Homemade Hamburger Helper with Cheddar and Elbow Macaroni (Print version)

A creamy one-pot cheeseburger macaroni skillet made with ground beef, elbow macaroni, sharp cheddar, milk, broth, and simple pantry spices.

# Ingredients:

For the beef and pasta

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
03 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
04 - 1 teaspoon garlic powder
05 - 1 teaspoon onion powder
06 - 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
07 - 1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
08 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
09 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
10 - 2 cups (480 ml) low-sodium beef broth
11 - 1 3/4 cups (420 ml) whole milk
12 - 2 cups (200 g) dry elbow macaroni

To finish

13 - 2 cups (225 g) freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese
14 - 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, optional
15 - 1 tablespoon chopped parsley, optional

# Instructions:

01 - Heat the olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it into small crumbles, until browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
02 - Stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1 minute, stirring often, until the tomato paste darkens slightly.
03 - Pour in the beef broth and milk. Stir in the dry elbow macaroni and scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits.
04 - Bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for 10-12 minutes, stirring every 2-3 minutes, until the macaroni is tender and the sauce has thickened. Add a splash of broth if the skillet looks dry before the pasta is done.
05 - Turn off the heat and let the bubbling settle for 1 minute. Stir in the cheddar a handful at a time until melted and creamy. Add Worcestershire sauce if using.
06 - Let the skillet stand for 3 minutes so the sauce thickens around the pasta. Taste for salt, sprinkle with parsley if using, and serve warm.

# Good to know:

01 - Freshly grated cheddar melts more smoothly than pre-shredded cheese.
02 - Use a wide skillet with a lid so the macaroni cooks evenly.
03 - Reheat leftovers with a splash of milk to loosen the sauce.

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