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Homemade Hamburger Helper

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This homemade hamburger helper is cheesy, creamy, and made in just one pot! A quick 30-minute meal with pasta, beef, and bold flavor the whole family will love.

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef (or ground turkey)

1 large yellow onion, diced

1 garlic clove, minced

2 tbsp all-purpose flour

2 cups low-sodium beef broth (or chicken broth)

1 (8 oz) can tomato sauce

1 tsp Italian seasoning

1 tsp seasoned salt

½ tsp smoked paprika

½ tsp garlic powder

8 oz small pasta shells (or elbow macaroni)

½ cup heavy cream (or half and half)

2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions

In a large sauté pan with a lid, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Remove beef and set aside, reserving 2 tbsp of grease in the pan.

Lower heat to medium. Add onion and cook for about 5 minutes, until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 30 seconds more.

Stir in flour and cook for 1 minute. Slowly add broth, stirring constantly, and bring to a boil.

Add tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and pasta. Stir to combine.

Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook for 12–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. Add more broth as needed.

Stir in heavy cream and cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.

Return the ground beef to the pan, cook for 2–3 minutes more to reheat.

Remove from heat and let sit 1–2 minutes for the sauce to thicken. Serve hot.

Notes

Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Reheat: Reheat gently with a splash of broth or cream to restore creaminess.

Make Double: Easily double the recipe in a large Dutch oven to feed a crowd.

Gluten-Free: Use gluten-free pasta and cornstarch in place of flour. Add extra broth if needed and thicken at the end with a cornstarch slurry.

Find it online: https://allrecipesmade.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/