Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Make this budget-friendly Instant Pot Hamburger Helper in under 30 minutes. It’s loaded with pantry staples aka hamburger meat, Italian seasoning, and cheese for an affordable meal the whole family will love.

Box mix dinners are convenient, but they aren’t always friendly on the wallet. Fortunately, it’s so easy to make homemade hamburger helper in your Instant Pot with things you already have in your pantry.

Plus you’re not eating a meal that’s loaded with extra sodium and preservatives. Yeap, it is possible to make healthy choices while being frugal!

Like this c, dump and start Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti, and Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan, kid-friendly hamburger helper has been a family favorite meal for ages because you can stretch a few ingredients really far. The pasta is filling without being heavy and you get the added bonus of meat in cheese but in portions that are manageable even when you are cooking for a large family.

Why Make This Recipe

• So tasty – The Italian seasoning and tomato sauce really shine through in the flavor of this dish.
• Kid-friendly – Kids love pasta so this dish is a winner.
• Quick cooking – This meal goes from pantry to table in under 30 minutes!
• Easy on the wallet – Feed a whole family with just one pound of meat, a few cups of pasta noodles, and a few other ingredients.

Ingredient Notes

• Ground Beef – This recipe calls for ground beef. You could use any ground meat, so feel free to substitute what you have on hand. Ground chicken, turkey, pork, and ground venison all work.
• Seasoning – Italian seasoning will give this an Italian flavor, but try using taco seasoning, or your other favorite seasoning blend to vary the recipe.
• Beef Broth – this recipe calls for beef broth but you can easily swap in chicken broth, veggie broth, or even water for all or part of the 4 cups. 
• Macaroni – Don’t have macaroni noodles? Any variety of dried pasta works in this dish. If you use spaghetti just break it in half or thirds so it is easier to submerge in the water.
• Cheese – When using Italian seasoning, Mozzarella or Parmesan cheese are great choices. Or make it with cheddar, pepper jack, or your favorite cheese to give this dish a new taste. 

How To Make Pressure Cooker Hamburger Helper

Get full ingredients list and instructions from the recipe card below.

1. Set the Instant Pot to sauté and brown the beef, then add onions, tomato sauce, and seasoning.
2. Pour in the broth and use a wooden spoon to scrape any bits of meat from the bottom of the Instant Pot insert.
3. Next, add in the macaroni on top, making sure to NOT mix. Use a spoon to push down any pasta that is not covered with the broth
4. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, turn the valve to the sealing position, and set it to manual pressure / high pressure for 5 minutes.
5. When done, perform a quick pressure release (QPR). Open the lid, stir in the cheese, and then serve.

Note: Cook times do not account for the time it takes the Instant Pot to come to pressure.

Tips For Success

• To avoid getting a burn notice, scrape the bottom of the Instant Pot insert with a wooden spoon to remove any stuck on bits of meat.
• Do not mix the macaroni with the rest of the ingredients. Pour it on top, and then use a spoon to gently press the macaroni to submerge under the broth. 

Delicious Variations

This hamburger helper recipe has a traditional Italian flavor, but you can vary it up to suit your taste. Here are some delicious options to try:

• Use Ground Italian Sausage – Sweet Italian sausage has such a wonderful flavor and will give this recipe a new flavor without having to change any of the instructions. 
• Make it Vegetarian – Leave out the meat, add some chopped veggies and use veggie broth to make a vegetarian version of this dish. 
• Make Mexican Mac – Use salsa instead of tomato sauce and taco seasoning instead of the Italian seasoning. Toss in a chopped jalapeno for a bit of spice. 

Budget-Friendly Tips

• Use Half the Meat – One pound of meat makes this recipe quite meaty. You could easily use half meat and still have a delicious main dish. There is no need to alter any of the other ingredients. 
• Add Veggies – Adding veggies will add bulk and substance to this recipe. You can toss in chopped peppers, mushrooms, or even a bag of frozen veggies.
• Turn it into Soup – Have leftovers? Turn them into soup! Put the leftovers in a stockpot and add enough broth to cover by about an inch. Heat through and enjoy it as a soup. 
• Make it a Complete Meal – Add a side salad and some garlic bread to make this a full meal.  

Make Ahead and Storage

This Hamburger Helper Instant Pot recipe is perfect for prepping ahead.

• Prep Ahead – This is a perfect make and freeze meal for meal prep.
• Store – Leftovers should be stored in the fridge and eaten within 4 days. 
• Freeze – You can freeze this meal and reheat it later. Perform a quick release of pressure and allow the pasta to cool. Place the pasta in a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 4 months. Defrost overnight in the fridge.
• Reheat – in the microwave, or in the oven at 350F / 176C oven for 20-30 minutes. 

FAQs

More Recipes You May Like

• Instant Pot Taco Pasta
• Instant Pot Chicken Parmesan.
• Easy Instant Pot Rosemary Chicken.
• Instant Pot Fajita Pasta.

Tools Needed

• An Instant Pot.
• Measuring cups and spoons.
• Spatula.

Get The Instant Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe: