Homemade One-Pot Hamburger Helper

Ingredients:

• ½–1 lb ground beef, depending on how meaty you like it

• ¾ tablespoon paprika

• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder

• 1½ teaspoons onion powder

• ¼ cup chopped onion, optional for my onion lovers

  1½ teaspoons salt

• 1 teaspoon sugar

• ½ teaspoon black pepper

• 2 cups beef broth

• 2 cups heavy cream (see Notes below for a milk alternative)

• 2 cups elbow noodles (see Notes below for a higher-protein option)

• 1½ cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions:

1. In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion (if using) until the meat is fully cooked and no longer pink. Drain excess grease if needed.

2. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper, and sugar. Stir until everything is well combined.

3. Increase the heat back to medium-high. Add the beef broth, heavy cream, and elbow noodles. Stir well, then bring the mixture to a boil.

4. Once boiling, cover, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for 8–10 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking or burning.

5. When the noodles are cooked, remove from heat and add the cheese. Stir until fully melted and creamy.

6. Serve warm and enjoy 😊

Notes:

If you prefer to use regular milk instead of cream, use 1½ cups of milk. After browning the meat, stir in 2 tablespoons of flour and cook until no dry flour remains. Then continue with the recipe as written. This helps thicken the sauce since milk is thinner than cream.

Want to add more protein to your dish? I like using Barilla Protein+ Elbow Noodles. They work great in this recipe without changing the texture.