Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe

a white plate of cheeseburger macaroni pasta.

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!

Course Main

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings

Calories 572

Author Ashlyn Edwards | Belle of the Kitchen

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.

Video

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.

Nutrition