As a child of the 90s, Hamburger Helper was a staple in our house and was often something we enjoyed at least once a week (if not more often!)
90s nostalgia has taken hold of me as of late, so I thought I would try my hand at a homemade version of a beloved classic.
Servings: 4
Prep Time: 5-10 minutes
Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
Total Time: 30-45 minutes
Ingredients:
1lb ground beef (ground turkey or chicken works as well)
1/2 medium white onion, diced
3 tbsp tomato paste
1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
3 cups beef broth or stock (substitute chicken broth/stock if using ground turkey or chicken)
1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
2 tsp onion powder*
2 tsp garlic powder*
1/2 tsp chili powder*
Salt and pepper to taste
Small knob of butter
Cooking oil (I use avocado, but olive oil works as well)
1-2 cups grated cheese of your choice (optional; for this recipe, I used mozzarella)
*Adjust accordingly for personal preference.
Instructions:
On low heat sauté onions in butter and a drizzle of oil until translucent.
Increase heat to medium-low to medium, add ground beef, break up and brown.
Once ground beef is browned, add tomato paste and all seasonings. Stir to incorporate.
Pour in beef broth and heavy whipping cream and increase heat to bring to a rolling boil.
Add uncooked macaroni, reduce heat and simmer uncovered until macaroni is cooked to your preference, stirring occasionally.
If including cheese, add cheese and stir until fully melted.
At this point, I reduce the heat to as low as my stovetop will allow and let everything sit and marry together for about 10 minutes; but you can serve immediately after macaroni is cooked or until cheese is melted.
I served this with cornbread and salad for a completely 90s feel. Enjoy!
