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.
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
- 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
- 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.
FAQs & Expert Tips
FAQs
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!
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.
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.
Tips
- Make sure to always check your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.
- 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.
- Make sure when you’re adding the ingredients to scrape the brown bits in the bottom of the instant pot, they add delicious flavor!
- 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.
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.
More Great Recipes To Try
Looking for more recipes? Follow on… My Newsletter Pinterest Facebook Instagram
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Equipment
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
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.
Recipe Notes
- Make sure to always check your manufacturer’s guide for detailed instructions on how to use your instant pot.
- 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.
- Make sure when you’re adding the ingredients to scrape the brown bits in the bottom of the instant pot, they add delicious flavor!
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Glad you guys enjoyed it!
Flavour was good but cheese all stuck to meat making large chunks.
Thanks for this recipe, sounds yummy! Can’t wait to try it!!
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.
Sounds good, but I don’t have an instant-pot. Can this be made on the stove?
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 🙂
Where’s the tips section please? I scrolled, couldn’t find it. Wanted to find alternate cook methods.
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.
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!
Here’s the stovetop version: https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/one-pot-chili-mac-and-cheese/
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
Yep, that’s all you should do. Glad you’re enjoying it. 🙂
The carb counts seems much lower than it should be?
Should be fine now, for some reason the calculator didn’t calculate the pasta.