Go Back

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course Main Dish
Servings 4 people

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 1.5 lbs extra lean ground meat
  • 2 cloves of garlic
  • 156 ml tomato paste (a little more than 1/2 a cup - 1 small can of Pastene tomato paste)
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp all purpose flour
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese medium or strong - grated
  • 2 cups frozen peas
  • cooked penne rigate pasta (one 375g box of Catelli Smart)
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp salt
  • freshly ground pepper to taste
  • 1 tbsp freshly chopped flat parsley

Instructions
 

  • In a large stove-top skillet, add oil and saute ground meat until browned - about 5 minutes.
  • In a mason jar, combine milk and flour and shake (shake, shake).
  • Back to the skillet - stir in tomato paste, milk mixture, garlic, oregano, salt, shredded cheese. Bring to gentle simmer.
  • Meanwhile, cook penne in salted boiling water until tender - about 10-12 minutes.
  • When the pasta is nearly done, stir the frozen peas into the skillet.
  • Once the pasta is tender, drain and carefully add to ground beef mixture, folding in until the pasta is well-coated.
  • Serve with grated cheddar and freshly chopped parsley. Enjoy!