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A bowl of cooked fusilli pasta mixed with ground meat and topped with parsley, placed on a wooden plate with a fork and spoon. Salt and pepper shakers, ketchup, and greens are in the background.

Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper

Chef Jenn
When comfort food cravings hit, Chef Jenn turns to this homemade take on Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper. It’s got all the flavor of a drive-in cheeseburger with the ease of a one-pan meal. Beefy, cheesy, and shockingly fast to pull together, it’s a recipe the whole family will fight over.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 servings
Calories 693 kcal

Equipment

Ingredients
  

  • 12 ounces rotini pasta
  • 1 pound ground beef
  • 1 cup red onion diced
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup beef broth
  • 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 1 tablespoon ketchup
  • 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot sauce
  • 1½ cups cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rotini until just shy of al dente, about one minute less than the package suggests. Scoop out ¼ cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
  • Cook the ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat, seasoning with garlic powder as it browns. Once it’s nearly done, stir in the diced red onion and sauté for 2–3 minutes until just softened. Drain off any excess fat and transfer the mixture to a bowl.
  • Add the butter to the empty skillet and melt it over medium heat. Sprinkle in the flour and whisk constantly for a minute or two until a pale, smooth roux forms. Remove the pan from the heat.
  • Slowly pour in the heavy cream, whisking the entire time to keep the sauce smooth. Gradually incorporate the milk and beef broth, stirring well between additions. Return the skillet to medium heat and simmer for 3–4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  • Mix in the mustard, ketchup, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce, and shredded cheddar. Stir until the cheese melts and the sauce becomes rich and creamy.
  • Combine the cooked beef and pasta with the cheese sauce. Stir well to coat everything evenly, using a bit of the reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce if it gets too thick.
  • Serve the dish while hot. For a fun touch, top with chopped pickles or an extra handful of shredded cheddar before digging in.

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips

  • Season your sauce after it’s finished. It may not need any salt at all because the cheese is salty.
  • If your sauce is too thick, thin it with a bit more milk or even water.
  • Want to double it? This recipe scales easily; just don’t skip reserving some pasta water to keep it creamy.

Nutrition

Serving: 1.5cupsCalories: 693kcalCarbohydrates: 53gProtein: 30gFat: 40gSaturated Fat: 20gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 492mgPotassium: 517mgFiber: 3gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 834IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 302mgIron: 3mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

Keyword cheeseburger hamburger helper, cheesy beef pasta, ground beef dinner, homemade hamburger helper, one-pot pasta
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