Homemade Bacon Cheeseburger Macaroni...AKA Hamburger Helper COPYCAT! This dish is total comfort food and is a family favorite at our house.
Did you grow up eating Hamburger Helper on a regular basis? I think most of us children of the 80's had our share of the incredibly convenient but terrifying ingredient list dinner. Hey, it was a time when farm-to-table was not exactly a movement yet.
While I can't say I've had the HH for years, I still feel a bit of nostalgia every time I pass it in the grocery store. That little oven mitt dude is just so cute! In an effort to make it a little healthier and better flavor, I developed my own version!
Dare I say I also have a craving for good 'ol Hamburger Helper every now and then? I'm pretty sure I've had every variety of Hamburger Helper possible, my favorite was definitely the Cheeseburger Macaroni. Occasionally I just crave that creamy, beefy pasta.
I'm guessing you know where this is leading.... I decided to make it from scratch!
While this does take a bit more effort than the boxed version, it is significantly more delicious and is still actually pretty easy. To start, you cook the bacon. Next, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat in a large skillet or dutch oven. You can also add some diced onions and minced garlic at this point, if you like. Whisk together the sauce ingredients which is the tomato sauce, beef broth, dijon mustard, and Worcestershire sauce, along with the cornstarch. Lastly, combine the ground beef, bacon, sauce, cooked pasta, and shredded cheddar cheese all together! That's it!
All three of us ended up loving this dinner! Marc and I both ate our fair share and Lars had multiple helpings, which I always count as a win. It was delicious, comforting, and super filling.
I served it with a kale salad to round it out, which I'm positive I never ate with Hamburger Helper either. Oh how the times have changed.
Love that you made a healthier version! Way better than the boxed stuff!
Thanks Jessica!!