Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
This delicious Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe is an easy, family-friendly meal that’s ready in under 30 minutes. After one bite of this homemade version of hamburger helper, you’ll never want the boxed kind again!
For more One Pot Dinner Recipes, be sure to check out my Dutch Oven Beef Stew, One Pot Cheesy Sausage and Peppers Pasta, and Lemon Chicken Piccata.
I used to LOVE Hamburger Helper when I was a kid. It was one of the first meals I ever learned how to make, and is one of those nostalgic comfort foods I look back on.
But like so many things, the homemade version of this Cheeseburger Macaroni recipe is so SO good and WAY better than the boxed kind! Plus it’s a one-pot meal that’s family friendly and quick and easy to prepare.
I love homemade versions of classic comfort foods, like my Shake and Bake Pork Chops and Instant Pot Mac and Cheese. Similar to this cheeseburger macaroni, they’re all made with basic pantry ingredients and are so easy and delicious.
There is a lot of flavor to be had when you make your own hamburger helper at home. This has a rich, tangy kick from the dijon mustard and ketchup, and is creamy and cheesy from the sharp cheddar cheese.
It’s one of my favorite ground beef recipes to prepare when I have a pound of ground beef to use up, and my kids absolutely gobble it up every time!
Ingredients you’ll need to Make Cheeseburger Macaroni
A full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions are located in the recipe card below.
- lean ground beef
- onion
- garlic
- beef broth
- elbow macaroni pasta
- heavy cream
- sour cream
- cheddar cheese
- dijon mustard
- ketchup
- salt + pepper
How to Make this Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe – Step by Step
A full list of ingredients, measurements, and instructions are located in the recipe card below.
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef, then add the onions and garlic.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the elbow macaroni, then reduce the heat and cover with a lid. Simmer until the macaroni is tender.
- Add the remaining ingredients and mix everything together until the cheese is melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Remove the skillet from heat and let it rest for a couple of minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.
Tips and Notes
- Meat substitutions: Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
- Other pasta options: While the recipe calls for elbow macaroni, you can experiment with various pasta shapes. Any other short pastas like penne or rotini can be used instead of elbow macaroni, just be sure to check your pasta for tenderness and adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- Add some veggies: Frozen veggies like peas, carrots, or even broccoli would be easy to add to your homemade hamburger helper. I’ve added frozen peas to mine many times! I always add them along with the pasta.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy whipping cream. You could also use low fat or nonfat Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
- Store any leftover cheeseburger macaroni in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Serving Suggestions
A simple green salad or roasted or steamed veggies pair really well with the richness and heartiness of cheeseburger macaroni. We especially love it with air fryer broccoli or garlic roasted asparagus.
Slices of warm garlic bread are also perfect for soaking up the creamy sauce. That’s definitely a favorite at my house!
More 30 Minute Dinners You Should Try!
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below. I love to hear from you and always appreciate your feedback!
Recipe: Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups beef broth
- 2 cups dry elbow macaroni
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/3 cup sour cream
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 2 Tablespoons dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoons ketchup
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium high heat until no longer pink. Drain the fat.
- Add the onion and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes until the onion becomes translucent and the garlic is fragrant.
- Pour in the beef broth and bring to a boil. Stir in the elbow macaroni, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and let it simmer, stirring occasionally, until the macaroni is cooked and the liquid is mostly absorbed, about 10-12 minutes.
- Add the heavy whipping cream, sour cream, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, dijon mustard, ketchup, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Mix everything together until the cheese is melted and the sauce becomes creamy.
- Remove the skillet from heat and let it rest for a couple of minutes to allow the flavors to blend together.
Notes
- Meat substitutions: Feel free to swap the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken.
- Other pasta options: While the recipe calls for elbow macaroni, you can experiment with various pasta shapes. Any other short pastas like penne or rotini can be used instead of elbow macaroni, just be sure to check your pasta for tenderness and adjust your cooking time accordingly.
- Add some veggies: Frozen veggies like peas, carrots, or even broccoli would be easy to add to your cheeseburger macaroni. I’ve added frozen peas to mine many times! I always add them along with the pasta.
- For a lighter version, use half-and-half or milk instead of heavy whipping cream. You could also use low fat or nonfat Greek yogurt in place of the sour cream.
- Store any leftover cheeseburger macaroni in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
This is oh so good! It’s one of my family’s favorites and mine because it’s so easy to make.
Easy and tasty meal. I did add 1 T. dill relish.
My family loves the flavors of this. It was a winner.
My kids really enjoyed this!! It was incredibly delicious!
Creamy, cheesy and flavorful! This macaroni dish has everything I love!
Looks incredibly delicious! Can’t wait to make this at home!
I can’t wait to stuff my face full of all that beef and cheese! This looks absolutely fantastic.