A skillet of hamburger helper pasta

Homemade Hamburger Helper

A one-skillet cheesy pasta with ground beef and a creamy tomato-cheese sauce.

By Recipes Editorial Team Published August 18, 2026

Prep Time: 10 min
Cook Time: 20 min
Total Time: 30 min
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 500 kcal

Ingredients

4 servings

1 lb ground beef (about 450 g)
2 cup elbow macaroni (about 8 oz / 225 g)
2 cup milk
1 cup tomato sauce
1 ½ cup shredded cheddar
½ tsp salt

Instructions

Brown the beef in a skillet; drain fat.
Stir in the macaroni, milk, tomato sauce, and salt.
Bring to a simmer, cover, and cook 10 to 12 minutes until the pasta is tender.
Stir in the cheese until melted.
Serve hot.

Nutrition

Per serving, estimated.

Calories: 500 kcal
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 44g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 3g

Tips

Use a deep skillet.
Stir often so the pasta doesn't stick.

Variations

Add paprika or garlic.
Use rotini instead of elbows.

Frequently Asked Questions