This Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper is easy to make with a prep time of 15 minutes. You'll love this homemade version, it's better than store-bought. The macaroni cooks right inside the crock pot for a one-pot meal that you're family will request over and over.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time4 hourshrs
Total Time4 hourshrs15 minutesmins
Course: dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: beef, crockpot
Servings: 6servings
Calories: 275kcal
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Ingredients
2poundsground beefcan also use chicken or turkey
1cup chopped onionabout 1 small onion
1cupchopped bell pepper
2minced garlic clovesor 1 teaspoon garlic powder
10.5ouncecan cream of mushroom soup
14.5ouncecan beef broth
14.5ouncecan crushed tomatoes
8ouncecan tomato sauce
2cupsuncooked elbow macaroni
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
½teaspooncrushed red pepper flakesoptional
seasoning salt or salt and black pepperamount as desired
In a large skillet over medium heat, cook and crumble ground beef. Drain any excess fat.
Add onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook 3-5 minutes, or until the vegetables are slightly tender. Season with seasoning salt or salt and black pepper as desired.,
To a Crockpot, whisk together cream of mushroom soup, beef broth, crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, crushed red pepper flakes, and seasoning salt or salt and black pepper.
Add the cooked beef mixture to a slow cooker, and stir until combined.
Cover and cook on low 6-7 hours or on high 2-3 hours.
In the last 15 minutes of cooking, stir in uncooked elbow macaroni. Cover and turn the heat to high.
Stir in shredded cheddar cheese. Cover again until cook until the cheese is melted and pasta fully cooked, about 2-3 minutes.
Give the mixture one last stir, taste, and adjust the seasoning if necessary. Garnish as desired, and serve hot.
Video
Notes
Storage:You can store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until warmed through.We recommend freezing any leftovers before adding the noodles and cheese. This ensures that the noodles don't get mushy after thawing. When you reheat the hamburger helper, simply boil macaroni noodles on the stove and stir them in before serving.Tips:
Cook the beef and veggies in advance. You will want to cook these stovetop before adding to the slow cooker. This ensures the right texture and gives some extra delicious browning flavor to the beef.
The crock pot cooks the macaroni for you! Just stir the uncooked noodles in during the last 15 minutes of cooking and you'll be amazed. They will be perfectly cooked.
Add the cheese right before serving. This prevents the cheesy from clumping together in the beef mixture.
Swap the beef for chicken or turkey. If you are looking for a leaner alternative, ground chicken or turkey are both great options.
Make the cream of mushroom soup from scratch. We have a great recipe for it that we make once a week for slow cooker meals.