Homemade Hamburger Helper

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp paprika
• 1½ tsp garlic powder
• 1½ tsp onion powder
• 1½ tsp salt
• 1 tsp sugar
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 2 cups hot water (or beef/chicken broth)
• 1½ cups milk
• 2 cups dry cavatappi or macaroni noodles
• 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
• Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

1. Brown the beef — Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and break it up with a spatula, cooking until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
2. Season — Sprinkle cornstarch, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, sugar, and pepper over the beef. Stir well to distribute.
3. Cook the pasta — Add hot water, milk, and dry pasta. Bring to a boil, then cover and reduce heat. Simmer 8–11 minutes until pasta is al dente.
4. Add cheese — Sprinkle cheddar over the top and stir until melted into a creamy sauce.
5. Rest and serve — Remove from heat and let stand a few minutes until sauce thickens. Garnish with parsley and serve.

Notes

• Use broth — Broth instead of water makes it noticeably richer; worth it.
• Pasta shape — Cavatappi holds the sauce beautifully, but elbow macaroni works too.
• Rest off heat — The sauce thickens significantly in just 3–5 minutes off heat; don't skip it.
• Leftovers — Thicken in the fridge; add a splash of milk when reheating.

Nutrition (per serving)

Tags: #recipe #pasta #beef #weeknight #quickmeals #american