! I’ve never made hamburger helper for my kids but I definitely need to try your version, they’d love it!

    Reply

    • I’m sure they would, Sara, this is definitely “kid approved” kind of food :)

      Reply

    • Awesome, Michelle! Truly, it just doesn’t get any easier than this and the result is a wonderful comfort dish!

      Reply

  10. I grew up in the same kind of house! *Now* I’m grateful for it, like you, but I kind of wasn’t back then. Fish sticks were all the rage, and they were quite rare in our house.

    This DIY hamburger helper looks incredible!! I have no kids and I want it!!

    Reply

  13. Homemade version is always the best! I love how easy it is to make! This looks so delicious!

    Reply

  16. Hi Kimberly – we tried this last night and it was fabulous, quick comfort food. I love coming across recipes like this for a busy weekday. I love your site – someday you need to do a cookbook. I’d buy it in a minute!

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Kim! :) I’m with you all the way, I prefer quick, simple meals during the week as well. My young kids make it challenging to do anything more time-consuming :) I will definitely be publishing a cookbook! In fact I was actually already approached by a New York publisher a few months ago and had the contract in hand ready to sign but, between moving to our new home and several family commitments, I had to postpone it for a little while. Once things settle down I’ll be tackling cookbook! I’m really excited about it.

      Reply

  20. Hey there, I came across your blog post while looking for homemade hamburger helper recipe’s. I can’t wait to try out yours, it looks delicious!
    Hugs~

    Reply

  21. I had hamburger helper many moons ago when my son was growing up. He loved it and I did not. But your dish looks so much better an very creamy sauce. I would like to cook this for my husband and myself. The dish looks yummy. I have tried many of your recipes and never once disappointed

    Reply

    • Thanks so much for the compliment, Pam, and I always appreciate your thoughtful feedback :)

      Reply

  23. Made this last night. It was delicious and the whole family asked when I could make it again. Easy too. Looking forward to trying more Daring Gormet. Thank you!

    Reply

  24. I made this last night for supper and my 13-year old son loved it. So rich, creamy and yummy. I didn’t have whole milk on hand so I substituted 1 cup heavy cream + 1 cup skim milk and it turned out great! ;-)

    Reply

    • Wonderful, I’m so glad was a hit! Heavy cream and skim milk was the perfect substitute.

      Reply

  25. I have tried a few other Hamburger Helper recipes and they were not what I was excpecting. Today I was craving it and almost caved and got the box junk. I am so glad I gave your recipe a try!! My family and I loved it and will definitely make it again. Thank you :)

    Reply

  26. A blast from the past for me. Tasty and quick to prepare on busy nights. Will be making again, couldn’t stop eating!! Thanx for sharing! :)

    Reply

  27. I just made this,it was so easy and quick plus budget friendly.My teenage son devoured a big plate and my super picky 3 year old loved it!!

    Reply

    • Well, Joe, considering this is a recipe for cheeseburger macaroni I’m not surprised you didn’t enjoy it as a cake.

      Reply

      • Hi Kimberely,
        The recipe was great, I was just messing around. I recently saw a soup recipe where a reviewer had changed up the amounts and some of the ingredients on a recipe then complained about how they didn’t like it.

        Have a good day!

        Reply

  29. This was SO good! My husband can’t stop raving about it, saying how similar it is to the childhood version, and how it’s the ultimate comfort food. We even slipped a mashed up spoonful to our 8-month old, and I think we have a new HH fan in the house!

    Reply

    • That’s terrific! So glad it’s become a household hit, Tera, thanks for letting us know!

      Reply

  30. Loved this recipe as is. Second time I made it I used half pepper jack cheese, bowtie pasta and mixed in a can of whole kernel corn at the end for a bit of a Southwest flavor. Mmm mmm! Definitely a great recipe!

    Reply

  31. There are other homemade hamburger helper recipes out there but your photos and easy recipe got me hooked in and this was such comfort food for everyone. Kiddies absolutely love it and my three year old loves to help with seasoning and the cheese part. Thanks!

    Reply

    • That’s terrific, Nancy, and it’s really awesome that you’re involving your kids in the cooking – thanks for the feedback!

      Reply

  33. I came across your recipe on Facebook, made it for the family and they LOVE it! Now I am having to double the recipe so the husband and kids can have leftovers for lunch the next day! Everyone loves it right down to my 2 year old grandson.
    One thing my daughter and I did notice was that when you double this recipe the noodle stay more the correct size unlike the boxed version when you try to cook two boxes the noodle get all funky.
    Great recipe, thank you so much!!

    Reply

    • Hi Jada, any of them will work equally well, it just comes down to personal preference. I like strong cheeses so I usually keep my fridge stocked with sharp cheddar.

      Reply

  37. I made this recipe this evening. It came out a little bland. The instructions don’t call for draining the hamburger – I did. Is that where I went wrong? Any suggestions for spicing it up? Thank you.

    Reply

    • Hi Gayle, the fat is where a lot of the flavor is, yes, but draining it wouldn’t make the dish less spicy. If you prefer your food spicier you’ll need to add something like cayenne pepper or hot sauce.

      Reply

  38. Made this tonight for my crazy picky 14 month old. He didn’t throw it all at the dog, so this counts as a win in my book! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

    • Hi Brenda, I don’t know how I missed your comment but I’m glad I finally saw it – thank you! I’m so glad it passed your little one’s inspection :)

      Reply

  39. I made this recipe in my Instant Pot. The advantage to using the electric pressure cooker is a shortened cook time. Totally delish and simple!! I shared leftovers with my co-workers and they enjoyed it as well!

    Reply

    • Hi Wendy, no that’s definitely not a must. I just personally use and recommend it because it has the highest smoke point for frying. You can use any oil you like. Happy cooking!

      Reply

  41. I made this:) it was great. The seasoning blend was perfect. I’ve never had hamburger helper but so I can’t compare however, this is a great comfort food that kids will like. I didn’t have a whole pound of ground beef so I used half crimini mushrooms put through a processor. I omitted the sugar and a tablespoon flour and it was still great and flavorful. I also used a cup of mozzarella and a cup cheddar. Just because that’s what I had. With the variations it was awesome so you can still make this without having to run to the store for certain ingredients

    Reply

    • That’s awesome, Lisa, thanks so much for the feedback! Agreed, this recipe is very conducive to substitutions and the ground mushrooms were a nice call.

      Reply

  42. Thanks so much for a great home made recipe of a childhood favorite! We’ve made a few small changes and it was oh so tasty and very filling! We didn’t have avocado oil and omitted oil entirely (we never brown our ground beef with oil as it always produces enough while cooking). I always like to add more veggies in a recipe wherever I can so we added some finely chopped celery and yellow pepper to the meat at the same time as the onion, and also added some baby spinach that we had left in the fridge when it was time to add the cheese (we used old cheddar). Our onion powder was beyond expired so we simply didn’t add any but just used a larger fresh onion instead.

    Love the flavours of the seasoning, and loved that we were able to control the salt and sugar in this recipe (as opposed to the boxed Hamburger Helper). Thanks again! This is now bookmarked in our favorites! :)

    Reply

  43. Had to thank you as I make this at least once a month. The recipe doubles very well to feed my five growing boys and my hamburger helper loving husband. It’s fast and easy to make which helps this busy mom out a lot. I try to always have these staples on hand so I can whip this up on nights that are hectic. The meal goes a long way for the cost. That it is healthier as well is icing on the cake!

    Reply

    • Fantastic, Sara! I’m happy to hear this has become a family favorite, thanks so much for the feedback!

      Reply

  44. I started making homemade hamburger helper a while ago and I will never go back! I love your recipe! I added diced red and yellow peppers, some smoked paprika, and cumin. I also omitted the sugar. It was so delicious and provides so much more food than the box. Thanks for the great recipe!

    Reply

  45. It was chilly, a couple days ago, so I made your recipe. The only thing I did, was to add some Worcestershire sauce. Wow! This was super duper easy to make, and my husband loved it. It brought back childhood memories for both of us. It was even better, then next day, as my work lunch. Thank you for such a great recipe.

    Reply

    • I’m so sorry for the delayed response, your comment somehow ended up in spam. I’m thrilled that you both enjoyed this, thanks you!

      Reply

  46. I’m really excited to try this. I was mad at myself today because I forgot to get a box of it at the store and now I found this! I’ll be trying it this weekend and I’ll report back the results!

    Reply

  47. I have made this recipe twice and it’s delicious. However, both times, I have found that I need to add about a cup of water toward the end to get the macaroni to cook all the way. The first time, I even went back to see if I had missed some liquid component of the recipe.

    Reply

    • Hi Jaime, I’m not sure why that would be. Are you using whole wheat or some other kind of pasta? That may need more liquid.

      Reply

          • I have an induction cooktop and I have found that water boils very fast in the pot. This is because the entire pot heats up not just the bottom. If you are using induction and/or good quality cookware you may find that you will need to add a bit more liquid to your recipes to compensate for the more aggressive heating.

            Reply

    • It’s likely the pot used letting out too much steam or your stove doesnt maintain temp accurately. Took me a long time to figure this out but I used to have the same problem with the boxed pasta dishes. New stove and better cookware fixed it.

      Reply

  48. Pretty good. I could have done without the sugar I think. It was a little curdled. My husband loved it!

    Reply

  49. My daughter will not est any added sugar in her diet. We substituted ingredients without added sugar and wow this was awesome! To those that are complaining about the price of the ingredients if you’re trying to eat something more health-conscious go ahead and do it! This is a great recipe for a good meal for my family. Thank you

    Reply

  50. I just found this recipe and I loved it!! It was also a hit for my 2 year old! Thank you! It sure hit the spot.

    Reply

  51. Just made this for the family!! My kids liked it way better then the boxed stuff!! Thanks for the great quick recipe :)

    Reply

  52. Just made this for my grandkids! THEY LOVED IT! 2 can not have cheese, so I left it on the side for the cheese lovers to add on own! We have a new Wednesday night tradition! Ty!!

    Reply

    • Hoooray! I’m thrilled to hear it was a hit with your grandkids, Barbara, thank you!

      Reply

  53. My kids devoured it. Boyfriend claimed there was too much cheese (never knew there was such a thing). Idk why someone said it costs too much.. Hamburger helper costs about 2, 2.50? Then you have to buy milk and ground beef too. I guess it would cost about.. 99 cents for pasta, 50 cents for tomato paste, 1.99 for cheese and a buck for beef boullion or stock.. I always have spices on hand and it costs a buck each to replace. So 3.50 or a lil more if you need spices. Anywhoo, just trying to prove a point that it really doesnt cost a whole bunch more than a buck, buck fifty to upgrade to hamburger helper made from scratch. Worth it in my eyes. Will be making again, with maybe just 1.5 cups of cheese next time.

    Reply

    • Fantastic, Cena, thank you! I couldn’t agree more about the cost. And NO, there’s isn’t such a thing as too much cheese!! ;)

      Reply

  54. I have been searching for a good hamburger helper recipe for a long time. Made this last night and OMG!!! It was soooo good. I did add diced peppers and sliced mushrooms, and of course a little extra cheese and my hubby has taken leftovers for lunch. He has already requested this to be on the menu at least once a week. Thanks for sharing this awesome recipe with us all.

    Reply

  55. This was such a crowd pleaser made with pantry items! I subbed ground turkey, turkey broth, and mozzarella because that is what I had on hand. This would have also been yummy if I omitted the paprika and chili powder and subbed 1-1 1/2 tsp of Italian seasoning (since I used mozzarella). I added some crushed red peppers to my bowl because I like a little bit of heat (some jalapeños cooked in would have been yummy too!). You really can’t go wrong with this recipe!

    Great for busy nights – comes together very quickly) or using whatever you have available in your pantry/fridge. Thank you for this adaptable family friendly meal!

    Reply

  56. Made this tonight and it is so good. Better than the box version I had as a kid years ago. I did sub in ground turkey and chicken broth but other than that everything else remained the same. This will be regular in my household.

    Reply

  57. Wonderful recipe! Everything I was going to say has already been said in the previous comments. Picky kids happily devoured it! I used turkey instead of beef. It’s fantastic! Keeping it in the rotation. Thanks for sharing! (Any new info on that potential cookbook that was mentioned?)

    Reply

    • Terrific, Natalie, thank you! The cookbook’s still on hold until my homeschooled kids are a bit older, can better self-manage their studies, and I have a little more breathing room! :)

      Reply

    • Heidi, I’m one of the few people in America who never got on the Instant Pot bandwagon ;) So without having one I’m afraid I can’t create an Instant Pot version.

      Reply

  60. I noticed a nutrition breakdown with your recipe. The only thing i didn’t see was the approximate serving size. I love the fact that your recipe has simple ingredients compared to the box mix. But i am always on the watch for sodium anount per serving.

    Reply

  64. OMGoodness! This is so good! I had to make a modification this time—I used all beef broth rather than milk, just because I am out of milk. It is slightly different, but still wonderful! Thank You!

    Reply

  65. My eight year old boy loves this recipe so much – he always asks for it. We use gluten-free noodles, gluten-free flour and we use a homemade cashew milk made with cashews that have been soaked, and Brewers yeast and coconut milk which actually makes the whole thing non-dairy except for the grated cheese which we love and can’t resist.

    Reply

  67. Would you believe I’ve made this twice in the last week, lol? My family keeps requesting it! Thanks for such a delicious recipe!

    Reply

  68. I would like to try this but with whole wheat pasta. Would I need to make any changes to the recipe? Also would 2% milk work?

    Reply

  69. I didn’t find this recipe expensive because I had everything in my kitchen already and just needed a way to utilize it all. Tastes great! 👍🏽

    Reply

  71. This is awesome!Kids and hubby love it! I added a couple things which is another reason I love it…so versatile! I siced up a red pepper and added cilantro and Worcestershire sauce. Amazing!!

    Reply

  72. I don’t know how many times I have used this recipe, but it’s a fav in our household. My mother used to make us “goulash” which is the same, except she cooked the pasta separate, then mixed together. I love doing it all in one pot though. As long as the pasta to liquid ratios are the same, the flavour combinations are endless.

    Reply

  73. This was delicious and so easy to make! I had all of the ingredients on hand. I agree that this tastes so much better than the box version but has enough similarity to it so that you can recognize what the recipe is modeled after. The healthy part is a great bonus! Thanks for posting such a great recipe and I will definitely be adding this to our family meals!

    Reply

  74. Wow. I searched for different imitation recipes of hamburger helper but I am so glad i chose this one. I knew it would taste good but I didn’t know it would be this good! Thanks so much. Also, I did half regular cheddar and the other half a spicy cheddar recommended by my cheese guy and it was awesome. I love how workable this recipe is.

    Reply

  75. Would you please tell me if there is ANY beef anything in the Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni? I cannot have any beef at all and I have a recipe for turkey & broccoli using the cheeseburger macaroni. Thanks so much.

    Reply

    • Hi Rita, are you talking about the store-bought boxed stuff? No, that has no beef it in, the ground beef needs to be purchased separately. You might want to the check the list of ingredients though to see if there is any beef broth powder in it.

      Reply

  78. I don’t usually look for copycat recipes, but this dish is usually bland if you try to make it off the cuff. The balance of flavors in this recipe is spot on 99%. I did add some fresh garlic in addition to the garlic powder (personal preference). I was a little scared of adding too much chili powder, so I just added a couple of shakes. I also added a dash of chipotle and smoked paprika (again, personal preference). The one thing that really makes a difference is ground mustard powder. It adds that certain tang without adding more salt. Thanks!

    Reply

  79. I would think you would drain the fat from the meat after browning and before adding tomato paste. It seems like the dish may end up a bit greasy.

    Reply

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