A classic: homemade hamburger helper. A delicious macaroni dish with a variety of vegetables and ground meat. If you grew up in the 80’s and 90’s like I did, you probably know this old-fashioned one-pot meal! It is definitely one of my childhood favorites..
Old-fashioned homemade hamburger helper
It actually feels a little crazy to call my homemade hamburger helper old-fashioned, but that’s kind of what this recipe is. I mean, the store-bought version has been around for ages but whatever version you have had as a kid, it’s incredibly nostalgic and delicious.
“Back in the day” when I was a little girl, it was often served in our house, time really does fly! This homemade version was a family favorite and still is!
Easy homemade hamburger helper recipe
No wonder, because it is the ultimate comfortfood. Young and old alike love this elbow macaroni with beef, vegetables and creamy tomato sauce.. The herbs give it a lot of flavor and the grated cheese is non-negotiable. If you like, you could serve a nice fresh salad on the side or just keep it as it is. It’s a tasty and easy meal and a great staple to enjoy with the entire family, especially on busy weeknights!
Tip: If you like a sweeter sauce, you can add 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey. Definitely not a must, but a great option if you prefer.
Easy family dinner with hamburger helper
My homemade hamburger helper is, just like it’s boxed version, very easy to make! You can serve it within half an hour. It’s also great to know that the whole family, both the kids and you, are getting enough vegetables. And if you have leftovers, it makes a great lunch!
Another great pasta dish that I consider ultimate comfort food is my spaghetti carbonara, easy and delicious. This hamburger helper recipe makes for a nutritious and easy dinner, another added bonus is that since it’s a one-pot recipe the cleanup will be fast too. Do need to say more? Let’s get cooking!
Ingredients
- 300 grams elbow macaroni
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (crushed)
- 1 red bell pepper (diced)
- 250 grams mushrooms (sliced)
- 70 grams tomato paste
- 300 grams ground beef
- 1 tbsp Italian herbs
- 2 tsp smoked paprika powder
- 1 zucchini (cut into small cubes)
- 425 grams diced tomatoes
- 2 bay leaves
- grated cheese and fresh basil (to taste)
- oil, salt and pepper
Equipment
- Large frying pan
INSTRUCTIONS (how to make this recipe):
- Cook the macaroni al dente according to package directions.
- Heat some oil in a large frying pan and sauté the onion and garlic until translucent.
- Add the pepper and mushrooms and cook for a few minutes.
- Add the tomato paste and cook for a few minutes, then add the ground beef.
- Stir-fry the ground beef until tender and season with Italian herbs, smoked paprika and salt and pepper to taste.
- When the ground beef is done, add the zucchini and cook until tender.
- Add the can of diced tomatoes and bring to a boil. Add the bay leaves and simmer for another 5 minutes. Taste and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Mix everything together, garnish with grated cheese and fresh basil. Enjoy your meal!
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