Easy Velveeta Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

Do you ever wish to add some protein to your homemade mac and cheese to make it a more complete comforting meal? If so, this Homemade Hamburger Helper with Velveeta is a great recipe for you!

It’s the ultimate comfort food the whole family will love. Using simple pantry staples you can have an easy meal for busy weeknights. 

(A quick note: If you have a gluten-free family member, you can make the pasta recipe gluten-free by using gluten-free pasta. All other ingredients are gluten-free.)

When we first came up with this easy recipe, we started with my classic homemade mac and cheese, and alongside it added what we call “steak burger” for extra protein. One of my kids, who had never tried traditional Hamburger Helper, mixed his noodles and burger together and excitedly told us how good it was. 

That simple mix sparked the idea for our own homemade version of Hamburger Helper and has become a family favorite.

Now, we sometimes make the components separately so everyone can customize their bowl just the way they like it. You might say, “Mama, that’s not Hamburger Helper!” But for us, it’s easier to please all the picky eaters. 

I will show you how to make it both ways. It’s really simple no matter what way you want to make it.

Are you ready for an easy weeknight dinner? If so let’s dive into our homemade version of Hamburger Helper that’s oh-so-good!

Simple Ingredients

• 4 cups of elbow macaroni
• 16 oz. Velveeta cheese (or the great value brand works too for the cheese sauce)
• 1 tablespoon of butter
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 cup of milk
• 2 pounds of lean ground beef
• 1 tablespoon of Famous Daves Steak and Burger Seasoning
• Salt and black pepper to taste

Kitchen Equipment

• Large pot or Dutch Oven
• Large skillet
• 2 Wooden Spoons
• Strainer
• Beef Chopper

Step by Step Directions To Make It Separately

*The fast and easy method: Make the cheesy pasta in a large pot and the hamburger meat in a large skillet (at the same time). It makes this meal come together very quickly. But if it feels like too much make them one at a time, just add 5-8 minutes to the cook time.

• Prepare Ingredients: Cube the Velveeta and get all of your ingredients prepared to have ready.
• Pasta: In a large pot or Dutch oven boil the macaroni noodles according to the directions on the box. When finished drain. 

• Hamburger meat: While the pasta is cooking, brown ground beef in a large skillet on medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon of Famous Daves Steak and Burger Seasoning. When it’s cooked through, drain the grease and add a dash or two of pepper and salt to taste.

• Cooked Pasta: Add 16 oz. of Velveeta, 1 teaspoon of salt, 1 tablespoon of butter, and 1 cup of milk to your cooked pasta. Stir continuously until the cheese sauce is coating the pasta well. 

• Combine or Keep Separate: Combine the savory ground beef with the cheesy pasta and mix it all together for a classic one-pot meal. Or, keep the components separate by adding the seasoned hamburger meat and cheesy pasta to individual bowls. 

• This way, each family member can enjoy their meal exactly how they like it. For those who prefer their food separated, serve the ground beef and cheesy pasta side by side on a plate—it’s just as delicious!
  Note: In my family, some love the seasoned hamburger meat mixed right into the pasta, while others, especially my picky eaters, like to keep it separate. Keeping the components separate and letting everyone customize their bowl is a great way to make sure everyone’s happy at the table.

One Pot Directions:

• In a large pot or Dutch oven, cook pasta according to the box directions. Drain when done and leave the cooked pasta in a strainer.
• In the pot brown ground beef with Steak and Burger seasoning. When cooked through till there’s no more pink, drain grease.
• Add the cooked pasta, ground meat, Velveeta, salt, milk, and butter to the Dutch oven. Using low to medium heat stir all ingredients together until you have a cheesy sauce coating everything.

• Your perfect one pot dinner is ready to serve.

Variations and additional thoughts

• Use gluten-free pasta to make this easy meal completely gluten-free. (the steak seasoning and alkl other ingredients are gluten-free)
• Try rotini, penne, or cavatappi instead of elbow macaroni if you want to switch up the pasta.
• Opt for whole wheat pasta for a slightly nutty flavor and more fiber.

Pin it For Later

Leave a Comment Below

Let me know what you think about this Easy Velveeta Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe.