Homemade 'Hamburger Helper'

     
     Do you want some comfort food without all the commercially added sodium and who knows what else (preservatives) add in?  Try my Homemade "Hamburger Helper" it's better tasting, and you know exactly what goes into the dish!  A bonus, this is a "one pot meal'!!!  

Homemade Hamburger Helper
(30 minute; One Pot Meal) 

Ingredients: 
1 Tbs olive oil 
1 large onion, chopped 
1 pound ground beef
2 cloves garlic, minced 
1 28oz can crushed tomatoes 
2 Tbs tomato paste
2 cups chicken broth **see note below
1/4 cup milk
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese 
1/2 tsp chili powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
salt & pepper to taste 
12 oz dried pasta **see note below 


Directions: 
    In a large pot or dutch oven on your stove top - heat olive oil and add in chopped onions, saute about 7 minutes. Raise heat to Medium-High and add in ground beef, minced garlic and season with salt & pepper.  Break up ground beef and cook until no longer pink. Add in all the remaining ingredients except the cheese, raising heat to high - bring everything to a high bubbling simmer before lowering heat and leaving at a medium simmer. Cook for 10-12 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked and the liquid is almost all absorbed.  Mix in the shredded cheese and cook 2 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. 

NOTE:  I use a 'thicker' noodle (Campanelle) which needs about 15 minutes to cook in this dish - so, I add in an additional 1/2 cup of chicken broth to my overall ingredients so I get the same quality results with the slightly extended cook time.  Also note, most dried pastas come in 16 oz containers - make sure to only use 3/4 of the container (you only want 12 oz of dried pasta) Elbow Macaroni is another great noodle (traditional to this dish) and would be used without increasing the overall broth quantity.   

Yield: approx 4-6 adult servings. 

Recipe & Photo by: Diane Baker for Canning and Cooking at Home