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–+ servings
A bowl of macaroni and cheese with meat and vegetables.
5 from 2 votes

Instant Pot Hamburger Helper Recipe

Made completely in one pot, this Instant Pot hamburger help recipe is made with ground beef, tons of veggies, noodles, and tomato sauce.
Prep 20 minutes
Cook 4 minutes
Total 24 minutes
Fat 13
Carbs 50
Protein 22
Yield 8

Ingredients

  • 1 lb. ground beef
  • 1.5 teaspoons sea salt separated
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 small white onion minced
  • 1 cup minced carrots ~3 large carrots
  • 1 cup minced celery ~3 stalks
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 lb. macaroni noodles
  • 15 oz. tomato sauce
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 4 cups beef broth
  • ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Add the ground beef and 1 teaspoon of salt to the Instant Pot and turn on the saute feature. Break the beef up with a spatula and cook for 2 minutes.
    An instant pot with meat in it.
  • Add the remaining salt, dried thyme, onion, carrots, celery, and garlic to the beef and toss the ingredients together. Cook for 5-7 minutes until beef is cooked and the vegetables begin to soften.
    An instant pot filled with meat and vegetables.
  • Add the macaroni noodles, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and broth to the pot and stir.
    A person pouring sauce into a pot of pasta.
  • Cover the Instant Pot and cook on high pressure for 3 minutes. You will need to allow time for pressure to build.
  • Quick-release the pressure and toss the noodles to release heat. Add the cheese to the pot and toss gently until the cheese has melted.
    An instant pot full of macaroni and cheese with a wooden spoon.
  • Remove the pot to keep the pasta from cooking. Serve immediately.

Tips & Notes

  • We tested this recipe with 2 types of macaroni noodles. We suggest using traditional macaroni noodles with no ridges or twists. We suggest the brand De Cecco or a similar shape.
  • Feel free to add more vegetables if desired.
  • You can use any type of broth for this recipe.
  • We tested this recipe with a cook time of 5 minutes, 4 minutes, and 3 minutes. We do not recommend cooking the noodles for 5 minutes, they get very mushy. We recommend 4 minutes if you are eating the pasta immediately, and 3 minutes if you are planning on meal prepping this recipe for the week. The noodles will continue to absorb the liquid throughout the week.

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Nutrition Facts

Calories: 409kcal | Carbohydrates: 50g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 13g | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g