This is the best and easiest recipe for Instant Pot homemade hamburger helper made with just a handful of simple ingredients and no-prep work. A combination of macaroni, ground beef, creamy cheese and mild spices will satisfy a craving for the hamburger helper of your childhood.
This homemade version of hamburger helper is a convenient meal and has a wholesome flavor that is so much better than the boxed stuff.
Put this recipe for one-pot hamburger helper into your easy meal rotation! Just saute meat, combine the rest of the ingredients and cook the noodles for 5 minutes. You'll get flavorful ground meat and tender noodles in a creamy, cheesy sauce with classic hamburger helper flavor.
Looking for more classic childhood recipes and comfort food that you can make in your pressure cooker? Try Instant Pot tuna casserole or Instant Pot mac n cheese.
Looking for more ground beef recipes? Try baked beans with ground beef or Instant Pot bowtie pasta.
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Ingredients and Substitutions
Macaroni: Elbow macaroni is the classic choice and for good reason. The rounded tube shape fills with sauce so that every bite is creamy and flavorful.
However, you can substitute other pasta shapes that cook for the same amount of time, like penne or bowtie pasta.
Ground beef: Choose extra-lean ground beef so you don't have to drain off excess grease.
You can substitute any type of ground meat, such as ground turkey, ground chicken, ground pork or plant-based ground "meat."
Dijon mustard and ketchup: These two condiments are one of the reasons this dish is sometimes called cheeseburger macaroni with beef. Don't skip either one (although you can substitute plain yellow mustard) because they add a sweet, tangy flavor with subtle spice flavor.
Some recipes add tomato sauce, but I think that tomato sauce turns this dish into something closer to goulash. Ketchup adds tomato flavor without overpowering the cheese and sour cream.
Sour cream: A must-have ingredient to make this pasta creamy. In a pinch, you can substistute ½ cup of heavy cream.
Shredded cheese: Cheddar is the best choice, but you can also use a combination of shredded cheddar and small cubes of Velveeta American cheese for a very creamy combination.
Seasonings: Smoked paprika, garlic powder and chili powder add a mild smoky flavor that enhances the ground beef.
Water: I use water to cook the pasta for cost and simplicity, but you can substitute beef broth for more flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
This is a great meal for the whole family. It's especially good for busy weeknights because the cooking process is quick and easy.
Step 1: Saute the ground meat until no longer pink. Season with garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and salt.
Step 2: Add water, ketchup, Dijon mustard and elbow macaroni
Step 3: Cook for 5 minutes on high pressure, instant release
Step 4: Stir in sour cream and grated cheddar cheese
See recipe card below for exact measurements and ingredient amounts
Hamburger Helper Sides
This is a one-pot meal, but if you're looking for hamburger helper sides there are a several easy options.
- French fries or tater tots
- Fruit salad or sliced melon
- Butter and rolls
- Pickles
- Green salad
- Corn on the cob
Recipe FAQ
Elbow macaroni is the best choice for this recipe, however, you can substitute other pasta shapes that cook for the same amount of time, like penne or bowtie pasta.
The extra fat that ground beef releases does make the pasta slightly more oily. After the meat cooks, use potholders to lift the pressure cooker insert out and carefully pour off extra grease.
Yes, you can use other types of cheese instead of cheddar. Velveeta melts incredibly well and will bring the flavor of the dish even closer to the boxed version.
Yes, you can add up to 2 pounds of ground beef if you want the meal to have more protein.
No, frozen ground beef won't work for this recipe. The ground beef needs to be almost fully cooked before the macaroni is added and Instant Pot is set to cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
Yes, you can make this recipe with plant-based ground meat or simply leave out the ground meat. To add more vegetables, saute mushrooms instead of meat and/or stir in frozen peas after the pasta is cooked.
Hamburger Helper Stroganoff is a dish that is usually made with egg noodles and cream of mushroom soup. This recipe can be turned into a stroganoff of sorts by using egg noodles, however, Instant Pot egg noodles only need to be cooked for 2 minutes.
More Instant Pot Pasta Recipes
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
The best and easiest recipe for Instant Pot hamburger helper, made with just a handful of simple ingredients.
Total Instant Pot Cooking Time: 13 minutes to reach pressure + 5 minute cooking time + instant release
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 5
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings
- Category: Instant Pot
- Method: Instant Pot
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons sunflower or vegetable oil
- 1 pound ground beef (or other type of ground meat)
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 4 cups water
- ⅓ cup ketchup
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (regular or stone ground)
- 16 ounces (one box) elbow macaroni
- ⅓ cup sour cream, plus more to taste
- 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus more to taste
Instructions
- Press the saute button and warm the oil.
- Add the ground meat.
- Saute the meat until it is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. As the meat cooks, season it with garlic powder, smoked paprika, chili powder and salt. Use a spatula or spoon to break the meat into small pieces.
- If necessary, drain off excess oil.
- Add water, ketchup and mustard. Mix well.
- Add the macaroni. Stir again. Make sure all of the noodles are submerged in the water.
- Secure the lid and program the Instant Pot to cook for 5 minutes on high pressure.
- When the cooking time is complete, instantly release the pressure.
- Mix the pasta really well, using a rubber spatula to scrape up any sauce that is on the bottom of the pot.
- Stir in sour cream and cheddar. Add salt to taste. Add more sour cream and cheese to taste.
- Transfer the hamburger helper to another dish as soon as possible. It will continue to cook if left in the warm pressure cooker, and you don’t want the noodles to get too soft.
Notes
This recipe was tested in a 6-quart Instant Pot
You can add as much sour cream and cheddar cheese as you like.
This meal will keep for up to 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It's decent cold, but tastes best if reheated in the microwave. After reheating the leftovers, you might want to add an extra spoonful of sour cream for moisture and more salt and a grind of black pepper to punch up the flavor. This dish can be frozen for up to 3 months if necessary, but the texture of the pasta will be softer when defrosted.
Jenny says
Easy comfort food!