# Crockpot Hamburger Helper

All the cheesy, beefy comfort of the boxed classic — made from scratch in the slow cooker with pantry staples and no babysitting required.

_Dinner · American_

Prep: 15 min · Cook: 240 min · Total: 255 min · Yields: 6 servings

## Ingredients

- 1 ½ lb ground beef (80/20 recommended)
- 1 medium yellow onion (diced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 oz, undrained)
- 1 can tomato sauce (15 oz)
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (dry, uncooked)
- 2 cups sharp cheddar cheese (freshly shredded)

## Instructions

1. Brown the 1.5 lb ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat, breaking it into crumbles, until no pink remains, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess fat.
2. Add the diced medium yellow onion to the same skillet and cook for 2–3 minutes until softened, then stir in the 3 cloves minced garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
3. Transfer the beef and onion mixture to the crockpot insert.
4. Pour in the 1 can diced tomatoes, 1 can tomato sauce, and 2 cups beef broth. Stir to combine.
5. Add the 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 0.5 tsp dried oregano, 0.5 tsp salt, and 0.25 tsp black pepper. Stir everything together.
6. Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours or on high for 1.5–2 hours, until the flavors have melded.
7. Stir in the 2 cups dry elbow macaroni and the 1 cup whole milk. Replace the lid and cook on high for 20–30 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the pasta is tender.
8. Turn off the heat and stir in the 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese in two additions, letting each addition melt fully before adding the next.
9. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed. Let the dish rest uncovered for 5 minutes — it will thicken as it sits — then serve directly from the crockpot.

## Tip

> Add the macaroni dry and uncooked directly into the crockpot — it absorbs the broth and sauce as it cooks, which is what gives the dish its thick, clingy texture. Pre-cooking the pasta will make it mushy.

Tags: comfort-food, slow-cook, one-pan, weeknight, kid-friendly

---
Canonical: https://just-recipes.io/recipes/crockpot-hamburger-helper