Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Growing up, my mom never made Hamburger Helper meals, but my mother-in-law did. It’s one of those things that my husband loved from childhood, just like his beloved Kraft Mac and Cheese.

I decided I should make him Hamburger Helper sometimes but I wanted to make a healthier version without the preservatives that the boxed Hamburger Helper contains.

This Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe is easy to make, and delicious, and your whole family is going to love it! AND, even though it is a homemade version, it’s just as quick as making the boxed version if you use your Instant Pot or another pressure cooker.

Next time you’re craving this comfort food, try this homemade version!

Don’t have a pressure cooker? Don’t worry! You can make it on the stovetop too! This is a family-friendly recipe that anyone can make and enjoy!

Will My Picky Kids Eat It?

Well, I can’t guarantee it will be a family favorite because if they are picky, you just never can tell! I can say that I have 6 picky kids and 4 out of 6 were fans of it.

The ones who are big macaroni and cheese lovers seemed to like it the most. I’ll also add that I’m not a huge ground beef lover myself but I did like this recipe! The cheesy sauce is great for picky eaters.

How to Cook Homemade Hamburger Helper – Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker, Stovetop, or Oven

The easiest way to cook this meal, in my opinion, is in a pressure cooker. It’s super easy and quick that way. If you don’t have a pressure cooker, you can use your stovetop or even bake it in the oven.

Homemade Hamburger Helper in the Instant Pot or another Pressure Cooker

Because this is my preferred method, the instructions for your Instant Pot are the ones found in the recipe card below.

I love fixing this easy dinner idea in my pressure cooker whenever possible because it’s just so fast and only gets that one pot dirty.

Homemade Hamburger Helper on the Stovetop

Want to make this recipe on the stovetop instead? It’s easy. Just follow these steps:

1. Cook pasta according to package directions.
2. In a large pot on medium heat, brown hamburger meat with the onion powder or onions and garlic salt.
3. Drain excess fat.
4. Add cooked al dente pasta, chicken broth, and milk to the large pot with browned hamburger meat. Heat on medium heat until heated through but not boiling.
5. Add cheese, mixing in a little bit at a time until it is all incorporated.
6. Serve hot.

Baked Homemade Hamburger Helper

Want to make this as a baked dish? Sure, you can do that too! Here’s how:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
2. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick spray.
3. Cook pasta according to package directions so that it’s al dente.
4. In a large pot on medium heat, brown hamburger meat with the onion powder or onions and garlic salt.
5. Drain excess fat.
6. Add cooked al dente pasta, chicken broth, and milk to the large pot with browned hamburger meat.
7. Add cheese, mixing in a little bit at a time until it is all incorporated.
8. Transfer to baking dish.
9. Bake for 15-20 minutes until all shredded cheese is thoroughly melted.
10. Serve hot

What to Serve with Homemade Hamburger Helper

Air fryer baked potatoes make a delicious side dish. In my opinion, baked potatoes are one of the things air fryers cook the best. They are amazing this way!

Salad makes a great veggie side dish along with these skillet green beans. Garlic bread is another great side dish for this recipe.

Meal Prep Tip for Busy Moms

I try to keep a couple of pounds of browned lean ground beef in my freezer at all times.  It makes meals really quick when I don’t plan in advance as I can just grab a pound of ground beef and thaw if needed for quesadillas or throw it in the pressure cooker frozen.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Style Pasta

So simple!  I like to make this particular homemade recipe when I’m feeling a bit lazy or pressed for time.  I just serve it with some of my canned applesauce and butter bread and it’s always a hit.

If one of your childhood favorites was the boxed stuff, you’ve gotta give this a try! Grab this simple ingredient list and head to the grocery store!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I substitute beef broth for the chicken broth? Yes, that should work just fine.

Can I substitute ground turkey instead of hamburger meat? Yes, that should be just fine. You could substitute ground chicken too.

Can I substitute another type of pasta? Absolutely! Elbow macaroni is a good alternative or shell pasta.

If you give this Homemade Hamburger Helper Style Instant Pot Recipe a try, make sure you chime in as to what your family thought. We love a great one-pot meal like this.

Related Posts

If you need some more easy weeknight dinner recipes, check out our other Thrifty Nifty Mommy Recipes.

Kids love this cowboy chicken casserole recipe. This chicken fajita and rice casserole recipe is another great weeknight meal that’s easy to fix and super tasty!

Looking for more Instant Pot recipes? This Instant Pot creamy chicken pasta recipe is simple and quick in the Instant Pot and so tasty too!