Homemade Hamburger Helper

Healthy homemade ‘hamburger helper’ is made with noodles, cheeses, spices, milk, and beef to bring back the memories of this classic 90’s dish. No need to buy the less-healthy box when you can make it from scratch.

If you are a child of the 80’s and 90’s like I am, you may remember the classic hamburger helper. That box was a staple in our house growing up, and the flavors are forever in my memory.

Originally, when I decided to make this meal, it was just going to be a delicious and creamy einkorn macaroni and cheese for a quick lunch. I began with a bunch of fancy cheese from Aldi, because they have a really great selection, and I just couldn’t help myself. 

Unfortunately, the flavors were just too strong. So, now I’m sticking to basic cheddars and mozzarellas, which the family enjoys much more.

So, for dinner that night, I was just going to reheat the leftover einkorn pasta, but I didn’t want to stop there. 

We ended up browning some ground beef, adding lots of garlic and Italian seasoning, and then adding it to the macaroni and cheese. 

It ended up tasting exactly like what I remember as ‘hamburger helper’ – although, much healthier and made from scratch. No weird ingredients. 

This recipe – my kids like to call it “cheeseburger macaroni” – is going to be a staple for easy, kid-friendly food.

Once all the cheeses are melted, my friend Becky from The Cookie Rookie taught me this trick to add eggs and nutmeg. This makes the noodles so creamy, and the nutmeg adds a delicious and interesting flavor. It also ups the protein value in the dish. 

There is no going wrong with this recipe. I promise, it is really delicious.

Watch How To Make It:

FAQ:

Can I use almond milk instead of milk in Hamburger Helper?

You can use your favorite milk substitute, like almond or coconut, to make this recipe.

Can you double this recipe?

Yes! I usually double this recipe to accommodate my large family.

How do you make this hamburger helper recipe gluten free?

You can easily make this into a gluten free recipe by swapping out the pasta for gluten free pasta. I suggest using a lentil pasta, as it holds its shape well, and I think it has the best flavor.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

Ingredients For Homemade Hamburger Helper:

• Ground beef – I use grass-fed ground beef from my sister’s farm. Always try to use grass-fed and pasture-raised beef whenever possible. It’s not only better for the animals, but grass-fed beef also contains more omega-3s than conventional beef.
• Seasoning – This recipe is packed full of flavors with Italian seasoning, garlic, nutmeg, salt, and pepper.
• Pasta – I love using Jovial einkorn pasta. ‘If you can’t ferment it, einkorn it’ is my slogan. Einkorn flour is much easier to digest than regular flour.
• Shredded cheese – I’ve tried this with multiple types of cheese. You could use fancier cheeses or stick to mozzarella and cheddar.
• Milk – Whole milk is preferred, as it adds a nice, smooth flavor. To make it even creamier, you can use heavy cream or half & half.
• Dijon mustard – For a light tang.
• Butter – Adds a yummy rich flavor and gives that extra creaminess to the dish. Choose grass-fed or raw butter whenever possible.
• Eggs –  It sounds odd, but adding eggs to this dish makes it so, so creamy and delicious.

Tools you may need:

Dutch oven or large pot

Colander

Cast iron skillet

Cheese grater

Liquid measuring cup and measuring spoons

How To Make Homemade Hamburger Helper

In a large pot or dutch oven, cook pasta according to package directions. While the noodles are cooking, I like to shred the cheese and start cooking the ground beef. Once cooked, drain the pasta and set aside.

Brown ground beef in a skillet with minced garlic cloves and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste.

Melt butter in the large pot the noodles were cooked in, over low heat.

Toss the noodles back into the pot with butter and add shredded cheese. 

Add in the milk or cream (more, if needed, to thin out, depending on the type of cheese), stir, and place the lid on the pot.

Heat on low until the cheese is melted.

Add in dijon mustard, nutmeg, salt, and eggs; stir well. Try to stir in the eggs quickly so they don’t curdle. The goal is for the eggs to make the cheese sauce thicker and creamier.

Stir in browned meat and garlic. Serve and enjoy!

Find more meals straight from the farmhouse kitchen:

• Creamy Chicken And Wild Rice
• Skillet Garlic Pork Chops
• Best Chicken Pot Pie With Sourdough Biscuits
• Chicken With Creamy Peach Sauce
• Pumpkin Chili With Beef

If you try this recipe and love it, I would love if you gave it 5 stars! Thank you! Tag me on Instagram @farmhouseonboone.

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