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    Home » Recipes » Entrees

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac

    Published: Feb 26, 2017 · Updated: Mar 26, 2022 by Mindy Boyd

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    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is just as easy and quick as the popular boxed dinners, but better for you. You can also tailor it to your personal taste.

    We love quick and easy dinners, and this Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is just that. I really hit a home run with this one because you only need 7 ingredients (and water).

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    Another really great thing about this dish is that you can personalize it. I used one our family’s favorite chili seasoning packets, and you can too!

    We have a favorite seasoning for chili, and a favorite seasoning for this, that way the two dishes don’t taste the same.

    When I was developing this recipe I decided to use the canned tomatoes with celery, bell peppers, and onion already added in. You could certainly use fresh onion, celery and peppers, just cook them with the ground beef.

    I used to make this dish similar to that, but wanted to make it quicker, with less prep. This version also costs less, a win for our family.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    I am currently developing a dish with chicken that is a quick, one pot dinner. We love chicken and I am excited to come up with a healthy and fast chicken dish.

    It will be quick without a lot of prep. I have experimented some, but the dish still needs perfecting. I am close though!

    All of these easy Hamburger Helper type dinners call for you to cover the pan while the pasta cooks. I do it that way now, but there was a time that I didn’t have a lid that fit any of my skillets, so I didn’t cover it.

    It did take longer to cook, so I just cooked it until the pasta was done and the liquid was cooked out. So, if you don’t have a lid for your skillet, don’t fret.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    I also have a recipe for Homemade Tuna Helper Creamy Pasta that is popular, as well as Homemade Hamburger Helper Cheesy Italian Shells (my daughter’s favorite).

    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

    Homemade Hamuburger Helper Chili Mac

    Mindy Boyd
    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.
    4.84 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Facebook Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 26 mins
    Total Time 31 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 2 tablespoons chili seasoning
    • 1 tablespoon corn starch
    • 1 can diced tomatoes with peppers, onions, and celery (14.5 ounces)
    • 1 can tomato sauce 8 ounces
    • 1 3/4 cups water
    • 1/4 cup milk
    • 2 1/2 cups macaroni
    • 1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt optional
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    Instructions
     

    • Mix chili seasoning and corn starch in a small bowl; set aside.
    • Brown ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat stirring occasionally, 8-10 minutes. Drain if necessary.
    • Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, water, milk, and seasoning mixture; stir until combined.
    • Add macaroni and bring to a boil. Lower heat to simmer. Cover and cook 13-16 minutes or until macaroni is tender, stirring occasionally. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.

    Notes

    This dish does not have a lot of extra sauce. If you would like yours to have more sauce then increase the water by 1/4 cup.
    I also did not put any salt in it because we are trying to cut down on sodium. You could add a 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of salt if you wish.
    I use lean ground beef, I spray my skillet with cooking spray before I put the ground beef in and I don't have to drain it!

    Nutrition Facts

    Calories: 384kcal | Carbohydrates: 38g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 7g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 55mg | Sodium: 258mg | Potassium: 499mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 1247IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg
    Keyword chili mac
    Tried this recipe?Mention @mindyscookingobsession or tag #mindyscookingobsession!

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    Homemade Hamburger Helper Chili Mac is healthier and only requires ground beef, macaroni, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili seasoning, milk, and water.

     

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    Filed Under: 30 Minutes Or Less, Entrees, One Pot Meals, Pasta Tagged With: beef, chili, hamburger helper, homemade, macaroni, tomato, tomato sauce

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Chase Ricks says

      February 27, 2023 at 12:56 pm

      In regards to the ingredients, when it talks about the can of diced tomatoes with peppers onions and celery, does that mean buying the specific type of canned tomatoes with peppers onions and celery in them or to buy them separately?

      I am asking because if you add them separately, the ingredients don’t say how many for the vegetables besides the tomatoes themselves.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        February 27, 2023 at 6:32 pm

        Yes, there are canned tomatoes that have the onion, peppers and celery already in them.

        Reply
    2. Le says

      September 29, 2021 at 7:17 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! I just made it and its fantastic. I added some extra chili seasoning along with some salt, garlic, and onion powder – seasoning to taste. Exactly what I was looking for!

      Reply
    3. Jeanne Nielsen says

      June 11, 2021 at 2:24 pm

      5 stars
      Great recipe! As others have said, it reminds me of a dish I’d made years ago. Love that it comes together fast and used ingredients I had on hand. Well deserving of 5 stars!

      Reply
    4. Debbie Walus says

      April 09, 2020 at 8:06 am

      What is “chili seasoning”? What spices are in that? My husband can’t have chili powder.

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        April 09, 2020 at 8:34 pm

        Chili seasoning is a blend of spices that are made especially for chili. It most definitely has chili powder in it, so it would not work if your husband can’t have it.

        Reply
    5. Anlet prince - Annslittlecorner says

      February 28, 2017 at 3:00 am

      Wow this looks delicious

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        February 28, 2017 at 5:39 am

        Thanks!

        Reply
    6. David @ Spiced says

      February 27, 2017 at 7:02 am

      Oh my gosh, this sounds amazing, Mindy! This one is a total throwback to my childhood, and now I’m going to be craving it all day. Plus, I love the idea of ditching the box and making this one from scratch. Yum!!

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        February 27, 2017 at 4:50 pm

        My daughter loves the boxed stuff, so I just had to make it healthier for her. Thanks!

        Reply
    7. Angie@Angie's Recipes says

      February 26, 2017 at 2:31 am

      So very comforting and packed full of flavour…definitely something my husband will love!

      Reply
      • Mindy Boyd says

        February 26, 2017 at 1:26 pm

        You can’t go wrong with pasta, right?! Thanks

        Reply

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    My name is Mindy and this is my husband, and biggest fan, Lee. I love cooking for my family. The purpose of this blog is to share my recipes and experiences in the kitchen. Most of the recipes that I make use ingredients that can be found in any grocery store. No special equipment or skills required.

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