Instant Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper recipe is the perfect meal for busy weeknights. Everything you need for a delicious meal can be ready in just minutes.

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

We are always looking for a quick and delicious meal idea. My kids love the boxed version of Hamburger Helper but I wanted to find something I could make without all the processed ingredients.

This recipe is better than than anything store bought and sure to impress the entire family. This delicious one pot meal has everything you love but without all of the processed ingredients in the box kits. You might also like any of our Instant Pot Ground Beef Recipes.

The pressure cooker makes this meal super fast so you can have homemade in just minutes. Truly, you can’t get any simpler with this easy recipe. Get dinner on the table fast.

The kids go crazy over this recipe.

Once you make this and see how easy and tasty it is, you will never by store bought again. The cheese and beef with the noodles make such a wonderful meal.

It is truly comfort food and such a great recipe to enjoy as a family.

Anytime I find something that everyone loves, it is definitely a keeper. Plus, this recipe is so frugal.

Ingredients:

• Ground Beef
• Onion, diced
• Minced Garlic
• Milk
• Red Bell Pepper
• Salt and Pepper
• Italian Seasoning
• Crushed Tomatoes
• Beef Broth
• Macaroni Pasta
• Cheddar Cheese

How to make Instant Pot Hamburger Helper:

• First, add the ground beef to the pressure cooker. Brown the meat on the saute setting until it is no longer pink.

• Next, add the bell pepper, seasonings, tomatoes, milk, broth, and pasta. The onion and garlic will smell amazing.

• Make sure all of this is combined really good. Stir from the bottom of the pot and make sure the pasta is covered so it will cook properly.

• Then add the lid and set to sealing position. Lock the lid and set to high pressure for 5 minutes.

• Finally, do a quick release and stir the hamburger helper mixture to make sure it is not stuck to the bottom.

• Stir in the cheese while hot so it will melt easily. Mix everything together for a really tasty dinner idea.

Jump to recipe below for specific cooking time, saturated fat information and more.

It is that simple to make. Your family can enjoy a delicious home cooked meal even during busy weeks.

Pressure cooking is so easy and this dinner recipe is the best. This is one of our favorite instant pot recipes.

What to serve with Instant pot hamburger helper

•  Green Beans. These are so quick and easy.  We make green beans a lot for an easy vegetable.

• Easy Roasted Asparagus. With only minutes to prepare, this is an easy weeknight side dish.

• Steamed Broccoli. This microwaveable side dish is perfect with hamburger helper. Kids also seem more likely to eat it when paired with the cheesy sauce from the hamburger helper.

All of these would be yummy with hamburger helper in the instant pot.

Variation Ideas:

• Ground turkey or ground chicken. You can easily substitute ground turkey or chicken in this recipe.
  
  I doubt anyone will even notice the difference or miss the beef. Plus, it is a great way to save a little money and lighten up this recipe.

• Pasta. We used elbow macaroni but any type of pasta will work. While elbow is more traditional for Hamburger Helper, you can use bowtie, shells and penne.

• Broth. The last time I made this, I was out of beef broth. Chicken worked just fine. We are big fans of using what we have.

• Veggies. Try adding diced celery and carrots to this recipe. It adds a lot of flavor. Plus, it provides an easy way to sneak in more veggies.

• Cheese. You can omit the cheese all together if you do not want this. It will still be amazing.
  
  If you plan to add the cheese, feel free to try different types. We used cheddar but Colby or mozzarella taste yummy too.

How to store:

Refrigerate leftovers inside an airtight container. They will keep up to 3 days.

I like to put the leftovers in individual serving containers for quick lunches during the week.

This recipe reheats well and makes for great leftovers. The only thing you may need to add to this is a little bit of water or broth when reheating.

Can you freeze this recipe?

You can freeze leftovers up to 3 months. Just make sure to store the food inside a freezer container or bag. The container should be airtight for best results.

When reheating, you may want to add a little bit of water or broth. Sometimes, the pasta can soak up the broth and more will be needed.

Just make sure to only add a little at a time so you don’t add too much.

Tips for Instant pot Hamburger helper:

• I am using an 8 quart Instant pot but you can use a 6 quart. I personally have an Instant Pot and so far I am loving it.

• If you are concerned with the burn indicator light coming on, you can add a little oil before adding the ground beef to brown.

• Cook the pasta al dente if you plan to freeze it. Otherwise, it will become mushy when you reheat it.

• Shred the cheese yourself and don’t buy the bags of shredded cheese. It only takes a few extra minutes and it melts much smoother. The consistency is creamier and as a result so will your hamburger helper.

Can you make this in the crockpot?

Yes. If you do not have a pressure cooker yet, try Crock Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe. This is also a nice alternative when you need to set it and forget it.

Print this Instant Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe below:

More Instant pot ground beef recipes:

• Easy Instant Pot Beef Tips and Gravy Recipe
• Instant Pot Beef Teriyaki Recipe
• Pressure Cooker Beef Stew Recipe
• Instant Pot Beef Stew Recipe