Fast and easy, this homemade cheeseburger helper is ready in 30 minutes or less. It’s a one-pot meal made with ingredients you likely have on hand: beef, noodles, tomatoes, and cheese. This recipe is a hat tip to the classic boxed meal, but made with simple and healthier ingredients.
1 14.5ozcan diced tomatoesdrained (or a pint of home-canned)
1tbsp.dried Italian seasoning
3cupschicken or beef broth
2cupsmacaroni noodlesuncooked
2cupscheddar cheeseshredded
Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
In a cast iron dutch oven or large pot, heat a drizzle of olive oil or a dab of butter on medium-high. Add the onion, and lightly season with salt and pepper. Remember, the other ingredients have salt in them, so don’t overdo it. Sauté until tender crisp, about 4-5 minutes.
Add the ground beef and cook until brown. If needed, break apart with a wooden spoon. If your ground beef has a high fat percentage, you may want to drain the grease once the meat is browned. But that is optional.
Toss in the garlic. I like to use a garlic press for extra ease. Cook until just aromatic. Do not let the garlic brown, or it will turn bitter.
Add the tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and broth. Stir until combined, and bring to a rapid boil.
Pour in the noodles, and stir to prevent the noodles from sticking together. Cook uncovered at a vigorous simmer until the noodles are tender and the sauce has reduced to your liking.
Turn off the heat, add the shredded cheddar cheese. Stir to combine.
Allow to cool for a few minutes before serving. Then, enjoy!
Notes
Since all pasta is different, the amount of chicken or beef broth can slightly vary. The general ratio is 8 ounces of liquid for every 4 ounces of pasta.