Quick weeknight meals have been a must with me due to busy nights of dance, soccer practice, and homework. I was constantly making hamburger helper - or asking my husband to make it as I ran around picking up kids. Finally, I figured out how to make it from scratch when I was out of my trusty red box one night when I needed an easy weeknight dinner. This cheeseburger macaroni recipe is one of the staple weeknight meals I make on busy nights. Homemade hamburger helper cheeseburger macaroni is made with ground beef, macaroni, Velveeta, and a sauce made with ketchup and mustard. It is so simple to make and literally tastes like a cheeseburger casserole even though it is made right on the stovetop.
Skillet meals are my favorite meals because it just has one pan to clean up at the end of the night. I love the 20-minute pizza skillet and my skillet taco mac and cheese.
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Ingredients for Homemade Hamburger Helper
Making a skillet meal like hamburger helper doesn't have to be made with a box mix, but with ingredients you have in your pantry. Here are the ingredients you need to make homemade cheeseburger hamburger helper.
- Groundd Beef
- Macaroni
- Burger seasoning
- Ketchup
- Mustard
- Velveeta Cheese
- Milk
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper - Cheeseburger Macaroni and Cheese
For any of you hamburger helper lovers, this is a homemade version or great knock-off without the box. Start by browning up a pound of hamburger. Season with the burger seasoning of your choice or salt and pepper. If you want to add garlic powder or onion powder to the salt and pepper, that would work as well.
Add ketchup, and mustard to the cooked ground beef.
Pour in the water. Stir to combine with ground beef, ketchup, and mustard. Bring to a boil and add 2 cups of uncooked macaroni.
Reduce heat, cover and simmer for 8-10 minutes until macaroni is tender. Once the macaroni is tender, add Velveeta, cubed to the mixture. Stir until the cheese is melted. To make creamier, add a half cup of milk as well.
Remove the skillet cheeseburger macaroni and cheese from the heat and let set for 5 minutes before serving.
I love pickles on my cheeseburgers, so I added a pickle to the top of this dish. You can also top the cheeseburger macaroni with shredded cheese, tomatoes and onions too.
Don't worry, the plain cheeseburger mac is delicious too, just like plain cheeseburgers hit the spot too.
Substitutions for Hamburger Helper
Don't have the exact ingredients for this recipe, here are substitution ideas:
- Pasta - This recipe can be made with any shape of pasta, so feel free to use bow tie, penne, or ziti pasta shapes too. In addition, rice can also be used instead of pasta.
- Cheese - Don't worry if you don't have Velveeta, any cheese you like on a cheeseburger can be used. Try this recipe with cheddar cheese, Colby-Jack cheese, or even Swiss cheese.
- Meat - While I use ground beef in the hamburger helper recipe, ground chicken, ground turkey, and ground pork can also be used.
- Gluten-free - The use of gluten free pasta is also definitely fine to use in this recipe if you are following a gluten free recipe.
Variations
Busy weeknights have found their dinner friend with this skillet hamburger macaroni and cheese recipe. But, change it up easily and make some of these variations to the hamburger helper.
- Taco Mac and Cheese - Season the meat with taco seasoning and then pour a can off enchilada sauce into the water and macaroni for a taco mac and cheese skillet.
- Lasagna Hamburger Helper - Use Italian seasoning on the hamburger and then add tomato sauce to the water and pasta. Stir in ricotta or cottage cheese into the cooked pasta and beef. Top it off with an Italian cheese blend. Lasagna skillet is already for you to try.
- Mexican Rice, ground beef, and cheese - Try making a rice skillet with the help of Mexican rice, ground beef, and queso. We love this arroz con molida recipe.
ONE PAN MEAL EQUIPMENT
When it comes to making skillet meals, a braiser is your best friend. With any ground beef recipe, a mix and chop to get the ground beef broken into the right-sized crumbles. Here are my favorite items. Don't forget to add some of these ingredients to your subscribe and save list too.
Storing Leftovers
Got leftovers? Pour the leftover hamburger helper into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat it in single servings in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring before heating again. The leftover cheeseburger macaroni actually tastes BETTER the next day—sort of like chili.
Easy Weeknight Dinner Ideas
- Delicious Grilled Baby Potato Kabobs Recipe
- Crock Pot Hash Brown Casserole
- Homemade Chicken Bacon Ranch Pizza Recipe
- Air Fryer Crescent Rolls Stuffed with Cheese
๐ Recipe
Cheeseburger Macaroni
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 teaspoons burger seasoning Salt and pepper works too
- 2 cups water
- ยฝ cup ketchup
- 1 teaspoon mustard
- 2 cup elbow macaroni uncooked
- 12 ounces Velveeta
- ½ cup milk
Instructions
- Brown beef in a large skillet. Season with burger seasonig or salt and pepper.
- Drain any grease and then add water, ketchup, and mustard.
- Bring to a boil and then stir in uncooked macaroni. Reduce heat to medium-low heat, cover and cook 8-10 minutes till macaroni is tender.
- Add cheese in cubes. Stir until melted. Add milk for extra creaminess.
Nutrition
What do you have cooking this week? Be sure to check out these inspirational dishes.
The cookbook was supplied by Gooseberry Patch. Affiliate links were used.
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Diane
My daughter just had a burger topped with mac n cheese which I thought was strange. I thought to make it just like yours... much easier to eat and you get the same flavors. Thanks for the party.
Jamie @ Love Bakes Good Cakes
Thanks for the party! I pinned your Cheeseburger Macaroni - I can't wait to try it - I know my kiddos will LOVE it ๐
Miz Helen
Your Cheeseburger Mac looks delicious. Hope you have a good week and thanks for hosting!
Miz Helen
Emily @ Zweber Family Farms
I love Cheesburger Mac! Thanks for the recipe Leah!
Karen
Beef & Macaroni is one of my kids favorite meals ๐
Whitney
I made this the other night with 1 1/2 Daiya's vegan cheddar cheese blocks. It was delicious! Although if anyone is going to make it vegan, I'd say just one block of cheese is sufficient! Is not the recommended amount of cheese but it will do the trick.
Whitney
Tried it again with only one block of cheese...much better! My husband said I could even go lighter on the cheese next time but I thought it was delicious!