This Cheeseburger Skillet recipe is a one-pan meal packed with seasoned ground beef, melty cheese, and tender pasta for a comforting, homemade twist on Hamburger Helper. It takes just 30 minutes to make, it’s full of rich flavors, and perfect for a hearty, family-friendly dinner!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
You’ll love this homemade Cheeseburger Skillet recipe because it’s a healthier take on classic Hamburger Helper, packed with rich, cheesy goodness without the processed ingredients. It comes together quickly in one pan, making cleanup a breeze while delivering cozy, satisfying flavors.
Plus, this cheesy pasta dish is loaded with simple ingredients including lean protein, veggies, and fresh seasonings, so you can enjoy wholesome comfort food. Even the picky eaters will be asking for second helpings of this easy meal.
I love easy dinner recipes like this that come together in under 30 minutes (perfect to have in your back pocket for busy weeknights) AND this one is debatably even tastier the next day! I love the creaminess of the sauce and great flavor that develops as it absorbs into the noodles, making it perfect for meal prep.
Recipe Inspiration
I really enjoy anything hamburger – what’s not to like?!? It’s a classic dish with so many variations – ahem, big mac casserole or my burger bowls (who needs hamburger buns?!), I think smash burgers might be next. This cheeseburger pasta skillet recipe is my latest obsession though and I’m sure you and the whole family love it, too!
Recipe Ingredients
- Ground Beef – I used 90% lean. It may taste less burger-like, but feel free to swap in ground chicken or ground turkey.
- Onion – I used a sweet yellow onion. If you really want to pack in the onion flavor, add up to a teaspoon of onion powder, too.
- Seasonings – Paprika, chili powder, salt and garlic powder.
- Noodles – I used shells but another small pasta like elbow macaroni or bowties are great here!
- Tomato Sauce – Combined with the broth and the milk, this will make our sauce. You can also substitute in 4 oz of tomato paste + 4 oz water mixed together.
- Beef Broth – Or use bone broth instead of beef broth for more protein!
- 1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
- Milk – I used Fairlife whole milk. 2% or milk alternative will work here
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese – A mix of sharp cheddar and white cheddar or American cheese is also a burger classic.
See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
Substitutions and Variations
- Add more veggies – toss in some diced spinach, shredded zucchini, a chopped bell pepper, whatever you’d like to healthify it to your liking!
- Stir in a ½ cup of cottage cheese or cream cheese with the shredded cheese for extra protein & creaminess – note that the cottage cheese curdles will not totally dissolve but it’s okay!! 🙂
How to Make This Recipe
1. Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add oil. Once warmed, add in diced onions and diced carrots (I use my vegetable chopper for even chopping & uniform cooking time)
2. Stir together and sauté for a few minutes. When onions begin to soften, add the pound of ground beef and seasonings. Cook the meat until 90% done.
3. Pour in the tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire, milk and uncooked pasta with the browned meat mixture.
4. Stir all together and cook for 12-18 minutes until most of the broth has evaporated and noodles are cooked **you still want some broth at the bottom to help the cheese melt and make a creamy, cheesy sauce.
5. Continue to stir to avoid the shells sticking to the bottom of the pan.
6. Fold in the cheese (any Schitts Creek references out there?!?) and stir until combined. Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley and pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
PRO TIPS
Don’t let ALL of the broth absorb after you add the noodles as you’ll need some to melt the cheese into to form a sauce. Plus, if you let the pasta cook for too long, it’ll become mushy.
Recipe FAQs
Store your skillet cheeseburger pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 60-90 seconds before enjoying!
Surely! This hamburger skillet without the pasta will resemble more of a sloppy joe mixture, but it’s doable, whether you’re wanting to make it low carb or just don’t have any noodles on hand. If you’re going pasta-less, just use half a cup of broth and half a cup of milk.
Simmering for a bit longer will help some of the liquid evaporate, but don’t leave your pasta on the heat for too long or your noodles will become mushy. If after simmering, your sauce is too liquidy, you can add a slurry of 1-3 teaspoons of arrowroot powder or cornstarch with 1 tbsp of water. Whisk this into the sauce to thicken it up a bit.
Serving suggestions
What’s a cheeseburger without some fries and a drink! If you’re not having a soda (I’ve been loving the Cola Poppi), then whip up a Healthier Copycat Wendy’s Frosty for classic vibes and some Parmesan Carrot Fries to serve with this cheeseburger skillet dinner.
More Recipes You’ll Love
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Cheeseburger Skillet
Equipment
- skillet
- vegetable chopper or knife and cutting board
- cheese grater if cheese is not pre shredded
- Meat masher
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Rubber Spatula
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, finely diced
- 1 large carrot, finely diced
- 1 lbs lean ground beef, 90% lean
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- 10 oz shell noodles, or macaroni noodles or bowtie
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 3 cups beef broth
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- parsley, optional, for garnish
- red pepper flakes, optional, for garnish
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet to medium heat and add oil. Once warmed, add in diced onions and diced carrots (I use my vegetable chopper for even chopping & uniform cooking time).
- Stir together and sauté for a few minutes. When onions begin to soften, add the pound of ground beef and seasonings. Cook the meat until 90% done.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, beef broth, worcestershire, milk and uncooked pasta with the browned meat mixture. Stir all together and cook for 12-18 minutes until most of the broth has evaporated and noodles are cooked **you still want some broth at the bottom to help the cheese melt and make a creamy, cheesy sauce.
- Continue to stir to avoid the shells sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Fold in the cheese (any Schitts Creek references out there?!?) and stir until combined.
- Serve warm, garnished with fresh parsley and pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Video
Notes
Looking for this in MyFitnessPal?
If you’re using MyFitnessPal, search ‘A Paige Of Positivity’ and find Cheeseburger Skillet calories and nutrition facts. Disclaimer: for most accurate macronutrients and caloric breakdown, it is recommended that you input each ingredient into your MyFitnessPal food diary.
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my family loved this recipe!
hamburger helper was one of those meals my mom would never buy but I adored when I got to indulge at a friends’ house growing up. This feels so nostalgic and I can enjoy whenever I want on MY terms. love love LOVE this recipe
This cheeseburger skillet has become a fast favorite in house! It is especially requested over and over by my teenage athlete son, who gobbles this down for good carbs and protein, the added veggies are a plus. So easy for weeknight dinner, but I double for meal prep. Freezes well and in my opinion, one of those recipes that is still SO GOOD the next day when all the ingredients have combined. HUGE WIN HERE! 👏🏼
This was INSANELY good!! A million times better than boxed hamburger helper. I loved the addition of the carrots! The leftovers were also divine. My husband and picky toddler even enjoyed. We will be making again and again!