This Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni is ready in about the same time as the boxed mix. A family favorite, this one pot meal is meaty and cheesy and full of flavor!
I have found that the combination of ground beef, pasta and cheese seems to be the magical equation to ensure everyone, even those picky kids will enjoy dinner!
This weeknight dinner recipe is proof of it. The other magical recipe we make often is the Instant Pot Taco Pasta.
Because this cheeseburger macaroni recipe is prepared in the Instant Pot, it is ready in not time and makes a fabulous weeknight meal.
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Don't you just love a one pot pasta recipe? Only one pot to clean up!
🥘Ingredients
This cheeseburger macaroni recipe is great because most of the ingredients are common items you probably have on hand.
- Oil - Use something with a high smoke point like vegetable, avocado or coconut oil
- Meat - Lean ground beef is preferred but you could lighten this up with ground turkey
- Pasta - A short pasta like elbow macaroni or small to medium shell
- Produce - Onion and garlic
- Flavor Makers - Worcestershire sauce, dry thyme, salt, pepper, tomato paste
- Liquid - Beef broth
- Cheese - Shredded cheddar or cheddar blend
See recipe card down below for complete list and measurements.
🔪Instructions
- Start by browning the ground beef and softening the onion and garlic.
- This first step is done with the Instant Pot set to sauté mode.
- Next, season the meat mixture with the salt, pepper, thyme and Worcestershire sauce and then stir in the tomato paste.
- Deglaze the Instant Pot with a small amount of the broth and then add the remaining liquid.
- Add the macaroni to the pot. Don't stir in the macaroni but rather gently push it into the liquid.
- Cancel the saute mode, cover and seal the Instant Pot and pressure cook.
- Quick release to vent out all the steam.
- Stir in cheese and serve
🍽️Equipment
- Electric Pressure Cooker - The one I have been using since 2017 and I highly recommend is the Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1.
If you don't have an Instant Pot / Pressure Cooker, and are looking for a Crockpot meal instead, try this Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper recipe.
🥗Side dishes
Because this is a quick and easy weeknight meal, I typically serve this homemade hamburger helper on its own but if you'd like to add a side dish, here are some ideas.
- Side salad
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread
- Garlicky Green Beans
❓FAQ
It means adding a small amount of liquid to loosen food particles from the bottom of the pot.
Printable Recipe Card
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Mac / Copy Cat Hamburger Helper
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon oil something high smoke point, avocado, vegetable or coconut oil
- 1 Pound lean ground beef
- ½ Cup diced sweet onion
- 2 Cloves garlic minced
- 1 Teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ Teaspoon black pepper freshly cracked
- ½ Teaspoon dry thyme
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 Cup beef broth OR 3 C beef broth + 1 C water
- 2 Cup shredded cheddar cheese or cheddar blend
- 16 Ounces elbow macaroni dry
Instructions
- Set to IP to saute mode. Add the oil. When preheated, add in ground beef and cook, breaking up as it cooks. Add in onion and garlic and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, just until softened.
- Season with salt, pepper, thyme and Worcestershire sauce.
- Stir in tomato paste. Pour in ¼ cup of the broth to deglaze the pot. Scrape all the bits off the bottom with a wooden spoon or similar. Add in the remaining liquid.
- Add the macaroni to the pot. Rather than stir it in, gently push it in just so it is all in the liquid. Cancel saute mode.
- Lock lid into place and seal valve. Using manual button set time to 5 minutes (high pressure).
- After 5 minutes are up, quick release the steam. Remove cover and stir in half the cheese. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and place cover, not locked, back on pot for 2 minutes to help the cheese melt. Serve while warm.
Pat Williams says
How mush macaroni??
foodyschmoody says
16 oz! Sorry. You know, it's funny, before I hit publish on this recipe, I felt like it was missing something and looked it over so many times but just couldn't figure out what was missing. Thanks for the head's up. I've fixed the recipe to include the macaroni.
Shaina says
If I only have a can of diced tomatoes on hand, could that somehow replace the tom paste? Maybe 1/2 cup of tom and not use as much water? Thanks!
foodyschmoody says
you will end up with a much wetter version. The paste really binds this all together. Personally, I think the taste would be fine but the end result will be a significantly different texture.
Mama Missy says
Is it not necessary to drain the grease from the hamburger before adding the other ingredients? Seems like there would be a lot of grease leftover.
foodyschmoody says
I've made it my practice to use really lean beef. This way I can avoid having to drain the grease as there isn't an excess. If you aren't using lean beef, then yes, I would drain it. Enjoy!
Mary says
Help! I have frozen ground beef! What can I do?
foodyschmoody says
I have not made this recipe using frozen. I suppose, in a pinch, you could cook your ground beef first in the IP and then follow the rest of the recipe. The only problem is, then you're not really making a quick meal. You could cook your frozen ground beef by placing 1 C water in the IP, place the frozen ground beef on a trivet over the water and set to 25 min manual high pressure. Then you could drain the grease and go from there.
Pat says
This has great flavor. It taste like hamburger helper. I used this as a pantry recipe since I usually have all the ingredients on hand. Well I only had half the macaroni and half the cheddar. I supplemented the cheese with other cheese I had on hand and since I had half the mac I reduced to half the liquid. I shouldn't have reduced so much. Still tasted good but my mac was under hydrated.
Anemkiikwa says
This was awesome!!! I used 3T of tomato paste, and 1/2 the cheese I used mango habanero cheddar(because I didn’t have sharp cheddar). Tasted phenomenal. Any kid will love this!
foodyschmoody says
Awesome to hear! Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the review!
Sue Hoffman says
I made this tonight and it was a hit!!! Thank you!
foodyschmoody says
Awesome!
Megan says
This was the first recipe I chose to make in my new instant pot. I was a bit nervous about it but it was absolutely fabulous, thank you for helping with my instant pot fears :). It's the bests cheeseburger mac I've ever made, even better than the normal stove top versions. Great job!
foodyschmoody says
Yay! Welcome to life w/ an Instant Pot! I'm so happy you had a good first recipe! If you enjoyed this one, you should, for sure, try out the taco pasta I have too! It's a favorite. Enjoy!
Sharon says
I've made this twice. Once exactly as the recipe stated and it was very tasty and fast but just a little dry. The second time I added a can of cream of mushroom soup and about 1/4 cup of water to the cooked meat right before adding the broth and cooked according to directions. The taste really didn't change that much but it made the texture a little more creamy and kept it from getting quite so dry. The family enjoyed both versions.
Charles says
If i want to double this recipe to make twice as much, how does this affect my cooking time as well as the amount of cooking liquid i need?
foodyschmoody says
I have not actually doubled this recipe so I can't say absolutely but I know in a similar recipe, my Instant Pot Taco Pasta, readers have reported doubling all ingredients but using the same cook time. That recipe is similar in that it's ground beef and pasta so I think it would work out the same for this.
Libby says
Do you know how I could do this with gluten free pasta? Would the liquid amount or time change? Made this last night with ground turkey in place of beef and even my pickiest kiddo gobbled it up!
foodyschmoody says
I'm sorry, I haven't experimented w/ gluten free pasta in the IP as of yet. If you make it work, I'd love to hear!
Dawn says
I haven't tried this recipe but I did try gluten free pasta (corn) in another recipe and it turned out fabulous. Better than stove top texture wise. I'm going to try brown rice pasta with this one.
Greg says
It’s a totally successful recipe. Worked like a charm.
foodyschmoody says
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it!
Heather says
Made this last night and everyone loved it!
Hubby and two boys all had three servings each. which never happens! Increased garlic to 4 cloves and decreased cheese by 1/4 cup. Mix of sharp cheddar and mex blend. Deliciousness! Will definitely make again.
foodyschmoody says
Awesome to hear!
Caitlin H. says
This meal was super quick and easy! My fiancé loved it, and he tends to be kind of picky. I will use less garlic next time, as I thought it was a bit overpowering for my preference. Otherwise it was delicious!
Jennifer says
This was delicious! I cooked exactly as written and it was great as-is. Once done, I decided I wanted mine to be a little creamier so stirred in about a half cup of heavy cream. Fantastic and will replace my other hamburger helper recipe! Thank you!
foodyschmoody says
Mmmm, I'll have to try the addition of heavy cream too! Sounds fab. So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Stacy says
This is definitely a keeper! I made it as written, but used gluten free pasta and it was so flavorful!
foodyschmoody says
Great! The gluten free pasta cooked the same time?
Wendy Morrison says
With the gluten free pasta, was the cook time still 5 minutes? Thanks!!
Jennifer Kerr says
So this is my first instapot dish. You say press cancel on sauté, add everything, and then manual 5 min. Manual what? Pressure cook? Sauté? I don’t know what to push!
foodyschmoody says
My Instant Pot has a button labeled "manual". It's just high pressure with the ability to manually adjust the cook time. Which model of Instant Pot are you using? Perhaps your model is different?
Jennifer Kerr says
Ah, there is a pressure cooker button so that is it. 🙂 I made it and it worked out nicely! thanks!
Carol says
Can I use zucchini noodles instead of pasta and what would the liquid be then
foodyschmoody says
I have not used zucchini noodles in this recipe. My fear would be the noodles turning to mush being cooked under pressure. Please do let me know if you try this!
Olivia Stefek says
This was a lovely meal. Perfect for when there is little energy left at the end of the day to cook a meal.
Will make this again for sure!
Thanks
foodyschmoody says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nikki B says
Delish! My family loved it. So quick and such an easy meal for those nights we have sports etc
foodyschmoody says
So glad you enjoyed it! We have more of "those" nights than not these days!
Paul K says
Awesome dinner, thank you so much! Made exactly as directed and turned out great, kids loved it.
foodyschmoody says
Glad you and the family enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to come back and rate it! 🙂
Lil says
Love this recipe! It turned out great! I made 2 batches, next time I will try and dbl and hopefully it will all fit in the 6 quart pot. So easy and tasty!!
foodyschmoody says
So glad you enjoyed it!
Joanna says
Any chance you'd have tips to modify this to normal slow cooker recipe?
foodyschmoody says
Hmmm, I've never attempted to do this. My best guess would be to brown the meat and place it in the slow cooker. I have always had better luck boiling pasta for 2-3 minutes prior to adding to slow cooker, so I would do that. Then add the pasta and all other ingredients (except the cheese) and cook about 4 hours and then stir in cheese. If you try it, I'd love to know the results.
Joanna says
I actually ended up attempting tonight! I basically did steps 1-5 in a pan on the stove. Then added dry pasta to the slow cooker. Drained the excess grease from the pan, poured beef broth, water and tomato paste on top of the pasta in the slow cooker and mixed. Cooked on high for maybe 2-ish hours. I tried to keep an eye on the pasta, which took some time and I accidentally let it get a little too done but definitely still edible. Added cheese in two batches as described in the original recipe and pulled it from the slow cooker so the pasta would stop cooking.
All in all, worked out pretty well. Thanks for the recipe!
Chris says
Delicious. I had frozen leftover broth from a Mississippi roast that I used. Plus som water.
Lily says
Wonderful quick meal! Kids and us parents loved it! Liquid disappeared once cheese was added etc. Doubled the recipe. Thanks!!!
foodyschmoody says
Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for the feedback!
Kim says
Really good. I added about a cup of marinara sauce. Will make it again & again & again
foodyschmoody says
Glad you enjoyed it!
Andi says
Found this recipe in a Facebook IP group and so happy I did. It’s delicious and super easy to make. I followed the recipe to a T, just added half gluten free pasta as I didn’t have enough elbow macaroni. Came out perfect! My husband went back for thirds. lol. Will definitely be putting this in my favorites. Love how little time it took to make. I’m off to check out your other recipes. Thank you!
foodyschmoody says
So happy you enjoyed it!
Sian says
I made this two days ago and it was, hands down, the most delicious thing yet to come out of my Instant Pot. So good it’s ridiculous! My whole family thanks you !!
foodyschmoody says
So glad you liked it!!!
Heather says
This was so delicious! I switched out the regular pasta for gluten free rice & corn elbow pasta, cooked it for the same amount of time, and it turned out perfect.
Alan Long says
This was one of those recipes that seemed easier to just cook on the stovetop to me. It took about the same time and only used one pot. I used Dreamfields Rotini instead of elbows to save carbs. It was delicious!
Brian says
This is a frequent go to meal for us. I swap oregano for the thyme, add smoked paprika, chipotle powder and a dash of chili powder. Thanks
Greg says
Those are great ideas.. will do so next time.
Jan says
This was awesome. I can’t wait to eat the leftovers if my husband doesn’t beat me to it!
Marie-Josee says
Simple, rapide et délicieux!
Greg says
Damn, lots of hamburger helper hacks on Pinterest suck. Not this one, I did add quarter cup of heavy cream, 1/4 cup freshly diced jalapeños with onions and some red pepper flakes but it’s perfect. I’ll make this til the day I die. Thank you so much.
foodyschmoody says
So glad you enjoyed it! And I like the additions you made!
Mel says
I’m just learning how to use the pressure cooker type thing. I own the Hamilton beach multi function one so it’s similar to a Instapot just doesn’t bake and a few different buttons.
Anyways onto my review, making this recipe was really easy and simple. The downside to the recipe is it’s a tad dry and also VERY BLAND. So if you make it be prepared to add extra spices onto your liking before you close the lid. Besides that it was good once I added flavouring to my bowl ,
Derek says
I made the recipe but I found it without flavour. I don't understand why as there are very good spices in the recipe. I had to add hot sauce just to give it something. I may have to try what other people added.
foodyschmoody says
I'm sorry to hear this. Can I ask, did you substitute any ingredients or did you follow it exact?
Michele Lee says
I’ve made this before but I do not have elbows can I substitute with a different pasta?
foodyschmoody says
Yes, I've made it w/ several different short pastas. Depending on what pasta shapes you have, the cook time may need to be changed by a minute or two. A good rule of thumb w/ Instant Pot pasta is the cook time is usually half of what the cook time listed on the box is. I actually like my pasta al dente so I will do half the box time minus a minute. Let me know how it turns out and which pasta you use!
Lisa says
I absolutely love this dish!! I will never make hamburger helper again!!
Lisa says
I absolutely love this dish!! I will never make hamburger helper again!! My children even loved it in the instapot!
foodyschmoody says
So glad! This is one of the few my kids will eat too! They also love the IP Taco Pasta, sort of similar idea.
Amanda says
So my husband hates ground turkey. I accidentally took out ground turkey instead of hamburger meat and thought, what in the world am I going to do with this?! Well I found this recipe. Husband didn’t even realize it was ground turkey
I didn’t have tomato paste so just left out.
I also added much more seasoning as I was working with ground turkey lol. Kids and hubby loved it. Thank you!
foodyschmoody says
Thanks so much for sharing your story w/ me! I'm so glad it worked out for you!
Barb Johnsen says
Can I substitute chicken broth for the beef broth? I have made this recipe several times and it is delicious.
foodyschmoody says
Yes, have subbed in chicken broth and even vegetable broth in a pinch.
kenna says
do i use uncooked macaroni? last time i did in another recipe the noodles ended up uncooked
foodyschmoody says
Yes, the pasta goes in uncooked and will cook during the pressure cooking. Enjoy.
Lynne says
Is it possible to cut recipe in half? Would the cook time be the same?
foodyschmoody says
Yes, you absolutely can halve this recipe. Yes, cook time will remain the same. I haven't done it w/ this recipe specifically but my IP taco pasta is the same concept (ground beef, pasta, broth) and that recipe is written for 8 oz pasta etc. so I imagine this would be the same.
Amber says
We’ve made this so many times and absolutely love love it! I add extra onion but otherwise follow the recipe. Thanks for sharing with us 🙂
foodyschmoody says
Barb says
Was really good I did double the onion and garlic, added paprika, Ted pepper flakes, and cayenne, all to taste. I will be making this again. Thanks for sharing.
Nicole says
I want to make 1/2 the recipe. So obviously I cut everything in 1/2. Would I cut the broth in 1/2 too? As I’ve known you don’t on some recipes!
foodyschmoody says
Hi Nicole, I have not halved this recipe myself but my best advice would be to half the ingredients, however, keep the cook time the pressure cook time the same.
Sarah says
This is one of family favorites. We make it at least twice a month. We use different cheeses and it gives it a whole new flavor. Thank you so much!
foodyschmoody says
Oh that's great!