The Cozy Cookbook is here! This quick and easy instant pot hamburger helper puts dinner on the table in no time and tastes just like the classic hamburger helper recipe we know and love, minus the unknown ingredients!
Try my Instant Pot Creamy Chicken Stew recipe next!
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
My family does a happy dance every time I make this cheesy homemade hamburger helper recipe. Once you try this, you’ll never buy a box again.
I love eliminating the processed mystery ingredients, and this recipe really doesn’t any longer than the box does! (30 minute meals are the best, aren’t they?)
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the bottom of this post for quantities and full written instructions
- Vegetable Oil
- Ground Beef
- Onions
- Garlic
- Salt/Pepper
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Tomato Paste
- Beef Broth
- Cheddar Cheese– Shredded from a block at home will taste and melt better
- Elbow Macaroni
How to Make it
- Shred the cheese and set it aside to allow it to come closer to room temperature.
- Brown the Meat on Saute Mode.
- Add the onions and cook until softened.
- Add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and salt/pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
- Add the 1/4 of the beef broth. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
- Add the rest of the broth along with the macaroni.
- Lock the lid, seal the valve, pressure cook for 5 minutes.
- Flip the quick release valve. Mix in the cheese until well-combined.
- Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese!
What Size Instant Pot did I use?
I used my 6-quart Instant Pot for this recipe, which is what I recommend for most families, and is what most Instant Pot recipes are based on.
It can cook enough food for a family of four and won’t take as long to come to pressure as an 8 quart will.
Can This Recipe Be Doubled in an 8 Quart?
Unfortunately there isn’t enough room to double this recipe in an 8 quart Instant Pot.
Can you Freeze Macaroni?
Cooked Macaroni is a great food to freezer for future meals. Here are some tips for success:
- Cook the pasta to the Al Dente Point, but no more. That way the pasta won’t be overcooked when you reheat it.
- For this recipe, the quick release of the pressure valve helps to halt the cooking process.
- It’s also best to avoid reheating the pasta again before you freeze it.
What if the Burn Indicator Turns on During Pressure Cooking?
-If you’re waiting for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure and notice a burn indicator, this is something that rectifies itself whenever I make this recipe and see that warning. It just takes a little bit of waiting before the pressure cooker will do it’s thing.
-The more I use the Instant Pot, the more I see this message. I’ve learned to basically ignore it as long as I know that I’ve done my due diligence in making sure I’ve removed any specs of meat on the bottom of the pan that may have gotten stuck during while sauteing. I do this before I add any other ingredients.
–Adding vegetable oil on the bottom of the pan prior to browning the meat helps with this.
More of my favorite Instant Pot Recipes:
- Chicken and Stuffing
- Creamy Chicken Stew
- Roasted Potatoes
- Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Split Pea Soup
- French Onion Soup
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Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 1 Tablespoon minced garlic
- Salt/Pepper, to taste
- 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 4 cups beef broth
- 3 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 16 oz. dried elbow macaroni, (equal to a 1 lb. box)
Instructions
- Shred the cheese and set it aside to allow it to come closer to room temperature.
- Set the instant pot to Sautee and add the vegetable oil.
- Add the ground beef and cook and crumble for about 5 minutes.
- Add the onions and cook for another 3-4 minutes or so, until the onions are soft and translucent and the meat is cooked through.
- Add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and salt/pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Pour in ¼ of the beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to release the cooked pieces of beef that have stuck to the bottom of the pot. This will give the sauce extra flavor but also prevents the burn indicator from turning on during pressure cooking.
- Add the rest of the broth and submerge the macaroni into the sauce so that it’s completely covered.
- Lock the lid, seal the valve, and set the pressure cooking time to 5 minutes.
- Once 5 minutes are up, quick release the steam valve. Gently stir in the cheese using a silicone spatula until well combined.
- Garnish with chopped parsley or Parmesan flakes if desired, and serve!
But aren’t you supposed to drain the meat after cooking?
When I cook it this way I never have grease to drain but of course if you do, you can!
This was delicious. I haven’t made hamburger helper in a long time. I quit because I use to make the box kind, but we started eating cleaner. I like that I am able to add my own ingredients and I know what we are eating. Thank you
You got it Trisha!! So happy you enjoyed it and I REALLY appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate! You’re the best! -Stephanie
Please stop posting recipes. This one sucks. My instant burned twice and I had to finish it in a pot on the stove just to have edible dinner. If you continue to post recipes, at least try to get it right.
Hi Jeff. Are you new to the Instant Pot? The burn indicator is easily triggered, this isn’t going to be the last time that happens to you. In fact, I have an entire section about that in this post, so perhaps you should take a moment to read it.
What if the Burn Indicator Turns on During Pressure Cooking?
-If you’re waiting for the Instant Pot to come up to pressure and notice a burn indicator, this is something that rectifies itself whenever I make this recipe and see that warning. It just takes a little bit of waiting before the pressure cooker will do it’s thing.
-The more I use the Instant Pot, the more I see this message. I’ve learned to basically ignore it as long as I know that I’ve done my due diligence in making sure I’ve removed any specs of meat on the bottom of the pan that may have gotten stuck during while sauteing. I do this before I add any other ingredients.
-Adding vegetable oil on the bottom of the pan prior to browning the meat helps with this.
That was not a nice comment!!
Very true Bonnie. My toddler knows better than Jeff does. Too bad.
Im going to make this tonight for tge first time. Should i be “stirring” the meat while it browns?
Hi Melissa, yes, you’ll stir it around as it cools for even cooking!
Hi,
I’m looking at making this tonight for supper. If I were to use small shells instead of macaroni how long would I cook for? And would I use the same amount?
Hi Alicia! I think you’re good to use the same amount and cooking time, those two pastas are really similar in terms of size and cooking time! 🙂 Enjoy! -Stephanie
Hi,
I just wanted to know do you pre cook the pasta before adding it to the pot or is it straight from the box?
Hi Sam! It’s straight from the box! There is a recipe video on the post that shows how to make it if that helps too! Enjoy! -Stephanie 😁
This sounds wonderful! I have a question, it says 20 minutes cook time at the top, but 5 minutes in the directions. Is the cooking time just 5 minutes?
Hi Fiona! The “Prep Time” for this recipe is 5 minutes, but I have 20 minutes total for the cook time. The pasta only pressure cooks for 5 minutes, but I’ve added an additional 10 minutes for the ground beef and onions to saute, and another 5 minutes for you to stir in the cheese at the end! So 25 minutes total…but remember that the Instant Pot also needs about 10 minutes to get up to pressure. Enjoy!! -Stephanie
This turned out SO good! Me, my 5 year old and my 4 year old LOVE IT!! made enough to freeze it since I’m gonna deliver our 3rd baby next week!
Subbed diced tomatoes with green chilies for the tomato paste & it’s super delicious!
Not even sure why I buy the boxed stuff it’s just as easy to make something that not only tastes better but has to be way better for you.
Thanks for a great recipe!
Hey Grace!!! That is SUPER good news, this is 100% my favorite thing to pull out of the freezer to feed myself or my toddler!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it as much as we do in my house! CONGRATULATIONS on baby #3!! So happy that you’re able to do some meal prep before the craziness starts! Enjoy, so happy for you!!!! -Stephanie
Hi! Looking to make this tonight, without the cheese, but doubling it – pasta and meat. Should I keep the same amount of broth, double it, or make it 1.5 times the original amount of broth?
Thank you!
Hi Michele, all of the ingredients would need to be doubled, you need twice the liquid if you’re making twice the pasta. Enjoy!
I’m making this for the kids tonight and I have a question. Is the 16 oz of pasta a weight or volume measurement? If it is volume then that would be 2 cups but if it is weight then it is 3.5 cups. Thanks in advance.
Hi Laurie, it’s the weight. So it’s a 16 oz. (or 1 lb.) box of macaroni. Enjoy!
This was really good (the teens devoured it and gave it an 8/10 – that’s high for this crowd). I used a 450 gram package of La Molisana elbows. They were perfectly cooked and not mushy like hamburger helper. I didn’t need to drain the meat as all the excess moisture had been reduced. The only change I made was to add an extra bit of garlic.
So happy that you enjoyed it!