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Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

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!

Homemade Hamburger Helper in a white bowl with a glass of water next to it.

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

  1. Shred the cheese and set it aside to allow it to come closer to room temperature.
  2. Brown the Meat on Saute Mode.
  3. Add the onions and cook until softened.
  4. Add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and salt/pepper. Cook for 2 minutes.
  5.  Add the 1/4 of the beef broth. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up any brown bits from the bottom of the pot.
  6. Add the rest of the broth along with the macaroni.
  7. Lock the lid, seal the valve, pressure cook for 5 minutes.
  8. Flip the quick release valve. Mix in the cheese until well-combined.
  9. Serve with Garlic Bread with Cheese!

Homemade Hamburger Helper in a white bowl with a fork in the background.

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.

Hamburger Helper Recipe

More of my favorite Instant Pot Recipes:

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A white plate full of instant pot hamburger helper.

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

4.97 from 32 ratings
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!

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!

Nutrition

Calories: 747kcal, Carbohydrates: 60g, Protein: 39g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 20g, Cholesterol: 113mg, Sodium: 1072mg, Potassium: 617mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 650IU, Vitamin C: 3.3mg, Calcium: 458mg, Iron: 3.5mg
Did you try this recipe?Mention @TheCozyCook on Instagram or tag #thecozycook!
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! #Dinner #HamburgerHelper #InstantPot #Beef #Macaroni

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96 comments on “Instant Pot Hamburger Helper”

  1. This came out awesome! I modified the recipe a bit using ground bison meat (which is super healthy) and adding wheat elbow macaroni and reduced fat cheese. Tasted even better than the box kind but still brought back some childhood memories 

    • I’m so happy you liked this Ann! I don’t think I’ve ever had Bison, I’m so glad you liked how it came out! Thanks so much for taking the time to comment!❤️

  2. Lovin this! Made today for supper and it’s so easy and super yummy!!!

  3. This. Was. AMAZING. My kids loved it, also the husband and myself! Thank you!

  4. Everyone loved it.

  5. This was a family hit! Perfect for a rainy night in, full of flavor, had dinner ready in under 30 minutes from start to finish and I had all the ingredients already in my pantry. Definitely recommend!

  6. It was great but needed more flavor in my opinion. I added a little taco seasoning from the packet to help. I also used turkey meat 

  7. Seriously sooooo good and easy to make! Everyone from my youngest grandson to my thirty- something son to my I’ll-eat-anything hubby loved it. Definitely going in my 5 star recipe book!

    • Hey Peggi! I am so happy to hear that, wonderful!! It’s been a while since I’ve made this, I think I’m going to give it a go this week! 🙂 Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review, I really appreciate it! -Stephanie

  8. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I have Celiac Disease, so regular hamburger helper is out for me. My family also does not eat beef. I made this recipe with ground turkey and chicken broth along with gluten free elbow macaroni. It was delicious! My three picky kids gobbled it up. I will definitely make this again. The only other thing I will do differently next time is reduce the cooking time down 1 minute because of the gluten free pasta. Thank you again!

    • Hey Jenny! I’m so happy that you enjoyed this recipe and were able to adapt it to be gluten-free and with the meats that you enjoy!! Thank you so much for taking the time to come let me know how it came out, I really appreciate that. Have a wonderful day! -Stephanie

  9. I just finished making the hamburger helper, so delicious and so easy! Thank you! For the future, could whole wheat  noodles be used and if so would the time be different? 

    • Hi Gayle! I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! I would compare the cooking time on the box of the whole wheat noodles compared to the non-whole wheat that you used today, that would give me a better idea on if you need to increase the cooking time! 🙂

  10. Let me just tell you this turned out amazing! I made a few small adjustments, I did drain my beef after cooking it and added seasoning while it was cooking. I didnt have tomato paste but I added a can of diced tomatoes instead. I will definitely make this again! Thank you!

    • That is so wonderful to hear Susan! I very much appreciate you taking the time to come back and leave a comment, and to also share the adjustments that you made! Thank you so very much, have a wonderful weekend! -Stephanie

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