The Best Slow Cooker Hamburger Helper | Easy Dinner Recipe
This slow cooker hamburger helper is rich, creamy, and packed with flavor. Made from scratch with ground beef, tender pasta, and a cheesy sauce, it’s the ultimate easy crockpot comfort food that’s better than boxed.
- Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
- Cook Time: 3 HOURS 30 MINS
- Total Time: 3 hours 45 minutes
- Yield: 6 SERVINGS 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Main
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
Flavor Boosters
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp mustard powder
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Liquids
- 1½ cups beef broth
- 1 cup milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
Pasta & Cheese
- 2 cups elbow macaroni (uncooked)
- 1½ cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- 4 oz cream cheese
Finish
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the beef
In a skillet over medium heat, cook ground beef until browned. Drain excess grease. - Build the base
Add cooked beef to the slow cooker along with onion, bell pepper, garlic, tomato paste, Worcestershire sauce, and all seasonings. Stir to combine. - Add liquids & cook
Pour in beef broth and milk. Stir well.
Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours. - Add pasta & creaminess
About 20 minutes before serving, stir in uncooked pasta, heavy cream, and cream cheese. - Finish cooking
Cover and cook until pasta is tender, about 15–20 minutes. - Add cheese & serve
Stir in shredded cheddar until melted and creamy.
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
- Browning the beef first adds deeper flavor—don’t skip it.
- Stir occasionally after adding pasta to prevent sticking.
- Add a splash of milk or broth if the sauce gets too thick.
- For extra flavor, add a pinch more Worcestershire before serving.
Find it online: https://www.firsthomelovelife.com/slow-cooker-hamburger-helper/