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Dinner Instant Pot 30 Minutes or Less Beef
4.5 from 53 votes

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Jump to RecipePrintRate
By: Joanna Cismaru •1/18/23 15 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

pin for instant pot hamburger helper.

Who needs the box when you can have this homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper on your table in less than 25 minutes! Easy, delicious comfort food made entirely in one pot.

hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.
Table of Contents Open
  • Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
  • Ingredient Notes
  • How To Make Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
  • Frequently Asked Questions
    • What Else Can I Add?
    • Do I Have To Use Elbow Macaroni?
    • Can I Make This In Advance?
  • Tips
  • Storing Leftovers
  • Freezing
  • More Great Recipes To Try
  • Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Equipment
    • Notes
    • Nutrition Information
  • Did You Make This?

If you know me, you know I say homemade is ALWAYS better! While many think buying boxed food is much easier than making it yourself, that isn’t always true!

My Instant Pot Hamburger Helper recipe requires a short list of simple, kitchen staple ingredients, 23 minutes of your time, and is much more flavorful than the boxed version. After trying this homemade hamburger helper, you’ll never go back to the box again!

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

  • You Know Exactly What’s In It
  • Fast & Easy, Only 23 Minutes, One Pot Meal
  • Uses Simple Ingredients
  • Tons of flavour!
  • Delicious Comfort Food Dish Your Family Will Love!

The thing I like most about homemade versions of our favorite comfort foods, is that you know EXACTLY what’s going into it. There are no additives or preservatives, no mystery ingredients, just deliciousness here! Creamy, cheesy and undeniably delectable, this one pot meal requires very little prep, minimal cleanup and is a dish your entire family will flock to the table for.

Ingredient Notes

overhead shot of all the ingredients needed to make hamburger helper.
  • Olive Oil – Substitute sunflower, safflower, or avocado oil.
  • Onion and Garlic – Essential flavor enhancers to any dish.
  • Ground Beef – I used extra lean ground beef.
  • Seasoning – Oregano, chili powder, salt and pepper.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – This is going to add a nice, rich deep flavor and color.
  • Beef Broth – I always use low sodium to control the salt levels.
  • Milk – Any type will work, dairy or non dairy.
  • Pasta – I used elbow macaroni, feel free to use your noodle of preference.
  • Cheese – I used cheddar cheese, shredded. Feel free to use your preference or a combination of cheese.
  • Parsley – Fresh parsley, chopped

How To Make Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

process shots showing how to make hamburger helper in the instant pot.
  1. Prep Instant Pot: Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.)
  2. Cook Beef: Add the olive oil to the instant pot and heat. Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and break up the beef with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.
  3. Add Ingredients: Add the oregano, chili powder, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, broth, milk and elbow macaroni. Stir well, scraping the bottom to remove any stuck bits. Close the lid. Cook on high pressure (Manual setting) for 5 minutes.
  4. Finish and Serve: Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, quick release the pressure and stir well. Stir in the cheese and garnish with parsley. Serve.
process shots showing how to finish hamburger helper in the instant pot.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Else Can I Add?

Feel free to play around with seasonings, herbs, etc. This is also a great recipe to sneak a few veggies into! The best part about making your own hamburger helper is you can make it however you want!

Do I Have To Use Elbow Macaroni?

Nope! You can use any noodle you prefer! Keep in mind some noodles may take longer to cook or vice versa. But most can be easily substituted.

Can I Make This In Advance?

Absolutely! This is a great recipe to make in advance. Even though it only takes 23 minutes, sometimes we don’t have time for that. This instant pot hamburger helper can be made in advance and frozen for future meals! Scroll down to “freezing” section for full instructions.

hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.

Tips

  1. Make sure to always check your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.
  2. Just because the boxed version has multiple variations, doesn’t mean I don’t! Check out my Three Cheese Hamburger Helper, Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper, or One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna for some more inspiration.
  3. Make sure when you’re adding the ingredients to scrape the brown bits in the bottom of the instant pot, they add delicious flavor!
  4. Play around with cheeses, spices etc to make this dish your own. There are a ton of variations you can make with this base recipe.
hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.

Storing Leftovers

This instant pot hamburger helper is just as delicious the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 – 4 days.

Freezing

If you want to freeze your leftovers, let them cool completely then freeze in an airtight container. Your instant pot hamburger helper will stay fresh for up to 3 months if stored properly.

hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.

More Great Recipes To Try

  • Three Cheese Hamburger Helper
  • Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Instant Pot Chicken And Rice
  • Skillet Shepherd’s Pie
  • Instant Pot Baked Beans
  • Two Ingredient Fat Free Lemon Bars
  • Instant Pot Creamy Ranch Chicken

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.
Print
4.46 from 53 votes

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Prep 15 minutes minutes
Cook 8 minutes minutes
Total 23 minutes minutes
Rate Recipe
Who needs the box when you can have this homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper on your table in less than 25 minutes! Easy, delicious comfort food made entirely in one pot.
6

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 large onion (chopped)
  • 1 pound ground beef (extra lean)
  • 3 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1 tablespoon chili powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • ½ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 pound elbow macaroni
  • 3 cups cheddar cheese (shredded)
  • 2 tablespoon fresh parsley (chopped)

Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.

Instructions 

  • Prep Instant Pot: Turn your Instant Pot to the saute setting. (See your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.)
  • Cook Beef: Add the olive oil to the instant pot and heat. Add the ground beef, onion and garlic and break up the beef with a wooden spoon. Cook for about 3 minutes or until the meat is no longer pink.
  • Add Ingredients: Add the oregano, chili powder, salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, broth, milk and elbow macaroni. Stir well, scraping the bottom to remove any stuck bits. Close the lid. Cook on high pressure (Manual setting) for 5 minutes.
  • Finish and Serve: Once the Instant Pot cycle is complete, quick release the pressure and stir well. Stir in the cheese and garnish with parsley. Serve.

Equipment

  • Instant Pot – 6 Quart

Notes

  1. Make sure to always check your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.
  2. Just because the boxed version has multiple variations, doesn’t mean I don’t! Check out my Three Cheese Hamburger Helper, Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper, or One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna for some more inspiration.
  3. Make sure when you’re adding the ingredients to scrape the brown bits in the bottom of the instant pot, they add delicious flavor!
  4. Play around with cheeses, spices etc to make this dish your own. There are a ton of variations you can make with this base recipe.
  5. This instant pot hamburger helper is just as delicious the next day! Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 – 4 days.
  6. If you want to freeze your leftovers, let them cool completely then freeze in an airtight container. Your instant pot hamburger helper will stay fresh for up to 3 months if stored properly.

Nutrition Information

Serving: 1servingCalories: 717kcal (36%)Carbohydrates: 64g (21%)Protein: 44g (88%)Fat: 31g (48%)Saturated Fat: 16g (100%)Trans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 113mg (38%)Sodium: 962mg (42%)Potassium: 945mg (27%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 6g (7%)Vitamin A: 1149IU (23%)Vitamin C: 4mg (5%)Calcium: 502mg (50%)Iron: 4mg (22%)

Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.

hamburger helper in a bowl with a serving spoon inside.

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Joanna Cismaru

Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Through Jo Cooks, I invite you to join me in my kitchen as we explore delicious recipes from around the globe, celebrate the joy of cooking, and make every meal a memorable one. Happy cooking!

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15 Comments
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Jennifer
Jennifer
Posted: 10 months ago

5 stars
This was so flavorful and all of my kids loved it. I absolutely loved how quickly I was able to make this. Perfect for a busy day.

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Jennifer
Posted: 10 months ago

Glad you guys enjoyed it!

0
Reply
Carrie
Carrie
Posted: 11 months ago

4 stars
Flavour was good but cheese all stuck to meat making large chunks.

0
Reply
Carmen Montmarquet
Carmen Montmarquet
Posted: 2 years ago

Thanks for this recipe, sounds yummy! Can’t wait to try it!!

0
Reply
Sandy Aman
Sandy Aman
Posted: 2 years ago

5 stars
Great recipe. Very flavorful. Next time will half the recipe. Made enough for 2 more meals for the two of us. Will freeze the leftovers and see how they turn out.

0
Reply
Karen Perkins
Karen Perkins
Posted: 2 years ago

Sounds good, but I don’t have an instant-pot. Can this be made on the stove?

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Karen Perkins
Posted: 2 years ago

Absolutely! There are links to the different variations we’ve made without the instant pot right in the “tips” section. You can browse those and choose your favorite 🙂

0
Reply
Macy
Macy
Reply to  Jo Cooks Team
Posted: 2 years ago

Where’s the tips section please? I scrolled, couldn’t find it. Wanted to find alternate cook methods.

0
Reply
Jo Cooks Team
Jo Cooks Team
Reply to  Macy
Posted: 2 years ago

Right in the post there is an “FAQs & Expert Tips” section. It is just underneath the “how to make” section in the blog post itself.

0
Reply
Sandra D
Sandra D
Posted: 2 years ago

I love chili mac Hamburger Helper. I don’t have an instant pot, though. I can probably figure out how to do it on the stovetop!

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Sandra D
Posted: 2 years ago

Here’s the stovetop version: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/one-pot-chili-mac-and-cheese/

0
Reply
Lace M
Lace M
Reply to  Joanna Cismaru
Posted: 2 years ago

Hi! I’m working my way through your cookbook download and LOVING the recipes! Anyway, do I just double all the ingredients to double this recipe? Thanks

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Lace M
Posted: 2 years ago

Yep, that’s all you should do. Glad you’re enjoying it. 🙂

0
Reply
Carol
Carol
Posted: 2 years ago

The carb counts seems much lower than it should be?

0
Reply
Joanna Cismaru
Joanna Cismaru
Author
Reply to  Carol
Posted: 2 years ago

Should be fine now, for some reason the calculator didn’t calculate the pasta.

0
Reply

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I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is the place where I share my passion for easy and delicious recipes. From comforting classics to global flavors, I believe that cooking should be fun, approachable, and most importantly, rewarding. Join me on this culinary journey and let’s get cooking!

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