Name: Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
Prep time: 8 min
Cook time: 22 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 1 pound Ground Beef; 2 cups Elbow Macaroni; 2 cups Beef Broth; 2 teaspoon Worcestershire Sauce; 1 tablespoon Tomato Paste; 1 teaspoon Parsley; 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder; 1 teaspoon Onion Powder; 1 teaspoon Chili Powder; 1 teaspoon Salt; 1/4 teaspoon Black Pepper; 1/4 teaspoon Cayenne Pepper; 1 cup Half & Half; 1 cup Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

Jump to Recipe

This is a recipe for homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper cheeseburger macaroni is a copycat 30-minute one-pot pasta meal made with ground beef, macaroni noodles, melted cheese, and a tasty sauce!

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper in a bowl with a fork sitting on a yellow napkin

Hamburger Helper is already an easy dish to throw together (and albeit cheap too!)

So why would someone make it in an Instant Pot?

For one, times are hard right now and certain products are limited in the grocery stores. Simple boxed meals have been flying off the shelves the past several months.

Secondly, many are looking for a recipe without so many preservatives or MSG. This Hamburger Helper homemade version has no added MSG in it.

And most importantly, I think this version tastes better!

It also remains a one-pot meal and for a portion of the cooking you don’t even have to watch it. Go relax with a glass of wine!

Ingredients for Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Ground Beef
Elbow Macaroni
Beef Broth
Worcestershire Sauce
Tomato Paste
Parsley
Garlic Powder
Onion Powder
Chili Powder
Salt
Black Pepper
Cayenne Pepper
Half and Half
Shredded Mild Cheddar Cheese

How to Make Hamburger Helper in an Instant Pot

To start, set the Instant Pot to the Saute setting on Medium/Normal. Add the ground beef and cook it for 6-8 minutes, until it’s browned.

Drain any excess grease and press cancel on the Instant Pot.

Stir in beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, and all of the seasonings. Scrape up any little tidbits stuck to the bottom from the ground beef cooking.

Make sure you have it good and ready because you cannot stir after this.

Add the macaroni noodles on top and scoot them around with a spatula or spoon so they are in an even layer and covered by liquid.

Lock the lid in place on top and seal the vent. Set the Manual setting to 4 minutes. It will take 12-15 minutes to build up pressure before it starts the timer.

Once the timer has ended, quick release the vent. I wear an oven mitt for this part so the hot steam does not burn my hand.

Remove the lid and carefully stir the noodles. Break up any clumps of noodles stuck together.

Add the cheese and half & half cream to the pot and stir. Allow the cheese to fully melt before serving.

How long does Hamburger Helper last in the refrigerator?

It can be safely stored in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.

Can you freeze Hamburger Helper?

Yes! For best quality, keep it in an airtight container for up to 6-9 months.

To reheat, you may need to add more water or cream to help the sauce come back to life and not have dried out pasta.

If you plan to add more liquid, it’s easiest over the stovetop so that you can stir and gradually add to it until the consistency is right.

However, at the end of the day, it’s still easiest and about the same amount of time whipping up a fresh batch. Not to mention, no loss in quality or taste!

Try these other delicious ground beef recipes!