This Velveeta Hamburger Helper is going to become an easy family favorite! Meat and tender pasta are simmered (in ONE pot!) with tomato sauce with flavorful spices and finished off with lots of creamy Velveeta cheese! The best part is-- there is minimal chopping/prep AND it comes together in less than 30 minutes!
3 1/2cupsuncooked medium shellsor small elbow macaroni
4cupsbeef broth
8oz.Velveeta, at room temperature, cut into cubes
Instructions
Prep: Pull the Velveeta out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature while you prepare the other ingredients.
Brown Meat: In a large skillet or stockpot with a lid, over medium-high heat, add beef. Cook for 2-3 minutes, breaking the meat up with a spoon as you go. Pro tip: Use a potato masher to get your meat broken up nice and fine.Add onion and cook 2-3 minutes more until onion is slightly soft.
Season: Season meat with garlic powder, onion powder, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine all spices. Then, add tomato sauce and tomato paste. Stir to combine.
Add & Simmer: Add pasta and broth. Give everything a big stir. Bring to a boil, COVER, then turn to medium-low heat and simmer for 14-16 minutes or until pasta is al dente. Stir the pasta a few times during cooking to ensure it's not sticking to the bottom of the pan. Note: Every pasta has a slightly different cooking time. At the end of 14-16 minutes, if the pasta isn't quite done, just add a bit more beef broth and cook a couple minutes longer.
Add Cheese: Uncover, and stir in Velveeta. Cook another 2-3 minutes until cheese is fully melted into the pasta. The sauce will thicken a bit after a few minutes, so if the dish seems too liquidy, just let it stand for a few minutes. If the pasta seems too dry, just add a little water or a splash of beef broth to thin it out a bit.Spoon into bowls and serve!