I can still sing the jingle from the original commercials, which is a bit problematic when it comes to identifying gender roles in today’s kitchen. But that jingle reminds me of family nights around the TV, eating the one-skillet classic that started with a box and a pound of ground beef.
My Homemade Classic Hamburger Helper – the meatless edition – tastes better than the boxed stuff, and it’s still ready in 30 minutes or less. That makes it an ideal recipe for keeping in your back pocket, just like my mom kept the boxed stuff in the pantry.
While I used plant-based meatless ground, you certainly could use regular ground beef for this recipe with the same results. Just be sure to drain off some of the fat after cooking the beef and onions, so everything comes together with ease.
Ingredients
- 1 pound meatless ground
- ½ medium onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 3 cups vegetable broth
- 1 ½ cups uncooked elbow macaroni
- 8 ounces cheddar cheese, shredded
Instructions
Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add olive oil, onion and meatless ground. Cook until onions are translucent and meat is browned, about 7 to 10 minutes.
Add in tomato paste, garlic powder, chili powder, salt and pepper. Stir and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes, until well combined.
Pour in vegetable broth, stir and increase heat to bring to a boil. Once boiling, add in uncooked macaroni, stir and reduce heat to continue simmering for about 8 minutes*, or until macaroni is cooked.
Turn off heat, stir in shredded cheddar cheese and let sit for a few minutes to let everything come together. Spoon into bowls for serving.
Notes
*Read the package directions for your macaroni to determine the appropriate cooking time for that step.
