Description
This One Pot Cheeseburger Helper is a quick and comforting meal featuring ground beef, pasta, and a creamy, cheesy sauce all cooked together in a single skillet. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe combines savory spices and sharp cheddar for a hearty, flavorful dinner that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Meat & Dairy
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 cups (or 1 8 oz block) grated yellow sharp cheddar cheese
- 1 1/2 cups milk (use what you drink) (do not use skim milk)
- 2 tablespoon butter
Vegetables & Aromatics
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
Pantry & Spices
- 2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt or table salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups (or 1/2 lb) dry cavatappi pasta or macaroni noodles
Instructions
- Heat butter: In a large deep sauté pan or cast iron skillet, melt butter over medium heat to prepare for sautéing the aromatics and beef.
- Sauté onion: Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until translucent, about 5 minutes, to release its natural sweetness and aroma.
- Brown beef: Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up as you go, until browned and fully cooked, about 4-5 minutes.
- Add tomato paste: Stir in the tomato paste thoroughly into the beef mixture and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 2-3 minutes until the color deepens.
- Mix spices and flour: Add smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, seasoned salt, sugar, black pepper, and flour to the skillet. Stir well to combine and cook for 1 minute to bloom the spices and cook the flour.
- Add liquids: Slowly whisk in the beef broth to avoid lumps, then add the milk and stir well to create a creamy base for the pasta.
- Add pasta and boil: Add the dry pasta, increase the heat to high, and bring the mixture to a boil.
- Simmer: Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low and simmer uncovered, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the pasta is fully cooked and sauce thickens, about 10-12 minutes.
- Finish with cheese: Remove the pan from heat and stir in the shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy.
Notes
- Do not use skim milk as it may affect the creaminess of the sauce.
- Use a deep sauté pan or cast iron skillet to ensure even cooking and enough space for the ingredients.
- Stir frequently during simmering to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- You can substitute cavatappi pasta with elbow macaroni or any small pasta shape you prefer.
- For a spicier variation, add a pinch of cayenne pepper or chili flakes with the other spices.
- Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently with a splash of milk to restore creaminess.
