This easy Homemade Hamburger Helper is made with run-of-the-mill ingredients, ALL OF WHICH you can probably pronounce, unlike the boxed magic it is named after. Which I also love, but don’t buy very often because let’s be honest. If we can avoid processed foods, we probably should now and then.

Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

In our house, this meal is affectionately known as “Beefy Noodles”. This dish has become kind of a staple here. It is stick-to-your-ribs, guaranteed that my kids will eat it, FAST, easy-cooking dinner.

Nothing fancy here, just home cooking with real ingredients. What it really is, is my Homemade Hamburger Helper, only with ingredients that we don’t have to Google to know what they actually are. It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish, including popping a vegetable in the microwave or oven to round out the meal.

Try our Cheesy Italian Shells Hamburger Helper Dupe!

Homemade Hamburger Helper Shopping List

One of the great things about this dish is that 95% of the time I have all of these ingredients readily available in my fridge and cupboards. That means if I’m out of almost everything, I still can make this. Or at least some variation of it. 

Sure, sometimes I’m short an ingredient or two, but the magic of this easy skillet dinner is that it doesn’t even matter. Substitute, omit, or alter to your heart’s content. I bet it’ll still be delicious.

• Ground Beef – I’ve used ground pork too, and it was great!
• Onion – You can totally skip this if you don’t have a fresh one, use dried, or just add in extra onion powder.
• Mushrooms – Adds tons of flavor, but we’ve successfully left it out before and it still tastes great.
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Flour
• Sherry – You can substitute Marsala wine or dry white wine.
• Beef Bouillon – We use Better Than Bouillon, but any kind will do. Beef stock also works!
• Egg Noodles – I love the “homestyle” egg noodles because they are thicker and hold up better to leftovers.
• Sour Cream – If you have super picky eaters, you can leave this out and just have people add it themselves when they dish.

You need more PASTA in your life.

How to make Homemade Hamburger Helper

This is just the overview so you can see what you’re actually getting into here. When you are cooking, you’ll want to use the full recipe at the bottom of the page.

1. Cook the Pasta – Boil a large pot of salted water and cook egg noodles for one minute less than package directions. Reserve pasta water before draining.
2. Sauté the Vegetables – In a large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add onions and mushrooms, browning them before removing and setting aside.

3. Brown the Beef – In the same skillet, cook the ground beef with salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Break it up as it cooks, then drain excess fat.

4. Make the Sauce – Tilt the pan, melt the remaining butter, and whisk in flour. Reduce heat and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in sherry, pasta water, and Better Than Bouillon. Return onions and mushrooms, then simmer until thickened.

5. Combine & Serve – Toss in cooked egg noodles, stir well, and remove from heat. Mix in sour cream and adjust seasoning before serving.

Try our Pizza Pasta Hotdish!

FAQ

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

How do I reheat this dish?

Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat with a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce. Microwave in short intervals, stirring in between.

Can I make this ahead of time?

Yes! You can cook the beef and sauce ahead of time, then reheat and add the noodles when ready to serve.

What are some variations I can try?

Swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken, add extra vegetables like peas or bell peppers, or use a different pasta shape.

More Ground Beef Recipes

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