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Homemade Hamburger Helper

This homemade Hamburger Helper is a cozy one-pot dinner made with ground beef, onion, bell pepper, elbow macaroni, a creamy tomato-seasoned sauce, and melted cheese. It’s a homemade spin on the nostalgic meal I first made in middle school.

Ingredients

  • Ingredients
  • * 1 pound ground beef
  • * ½ onion diced
  • * ½ bell pepper diced
  • * 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • * 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • * 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • * ½ teaspoon cumin
  • * 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • * Seasoning salt to taste
  • * 1 tablespoon cream cheese
  • * 1 teaspoon tomato paste
  • * 1½ cups milk
  • * 1½ cups water
  • * 1 tablespoon Knorr chicken bouillon
  • * 1 teaspoon Knorr tomato bouillon
  • * 2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni
  • * 2 cups shredded cheese of choice

Instructions

  1. Instructions
  2. Brown the ground beef with the onion and bell pepper in a large pot or deep skillet over medium heat, breaking up the meat as it cooks. Drain excess grease if needed.
  3. Add the Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, cumin, smoked paprika, and seasoning salt to taste.
  4. Stir in the cream cheese and tomato paste.
  5. Add the milk, water, chicken bouillon, and tomato bouillon. Bring the mixture to a boil.
  6. Stir in the uncooked elbow macaroni. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  7. Stir in the shredded cheese until melted and creamy. Serve warm.