This super easy Cheesy Hamburger Skillet is a delicious homemade version of Hamburger Helper and is sure to please the whole family – even the picky eaters. Kids LOVE it and it all cooks in one skillet!
I’ll never forget the first time I got recognized in public because of the blog. It was in the middle of Walmart. The sweetest older gentleman approached me to tell me how much he loved my recipes. We talked for the better part of 15 minutes and as he turned to walk away, I realized that I had been standing there the entire time holding a box of Hamburger Helper.
At first, I felt a little embarrassed. Here I was getting noticed for my recipes all the while holding what is arguably the king of convenience food meals. But after I thought about it, I realized… Hamburger Helper is real life. It’s cheap, easy, and makes for a quick one-pot meal. And that’s 100% ok.
The reality is I’m certainly no stranger to “America’s Favorite One Pan Meal.” No, quite the contrary. As a child of the 80s, I love me some Hamburger Helper. And Jack does, too. It’s like comfort food to me.
And while Heather’s not a huge fan of the boxed stuff, she’ll tolerate it sometimes to make us happy. And whether it’s Cheeseburger Macaroni, Beef Stroganoff, or Beef Pasta, I love how easy it makes supper on busy weeknights.
Now, as I’ve said before, there should be zero shame in grabbing the cheap box of dried pasta and seasonings if that’s what you need to do to get supper on the table. But if you’ve got a few extra minutes, making a homemade version of hamburger helper is an opportunity to add some really great flavor.
Is this version healthier? Probably not. Is it more delicious? 100%!
I mean, this is the kind of meal that becomes a family favorite not because it’s healthy, but because it tastes great, is hearty and filling, and is easy – like way easy. In fact, this easy homemade hamburger helper recipe all cooks in one pot just like the store-bought version.
What should I serve with Hamburger Helper?
This one-pot wonder is certainly a meal unto itself. It’s got your protein, your carbs, your dairy… But what side dish should you serve with it?
Side Salad – We most often grab a bagged salad kit from the grocery store. They offer a delicious variety and keep the meal quick and easy. With that being said, you could also serve my Apple Pecan Salad or a Caesar Salad made with my homemade Creamy Caesar Dressing.
Green Veggie – Sticking with the easy theme, serve this with a steamable bag of green veggies right from the grocery store produce shelf – like green beans or broccoli. You could also use my recipe for Roasted Green Beans or Roasted Broccoli.
Ingredient FAQ
- Ground Beef – Since we’re going to drain it, any ratio of ground beef will work here. Going for super lean, like 90/10 might even eliminate the need for you to drain the meat after it’s cooked.
- Onion – White, yellow, or even sweet onions will work. As the recipe shows, you can also swap a fresh onion for onion powder.
- Garlic – Fresh is going to give you the best flavor, but you can use the jarred garlic or even garlic powder.
- Water or Broth – Water works just fine, but broth will give you more flavor. Just opt for a low sodium or no salt added broth so you can control the sodium content.
- Brown Gravy Mix – This gives the sauce great flavor and thickening power. If you’re watching your sodium intake, just choose a low or lower sodium mix.
- Cheddar Cheese Soup – This ingredient adds some great flavor and creaminess. And while canned soups often get a bad rap, just check out the ingredients on the label. There’s nothing weird in the brand I use.
- Macaroni – I prefer to keep my homemade hamburger helper as true to the boxed version and use plain ol’ elbow macaroni, but I suppose that you could use other pasta shapes. You could even use egg noodles. Just keep in mind the pasta size might require more or less water or broth – so just watch it carefully.
- Cheddar Cheese – I normally use whatever I have in the fridge – be it mild cheddar, sharp cheddar, or a cheddar blend. And no… if I’m making this cheesy hamburger skillet, I ain’t grating my own cheese here. The bagged stuff works just fine.
Love one pot meals? Try these…
Recipe Card
Cheesy Hamburger Skillet (Homemade Hamburger Helper)
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 small onion (chopped (or 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder))
- 1 clove garlic (minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder))
- 3 cups water or beef broth
- 1 (.87 to 1.0-ounce) packet brown gravy mix
- 1 (10.5-ounce) can condensed cheddar cheese soup
- 2 cups uncooked macaroni
- 2 cups shredded mild cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef with onions over medium heat. Once completely cooked, drain the excess grease away and return the skillet with the meat to the heat.
- Add the garlic and sauté 1 to 2 minutes, or until the garlic is fragrant.
- Add the brown gravy mix, cheddar cheese soup, and water. Mix thoroughly to combine. (If using onion and garlic powder instead of fresh, add those now.)
- Add the uncooked pasta to the pan and stir well. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until the pasta is al dente or cooked to your liking.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted. Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
* If nutritional values are provided, they are an estimate and will vary depending on the brands used. The values do not include optional ingredients or when ingredients are added to taste. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, I recommend grabbing your favorite brands and plugging those ingredients into an online nutritional calculator.
April Crandall
Very nice and the recipe was easy to follow.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Dave
Family loved it it’s our go to quick meal now.
Love hearing that!
AL girl
Good gracious this is SO GOOD!! And so quick and easy!! I didn’t have an onion but I had dried minced onion and it turned out amazing. I also only had 1lb of meat and thought that worked just fine. You outdid yourself with this recipe! My very picky son told me I need to make this more often. So much better than the boxed mix.
Your recipes never disappoint!
Thank you so much! That means so much!
Darah
Made this tonight, definitely will feed a family! But for 2 of us , it’s 2 meals. It’s pretty good. I think it would benefit from some fresh parsleybor green onion greens sprinkled on at the end or maybe some diced tomato when adding in the pasta, just to lighten/freshen it a bit. But
It is a sure keeper!
So glad y’all enjoyed it! I think some herbs or tomatoes for freshness would work just fine.
Barbara Griffith
this homemade cheesy hamburger helper dish looks delightful,but in the receipe I don’t see the amount of water to put in. help please.
thank you
Hi Barbara! The 4th ingredient on the recipe card is 3 cups of water or beef broth. Hope that helps! Enjoy!
Susan Knell
I just now made this and it’s sooo good! I did have a questabout my grated cheese. I got the mild cheddar and it is very stringy. Did I not melt it enough? I’m sure I did. Should I have bought the KrAft brand instead of the Wal Mart brand?
In any event, it’s a keeper!
Hey, Susan! It might just be the cheese, but I often use Walmart brand, too. It’s so much cheaper! Did you use the large or small shred?
Rachel
My boyfriend and daughter LOVE this and instantly put it on the “make again” list
That’s awesome! Love hearing that!
Allyson Venable
I never bought hamburger helper as an adult since we ate it so much when I was a child. Lol I tried this recipe and it was really good. It was easy and love that it was all done in one skillet. I’ll definitely make this again.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it!
Tieg
I love reading your intros to recipes. You keep it real and I appreciate that. “I ain’t grating my own cheese here” either! 🙂 Can’t wait to try this one!
Ha! Thanks Tieg! Just keeping it real over here!
Tony
This looks and sounds disgusting…looks like slop for pigs…LOL
Jenn
I just don’t understand why you felt the need to leave this comment…you haven’t even TRIED the recipe. The world doesn’t need more negativity. If something doesn’t look or sound appetizing to you, click away and move on to something else.
Jan
Totally agree!!
Thank you!!! This stuff drive me bonkers. Be kind or be quiet! It’s not so hard.
Tracie
Tony, you need to find out why you are such a miserable person! You must really dislike yourself so you bash others. So sad.
Rena Kearnes
Hello may I substitute the cheese soup?
You can, but I wouldn’t recommend it. It helps to add flavor and texture to the dish.
Nancy
Would this freeze well once it’s made? Just my husband and me and I’d like to divide it up and freeze half once it’s made
The pasta might get a little soft through the freezing and thawing process, but otherwise I think it should work just fine.
Pixie
I can’t wait to make this! It will be this week:)
Hope you’ll enjoy it!
Danielle
I have made this often since I discovered this recipe in the last year or so here. It is so good! The onions, fresh garlic, and grated cheese elevate this recipe above the powered cheese box version. I always double this recipe so we can eat leftovers for lunch and supper during the week because of our work schedule. It reheats well. I also just add a couple extra soup cans of water or so and cook the noodles with the meat mixture. No need to dirty an extra pot!
Thanks, Danielle! I’m actually working on an update to this recipe that has you cooking the noodles with the meat just like you do! It’ll be up very soon!
Gail
I have made quite a few of your recipes and they are all amazing…comfort food at it’s best! Your recipes are what most of us growing up are use to and, when everyone tells me how great the food or dessert was…I send them directly to your website! Thank you for giving all of us comfort food people a place to go for amazing recipes – love them!!!
Thank YOU, Gail! Sharing my food and then the recipes with others is the highest compliment!
Rosa Hansford
I Love your recipes and share them Thank YOU
Thanks so much, Rosa!
Makenzy
Question: Could I use Au Jus Gravy Mix instead of the regular gravy
I’m pretty sure that’ll work.
Amber
I love this recipe and so does my husband. We do add a second can of cheddar cheese soup to add some more creaminess. Otherwise we make it the same as the recipe. I love it since we stopped using the hamburger boxed stuff 5 yrs ago and I have missed cheeseburger mac!
That’s so great to hear, Amber!
Irene
I keep finding recipes on your sight that I have been making for years, and my kids make them now lol. I love seeing them and knowing others make them too’ It makes me feel less guilty about feeding them to my family for the last 34 years. .And I always find a few tweeks,, and twists to them thank you !
Isn’t it fun!? Thanks, Irene!
Dorothy Dunton
Hey Stacey! This looks so good! I am careful when using canned soup or dried packets of seasonings only because my husband and I have become salt sensitive over the years. I usually adjust the ingredients to accommodate our taste. My son would eat the entire batch of this! When he was a teenager he loved the box kind. Keep doin’ what ya do!
Thanks so much, Dorothy!
Holly
I just tried this recipe and it was REALLY good. My husband, who isn’t a big fan of ‘processed food’, really liked it and the fact it didn’t have as he put it, an artificial taste. I’m going to check out more of your recipes since this was a big hit.
That’s awesome, Holly! So glad y’all enjoyed it!
denise
Dear stacey–just discovered your website and love the sound and simplicity of your recipes. Wish I had your cookbook. I am a caregiver with much responsibility, including feeding everyone. It”s hard and the expense is harder. Love your stories and perspectives on life and ourselves. You are an inspiration.
Gerri Barron
one of the recipes I tried out of your book…it is a go to now….the family loved it and I like it so much better than the boxed ones they liked…and I liked the fact that I can add whatever kind of cream of I wanted to or make my own… 🙂
That’s great, Gerri! I’m so glad you like the recipe. Hey, thanks so much for purchasing the book, too! It means more than you could ever know. 🙂
Kim Houston
Envy!!!! We do not have Cheddar Cheese Soup here in New Zealand…… 🙂
Here’s a quick and easy recipe for a substitution for “cream of” recipe. I’d just stir in about 1 cup of sharp cheddar cheese at the end of the recipe and then use it in place of the cheddar cheese soup.
Vonnie
I just made this for my daughter who is going off to college. She wanted the store brand kind but I decided to make this instead. She gave this a “10”!!! Thanks sooo much! She’ll be making this at school,I’m sure!
That’s fantastic! I’m so tickled that she liked it! Best wishes to her as she heads off to college! Tell her to stay close to Southern Bite and I’ll try my best to keep her filled with easy recipes that hopefully might taste like home!
Robert B. (citycowboy)
Its just like that boxed dinner we are familiar with, only better, cause we made it ourselves with what we have on hand. It doesnt get any better than that
Exactly! I joked about calling this recipe “Hamburger Assistant”!