Can any pasta shape be used?

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.

After sauteeing the ground beef, should I drain off excess oil?

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.

Can I use a different type of cheese, like Velveeta?

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.

Can I add more than 1 pound of meat?

Yes, you can add up to 2 pounds of ground beef if you want the meal to have more protein.

Can I use frozen ground beef?

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.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

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.

Can I use egg noodles instead to make hamburger helper stroganoff?

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.

Instant Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper

Name: Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 5 min
Total time: 10 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 2 tablespoons sunflower or vegetable oil; 1 pound ground beef (or other type of ground meat); 2 teaspoons garlic powder; 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika; 1/4 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

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

A bowl of elbow macaroni cooked with ground beef.

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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

Author: Jenny
Prep Time: 5
Cook Time: 5
Total Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 6 servings 1x
Category: Instant Pot
Method: Instant Pot
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

Units Scale

2 tablespoons sunflower or vegetable oil
1 pound ground beef (or other type of ground meat)
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 cups water
1/3 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard (regular or stone ground)
16 ounces (one box) elbow macaroni
1/3 cup sour cream, plus more to taste
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese, plus more to taste

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

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.

Find it online: https://www.kitchenskip.com/instant-pot-hamburger-helper/