- In a large skillet or frying pan, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Break it into small pieces as it cooks. Once it’s browned, remove any excess fat.
- Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the ground beef. Sauté for a few minutes until the onion is translucent.
- Stir in the pasta, beef broth, and milk. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 10-12 minutes or until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally.
- Add the diced tomatoes (with their juice) to the skillet and stir in the chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. If you’re using frozen vegetables, add them now.
- Continue to simmer for another 5-7 minutes, or until the mixture thickens and the vegetables (if added) are cooked through.
- Stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until it’s melted and the mixture is creamy.
- Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed. You can add more cheese, chili powder, or other spices to suit your preferences.
- Once everything is heated through and well combined, remove the skillet from the heat.
- Serve your homemade hamburger helper hot, garnished with additional shredded cheese if desired.
Feel free to experiment with different ingredients to create variations of this dish. You can use ground turkey instead of beef, add vegetables like bell peppers or spinach, or spice it up with hot sauce or cayenne pepper for extra kick. Homemade hamburger helper is a versatile dish that you can adapt to your family’s tastes.