Homemade Hamburger Helper

Source: New York Times by Priya Krishna

Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes Yield: 4 servings

Ingredients

¼ cup neutral oil (canola or vegetable)
1 large yellow onion, diced into ½-inch pieces
salt and black pepper
3 garlic cloves, minced
5 strips uncooked smoked bacon, finely chopped
1 lb ground beef
1 cup dry white wine
3 cups chicken stock or water
¾ cup heavy cream
¼ to ⅓ cup hot sauce
2 tsp hot smoked paprika
1 bay leaf
8 oz elbow pasta
5 slices American cheese, torn into small pieces
1½ cups grated cheddar
½ cup finely chopped chives

Directions

Heat a large sauté pan or Dutch oven over medium-low heat. Add oil and onion; season lightly with salt and pepper. Cook until onions turn light beige and begin to caramelize, 20–25 minutes.
Add garlic and cook until fragrant and just starting to brown, about 2 minutes.
Increase heat to medium-high and add bacon and ground beef, breaking up the meat with a spoon. Cook until liquid mostly evaporates and meat begins to brown, 12–15 minutes.
Remove from heat and carefully drain off most of the fat, leaving a little to keep the meat moist.
Return pan to medium-high heat and add white wine. Reduce until almost dry, about 10 minutes.
Add chicken stock, heavy cream, hot sauce, paprika, and bay leaf. Stir and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, add pasta and cook until al dente, stirring often, about 9 minutes.
Reduce heat to low and stir in both cheeses until melted and sauce is thickened.
Remove from heat, stir in chives, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.

Notes

Think of this as the most luxurious Hamburger Helper you’ve ever had — a one-pot meal combining the comfort of mac and cheese with the richness of Bolognese. Adjust the hot sauce to taste.

Formatted to Recipe Style Guide on 05:13, 24 October 2025 (PDT) by ChatGPT