BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
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This homemade cheeseburger macaroni recipe is made with whole, clean ingredients, tastes better than the boxed stuff and is ready in 20 minutes! It’s both a family favorite and a favorite among our readers. We’re confident you’ll love it as much as we do!
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.
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!
Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
Let’s get started!
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 and add the seasonings and flour.
Add the milk and beef broth and stir.
Stir in the macaroni.
Bring to a boil then reduce the heat to medium-low.
Cover and simmer 10-12 minutes or until the macaroni is done. I prefer mine a little al dente and check after 9 minutes.
Add the cheese.
Stir until the cheese is melted.
For serving you can garnish it with a little chopped fresh parsley if you like.
Enjoy!
For a fun and tasty variation for autumn, try our Pumpkin Mac and Cheese!
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BEST Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni
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 quality beef broth
- 2 cups dried whole wheat elbow macaroni pasta
- (Gluten Free: Use GF Macaroni)
- 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Instructions
- 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. 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. Stir in the Cheddar cheese until melted.Serve immediately garnished with some chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Video
Nutrition
Originally published on The Daring Gourmet February 19, 2016
Hi, I’m Kimberly Killebrew and welcome to Daring Gourmet where you'll find delicious originals, revitalized classics, and simply downright good eats from around the world! Originally from Germany, later raised in England, world-traveled, and now living in the U.S., from my globally-influenced kitchen I invite you to tour the world through your taste buds!
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!
I’m sure they would, Sara, this is definitely “kid approved” kind of food :)
Ack! That list of ingredients on the packaged version!! I saw your video on FB earlier & just love it and this recipe! Can’t wait to try it – so cool!
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!
There were only a couple of varieties of Hamburger Helper that I liked as a kid…but cheeseburger mac was one of them. This definitely a bazillion times better, I know my family would love this!
Definitely, Heather! Pasta, beef and lots of cheese…what’s there not to like, right?
I just wanted to come back and let you know that I’ve already made this twice for my family…it’s in our regular rotation now. One bite is an instant throwback to my youth! :)
Heather, you’re so awesome for taking the time to let me know, thanks so much! And I’m so happy that your family enjoys it as much as mine! :)
Did you drain your grease off the hamburger after you cook the onion in it?
You can do it either way, Natalie, purely personal preference.
I love that you remade this childhood favorite
It’s something quick and yummy I can make for my kids without worrying about what they’re eating!
I adore this!! You completely remade one of my favorites as a kid!
Thanks, Claire! Simple, quick and delicious comfort food – a great option especially when you’re in a hurry.
My husband will flip over this. You sauce looks so creamy!
Haha, Ginny! As much as my husband enjoys more involved and adventurous foods, he loves it when I make simple comfort food like this :)
We make homemade hamburger helper all the time, but it’s definitely nothing like this! This looks so comforting!
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 :)
Oh my gosh!!! Sooooo good!!!!
I loved hamburger helper as a kid, but like you we did not get it very often,and my kids have never had it. I bet they would love this much healthier homemade version
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!
Not really. It also costs more to buy all the ingredients. I would rather make something better than glorify a cheap style dinner. 😋
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.
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!
Thanks so much, Niki! Agreed, most of the ingredients are basic pantry staples.
Add bacon. Ground pork. Hot Italian sausage. Very modifyable(?). Lol. Always a hit. Amazing made just the way it is. I suggest doubling the spices…or more!! 😊
avocado oil.. really who has that in there pantry or fridge..? please..
I do! :) And tons of other people who prefer to avoid unhealthy oils.
I use canola or a non-stick spray. Or none at all. The hamburger cooks just fine without it. :)
I totally agree
Ok you have to stop misleading people. You cant call this clean. You dont mention anything about less processed cheese or macaroni noodles etc. You basically are gathering up the same stuff as in the hamburger helper and piecing it together yourself. There’s plenty of chemicals in non organic macaroni, seasonings, lots of cheeses are less than desirable tho a natural block is definitely better than powdered but come on hon . Bleached flour. Macaroni noodles. Corn starch for gf. You cant call this clean. Delicious. A few steps healthier than hamburger helper, yes. But it’s still unhealthy comfort food. Unless u show brands used and specify what minimal ingredient macaroni noodles and unbleached flour and grass fed beef u used please don’t mislead people
Hannah, there’s nothing misleading about this recipe whatsoever. You’re drawing conclusions based on your own assumptions. “Bleached flour” and “corn starch” – where are you getting those from? Not from my blog post or recipe. That’s an assumption on your part. Look at the recipe. It actually calls for whole wheat macaroni and the GF pasta I link to doesn’t contain corn starch. If I were specifying a particular brand that’s junk and then saying it’s a clean option, that would be misleading. But I’m not. And which brands of ingredients my readers use are entirely up to them.
It’s basically up to the home cook and the ingredients he or she chooses to use that makes it health vs not healthy. The creator of the recipe doesn’t have to tell us what to buy – you can google that yourself or find a blog that will tell you what to use (and that blogger usually makes a profit doing so). I look for recipes such as this one and make sure I use healthy ingredients. I used organic grass-fed beef, ancient grain kamut pasta noodles, coconut milk (just to name a few things). I think it’s wrong for you to call her out for misleading people. BTW this recipe was great!
So glad you enjoyed it, Lisa, thank you! :)
This was amazing – our entire family loved it! Much better than boxed. 👍 Will definitely be adding to our meal rotation.
Fantastic, Blaire, thank you!
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….