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Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Homemade hamburger helper lasagna recipe tastes just like the boxed brand version, but with pantry staple ingredients, and it's still a one-pan quick and easy dinner in 30 minutes or less.

cast iron pan of homemade hamburger helper lasagna

This homemade Hamburger Helper recipe, is just as easy as the boxed dinner.

Making it homemade means that you get to avoid a lot of unwanted ingredients. 

Instructions

1. Brown the ground beef in a skillet on medium high heat.

This hamburger helper recipe calls for one pound of ground beef. (You can use half a pound, or increase it to a pound and a half, depending on your family's needs, doing so doesn't affect the sauce consistency.) 

Ground beef browning in a skillet

2. Add the chicken stock, spices and tomato paste.

Stir to combine and bring to a very high simmer until the liquid has reduced by about half, about 5-10 minutes.

Seasonings and chicken stock in a skillet with ground beef and tomato paste.

3. Reduce heat to low, and add the milk and pasta.

Remove the skillet from the direct heat before you add in the milk and pasta, so that the sudden heat doesn't curdle the milk.

Stir to combine, and return to the burner.

Mafalda pasta in a tomato sauce in a skillet.

Simmer on low heat, covered, for about 7-8 minutes, until noodles are al dente.

Don't overcook them, as they can get mushy in the sauce.

Homemade Hamburger helper copycat lasagna flavor in a skillet.

4. Stir in cheese.

Once they've reached al dente, remove the pan from the heat.

Sprinkle in the shredded cheese and gently stir throughout, letting it melt completely. 

Shredded cheese in a tomato sauce with lasagna shaped pasta and hamburger.

Enjoy this classic comfort food for dinner, knowing you're using real, whole ingredients. 

Recipe Notes

  • Mafalda pasta is the kind that resembles the original boxed brand. 
  • If you can't find Mafalda, you can use regular lasagna noodles, broken into 2 inch pieces.
  • If you've used broken lasagna noodles, they'll take a bit longer to cook; refer to the box instructions for al dente time.)

Other copycat inspired recipes you might like to try are below.

📖 Recipe

cast iron pan of homemade hamburger helper lasagna

Hamburger Helper Lasagna

Mafalda pasta with ground beef, in a tomato cheese sauce, cooked in one convenient skillet- just like the boxed brand you grew up with! Recipe can be doubled for a large family size dish.
4.95 from 34 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: hamburger helper lasagna, homemade hamburger helper
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 569kcal
Author: Erin
Cost: $3.10

Ingredients

  • ½ lb ground beef
  • 2 cups chicken stock
  • 3 oz tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon dried basil
  • ½ teaspoon sugar
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2 ½ cups dry uncooked mafalda pasta or broken up lasagna pasta pieces
  • ¼ cup cheddar cheese shredded off block, not pre shredded
  • ¼ cup Parmesan, Monterey jack, or mozzarella cheese shredded off block, not pre shredded
  • salt and pepper to taste see recipe notes below on salt

Instructions

  • In a deep skillet: sauté ground beef (½ lb.) on medium high heat until browned. Drain grease if necessary.
  • To the same pan, still on medium high heat: pour in the chicken stock (2 cups), tomato paste (3 oz. or half of a small can), onion powder (1 tsp.), garlic powder (½ tsp.), dried oregano (1 tsp.), dried basil (1 tsp.) sugar (½ tsp.), and salt (½ tsp.-see note on salt) and pinch of pepper to taste.
  • Stir broth, tomato paste and seasonings until well blended and increase heat to high for 5 minutes until the liquid has reduced by almost half.
  • Reduce heat to low, and temporarily remove the pan from the burner to stop the simmer. Add the dry, uncooked Mafalda pasta (2 ½ cups), give a slight stir, followed by 2 cups milk. Do not overcook it, and do not use higher than medium low heat, as this can curdle the milk.
  • Once the milk has been added, give a quick stir and return the skillet to the burner.
  • Simmer, covered, on low heat about 6-7 minutes for al dente, or according to pasta package time. (See note on pasta cooking time.)
  • When the pasta is done, remove lid and skillet from heat. Stir in shredded cheese (½ cup total- a blend of cheddar and Parmesan, mozzarella or Monterey jack) until melted.
  • Serve immediately, and enjoy.

Notes

For Pasta:
  • Any pasta shape can be used, but Mafalda is the pasta that the boxed Hamburger Helper Lasagna uses.
  • Breaking regular lasagna sheets into 1 inch pieces resembles the pasta also, but note that the cooking time might longer. Refer to package to determine the cooking time for your pasta of choice.
  • Aim for al dente, as pasta will continue to soften in the sauce due to residual heat and moisture. 
For the Salt:
  • Chicken stock often has much less (if any) salt/sodium than chicken broth. They can be used interchangeably, but taste test before adding salt, especially if you are using broth- you may not need any, or not as much. 
Other Notes: 
  • Ground beef can be adjusted from anywhere between one half pound to 1 pound.
  • Recipe can be doubled.  
  • While boiling the stock, tomato paste and spices on medium-high/high heat, the liquid level will reduce and condense; this is normal and necessary to concentrate the flavors. 
  • Use any blend of cheddar, Monterrey Jack, mozzarella, or like cheese to a combined total of ½ cup shredded cheese. 
  • Before adding milk and uncooked pasta, remove the pan from the burner surface to avoid instantly boiling the milk. Stir in the pasta first (this automatically reduces the temperature), then stir in the milk. This way, the milk gradually comes to a simmer as you return the skillet to burner to simmer on medium low until pasta is al dente. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 569kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 22g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 579mg | Potassium: 824mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 647IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 305mg | Iron: 3mg
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Recipe Rating




Dawn

Tuesday 19th of March 2024

Took much longer to cook the broken lasagna noodles but it is really good.

Thank you so much for sharing the recipe. Perfect comfort food.

Debra

Saturday 16th of March 2024

Back in the day…70’s…hamburger helper was expensive to me. I browned the meat, added a starch like potatoes pasta or rice. Then I added a can of soup with 2 cans of water. Now a days I see recipes like yours that is great. Anyway, different soups and starches give different meals. I taught this to my sister and she raised her kids on it as well. Enjoy

Debra

Saturday 16th of March 2024

Ps….can also use tuna or chicken for same effect

Brittany

Saturday 9th of March 2024

This is our favorite go to meal and the ONLY homemade hamburger helper version we like. Simple to make and uses ingredients you most likely already have at home.

Jess B

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

With the amount of broth and milk being added you need to simmer at medium/high heat to reduce. The reason so many are having issues with it being watered down is the heat. Id you use a higher fat content milk like half and half or heavy cream and brought to room temp its less likely to curdle. Once you've added the pasta, keep it at medium to high heat and watch it. Once it has reduced by half or a little more reduced the heat to low medium and add more cream as needed and your cheese take it off the heat, and let the cheese melt on its own away from the burner. (I rated this two stars, because the instructions are not very correct for the amount of liquids added in)

Katie

Thursday 11th of January 2024

Nothing like the real thing. Super bland. Way too much milk. Incredibly disappointed. 🥲