Homemade Hamburger Helper Macaroni Casserole

Homemade Macaroni Casserole or to use its more familiar name, hamburger helper! Easy to make and loved by everyone!

All I can say is, why did it take me so long to make a homemade version of this classic dish? I see it all the time in the store and I've heard how popular Hamburger Helper has been since it first appeared in 1977.

So what's the appeal? Probably the main pro's for Hamburger Helper is how fast you can have a full pan on the table in less than 30 minutes. now that's super handy because both of my kids are constantly in after-school activities, and always at separate weird times which doesn't help matters.

So if you can have something ready ahead of time or ready to reheat, your totally winning at the parenting game in my book. And it doesn't have to come from a box with dry ingredients!

If you're a Hamburger Helper connoisseur then you'd probably be able to tell the difference between my mix and the stuff from the box. But I'm not trying to copy it exactly, just create something similar and healthier for you and the family.

I think my daughter's verdict was "Utterly Amazing" after she had it. I'm calling my version Macaroni Casserole.

Making macaroni casserole.

I used an even split of ground beef and ground pork. It really helps with the flavor and cuts back on the grease that always happens after cooking ground beef.

You only need one pan to create this macaroni casserole, not counting the pot to cook the pasta in so minimal cleanup is involved. Score! Onion, green pepper, squash, and celery make a good veggie base for the meat and all you need after that is the tomatoes and cheese. It's so simple!

Can I just use all beef?

Yes, you can, but the two meat combo is definitely the way to go. Try beef and lamb or get really adventurous and go with buffalo and venison. This method is a little more expensive but the flavor is worth it.

Can I switch up the pasta and use a different type?

I would stick with the small elbow macaroni. Anything else is too big and then you mess up the ratio of meat to pasta. I still like this when it's a meaty casserole and the pasta is not dominant.

What's the best cheese to use in my macaroni casserole?

I used a sharp cheddar but any melting cheese would work. Gouda, Monterey Jack or even Pepperjack would all work just fine.