Homemade Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper

 

Who doesn't love the Cheeseburger version of Hamburger Helper?  It's hands down my favorite one but one look at the ingredient list and that's a hard no for us.  

This homemade version is so much healthier.  You can control the salt, the quality of the ingredients and still have all of the gooey, cheesy, comfort food you're looking for.

1 pound ground beef

1 white onion, diced

1 heaping tsp. onion powder

5 cloves garlic, minced (or however much your heart tells you to use)

2 Tablespoons flour

4 cups beef broth

1 (8oz) can tomato sauce

1 heaping tsp. Italian seasoning

1 heaping tsp. seasoned salt

1/2 heaping tsp. smoked paprika

1/2 heaping tsp. garlic powder

17.6oz penne pasta (weird amount...it's just what Costco carries)

1/2 cup heavy cream or half n half

3 cups shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

In a large pot with a lid, brown the ground beef over medium heat.  Add a generous sprinkle of salt and the onion powder.  When the meat is nearly done, add the onion and cook until the onion has softened.  Add the minced garlic for the last minute or so of cooking.

Once the beef is cooked and the onion is soft, add the flour and stir to cook for about 1 minute.  

Add the beef broth, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, and garlic powder.  Bring to a boil.

Once the mixture has started to boil, add the penna pasta (or whatever cut pasta you prefer) and stir to combine.  

Cover with the lid and reduce the heat to Low.  Simmer for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Once the pasta is cooked, add the cream and the shredded cheddar.  Stir and warm through until the cheese is all melted and gooey.

Give it a little taste test and adjust the seasonings to your liking.

Enjoy!