Put the box away and make this homemade hamburger helper. This Instant Pot Hamburger Helper is quick and easy, plus the entire family will love it! It brings me back to my childhood and I remember eating it at my parent’s table. The flavor is amazing and I love that it’s an easy dinner recipe in my pressure cooker. Put this Cheeseburger Macaroni on your regular rotation!
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
If you were like me, you grew up eating Hamburger Helper, right? It was always a favorite meal in our house! And I know it was a favorite for Mom too because it was quick and easy to make. We ALL love that!
BUT, now that the holidays are here and gone you have one gift you haven’t opened yet, right? Or well maybe you’ve opened it, but you’re not quite sure you want to cook with it yet? I’m talking about your Pressure Cooker or Instant Pot!
Maybe you’ve been looking at instant pot recipes like; Pressure Cooker Swedish Meatballs, Instant Pot Beef Taco Soup, Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo or Pressure Cooker Chicken Taco Soup
The pressure cooker can seem a little daunting, right? Well, I’m here to tell you, don’t be afraid! It’s really easy to use, so if you’re new to the IP (short for Instant Pot) let’s start with this simple easy recipe! If you’re an old hat and you’ve been using your pressure cooker for some time, then great!
Either way, you’re going to love this recipe!
Let’s get started by answering some quick questions.
Are instant pots safe?
Absolutely! Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Pressure cookers actually have a built-in safety feature that will not allow you to open the lid until it’s safe. Don’t worry, the top won’t blow off!
- Because forceful hot steam is released when the pressure valve is opened, be sure to place it on a counter away from the bottom of your cupboard so it can vent easily.
- Don’t overfill it. Be sure to follow the recipe and the manufacturers’ instructions.
Does that make you more comfortable? GREAT!! Now let’s talk about how to make this super delicious, quick and easy Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni!
Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
I developed this recipe because my most popular recipe on this blog is my Instant Pot Hamburger Stroganoff and these recipes are like brother and sisters… different yet kind of the same concept!
Grocery List for Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
- vegetable oil
- ground beef
- yellow onion
- garlic
- kosher salt
- ground black pepper
- Worcestershire sauce
- tomato paste
- beef broth
- cheddar cheese
- elbow macaroni dry
How do you cook ground beef in an instant pot?
The great thing about the pressure cooker is they come with a saute function. You do not have to dirty an extra pan. Set the IP to saute when it’s time to brown the ground beef.
Can you cook hamburger helper in instant pot?
From start to finish yes! It will be 100 times better than what you get in a box! If you don’t have a pressure cooker try my stovetop hamburger helper!
Steps to make Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni
- Add the oil to the pressure cooker and set to sauté.
- Next, add ground beef and diced onion. Brown the ground beef, about 5 minutes.
- Season with garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper. Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Pour in 1/4 c. of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any pieces of beef that may be stuck to the bottom.
- Add the rest of the broth and macaroni. Stir well.
- Lock the lid, turn the pressure valve to closed and set the cooking time to 5 minutes.
- When instant pot beeps and is done cooking, quick release the steam valve.
- Stir in the cheese until melted and combined.
See?!! Instant Pot Cheeseburger Macaroni is easy, delicious and made in the pressure cooker takes no time at all! I really hope you give this a try and when you do, be sure to come and comment below and give me five stars for this tasty recipe!
I know everyone in your family will love it as much as we do – even your picky eaters!!
More Instant Pot Recipes
- Instant Pot Hamburger Stroganoff
- Pressure Cooker Mac and Cheese
- How to Make Instant Pot Baked Potatoes!
- French Onion Pressure Cooker Meatloaf
- Instant Pot Taco Pasta
- Instant Pot Pork Roast with Vegetables
- Instant Pot Jambalaya
I have lots of Instant Pot Recipes on the blog – be sure and find your new favorite recipe!
p.s. before I go let me see if I can entice you a little more into using your pressure cooker …. Did you know it’s dishwasher safe? Yup! The stainless steel cooking vessel can be placed right into your dishwasher! Even the top can be put in there! Just be sure to place it on the top rack!
Did you make this? If you snap a photo, please be sure tag me on Instagram at @julieseatsandtreats or #julieseatsandtreats so I can see your yummy treat!
Instant Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 c. yellow onion diced
- 1 Tbsp garlic minced
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tsp Worcestershire sauce
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 4 c. low sodium beef broth
- 2 1/2 c. shredded cheddar cheese
- 16 oz elbow macaroni dry
Instructions
- Add vegetable oil to instant pot and set to saute.
- Add ground beef and onion. Cook and crumble until ground beef is cooked is almost cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic, Worcestershire sauce, tomato paste, salt and pepper to pot. Cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Pour in 1/4 c. of beef broth and scrape the bottom of the pot to release any pieces of beef that may be stuck to the bottom of the pot. This will prevent the burn indicator on the instant pot when pressure cooking.
- Add the rest of the broth and macaroni. Stir and make sure the macaroni is submerged into the broth.
- Lock the lid, seal the valve and set the pressure cooking time to 5 minutes.
- When instant pot is done cooking, quick release the steam valve. Stir in the cheese until completely melted and combined.
Courtney says
This was super easy. Adults and kids really enjoyed it. Our youngsters have requested it repeatedly and they are picky about one pot meals!
Courtney says
Perfect! So glad it was enjoyed by everyone! 🙂
Dru says
Followed recipe. Needs more meat & a cheesy cream sauce. Shredded cheese doesn’t make a creamy sauce so I have to doctor the leftover up. Bland so adding some extra seasonings too.
Courtney says
Sorry to hear this! We really enjoy this recipe. Please add what you need.
Jen B says
A go to recipe that turns out every time. I usually add some shredded carrots and season with a heavy hand. Is there a way to make this without the instant pot? stove top?
Catherine Painkin says
Quick and easy but really kind of bland
Annette Kreamer says
I want your Recipe please that look so Good.
Tomeka Jackson says
We make this at least twice a month. It’s a favorite in our house.
Courtney says
Ours too!! Thanks for letting us know you enjoy this recipe & for rating this recipe!
Jessica says
This was delicious and made for good left overs for lunch the next day.
Easy to change to your dietary needs, versatile!
We had to omit the salt, no sodium broth and no salt added tomato paste. It was still awesome reducing the sodium! Thank you for sharing!
Cheryl says
We really enjoyed this. I only had 2 cups of Tillamook shredded cheese but it melted fine and still tasted good. Thanks for the great recipe.
Courtney says
Yay! We love this for an easy dinner idea that the whole family loves!
A.J. says
One of our go-to meals, we love it! And the leftovers are just as tasty!! Thank you!
Julie Evink says
Wonderful to hear A.J.! Thanks for commenting and rating the recipe!
Bob MyKnobb says
Awful. Burnt message continously. Recipe is trash
Julie Evink says
I’m sorry it didn’t work out Bob. This recipe has many reviews and is rated highly. We make it frequently!
Kay says
SO easy! And, like many others have said, versatile! I added some leftover diced ham, another dollop of tomato paste, a can of fire roasted diced tomatoes, and 1 tsp of mustard. An absolute hit in our house! Would like to try adding more veggies next time like mushrooms and spinach. Thank you!
Courtney says
Yum! It’s always a great recipe when the entire family loves it! Thank you for taking the time to rate this recipe & for the wonderful comment! 😊
Carly says
I love this recipe! Can you please make a whole section on instant pot weeknight meals? As a new mom going back to work it has been such a time saver but looking for more full recipes and pastas to make in there that are actually delicious!
Courtney says
https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/pressure-cooker-dinner-recipes/
Check out this round-up instant pot post for a bunch of dinner ideas! Stay tuned for an updated version! Otherwise, if you to the website and go under the tab “method” and select “instant pot” you will find all of our instant pot recipes! Congratulations on becoming a mom! Such a wonderful journey! ♥
Sara says
I don’t get a chance to rate recipes very often, but this is one of my favorite IP recipes out there so I had to share. I seriously love how easy and versatile this recipe is. I recently have had to reduce the fat in my diet, so I love that I can substitute ground turkey and low-fat cheese and it’s still just as delicious. I also usually use wheat pasta and add in some chopped spinach at the end to add some extra veggies. I’ll also often add in any other veggies that are about to go bad to help bulk it up, like peppers or mushrooms. Thanks for such a great, easy, family recipe!
Courtney says
We are so glad you you loved this recipe and love it even more that you took the time to write a wonderful comment! ♥
Kevin says
Easy and tasty dish. My picky girls ate it up, no complaints 😎👍. Will make this again, but will likely mix the cheese in the serving bowl to make clean up easier.
Courtney says
Yay! Having a meal the whole family loves is always a win. Thank you for commenting on and rating this recipe!
Annette Kreamer says
I want your Recipe please that look so Good.
Courtney says
The full recipe is listed in this post. Please scroll up from the comments sections to see it.
Elle says
This is one of my favorite recipes! I was wondering if this freezes well? I wanted to make it for expecting parents!
Courtney says
I have not tried freezing the instant pot recipe hamburger helper. I do have a one-pot homemade hamburger helper recipe ( https://www.julieseatsandtreats.com/homemade-hamburger-helper/#wprm-recipe-container-73268) that I know freezes well!! What a great idea for expecting parents.