If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner idea, this is it! This recipe is perfect because it combines all the flavors of Hamburger Helper with pasta in just one pot – and it’s a lot better for you since it’s homemade. You can’t go wrong with that. It’s easy to put together, cooks quickly, and tastes delicious. Who could ask for more?

There are just those meals that you look back on with fondness from childhood – and Hamburger Helper is one of them.

However, if you aren’t as pleased with the idea when you look at the ingredients on the box, you might feel a little disappointed…until you realize you can make something that tastes even better at home and you can feel a little bit better about feeding your family.

This pressure cooker Hamburger Helper is absolutely delicious. It has tons of flavor, it’s so easy to throw together quickly, tastes amazing, it’s a recipe the whole family will love. This one definitely has a place in my permanent Instant Pot recipes cookbook!

The cooking time for this recipe in under 30 minutes, and it’s something your entire family will be asking you to make over and over again (picky eaters included).

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 oz dry elbow macaroni
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Directions:

1. Turn instant pot to the saute setting and heat olive oil.
2. Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink and drain excess fat.
3. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pot with a little bit of beef broth.
5. Add ketchup, mustard, seasonings, macaroni, and brothe to the pot and stir well.
6. Place lid on top and set to manual high pressure for four minutes.
7. When the time goes off, quick release all the pressure.
8. When pressure is released, take the lid off and mix in the cheese. Serve immediately

Can I use different kinds of pasta?

You can use different kinds of pasta in this recipe, just make sure they are the same size so they cook evenly.

How can I make this recipe healthier?

There are a few swaps you can do to make this recipe a little bit better-for-you

• Use a healthier ground meat, such as ground turkey or ground chicken
• Choose an extra lean ground beef
• Use black beans instead of ground beef
• Choose a low fat sour cream
• Use low fat cheddar cheese
• Use whole wheat macaroni noodles

Why is this better than boxed Hamburger Helper?

This is better than the boxed version because you know exactly what’s in it and it’s made fresh. The homemade version has lots of the flavors and texture that we all know and love from the boxed stuff – it’s just better for you!.

What are some variations for this recipe?

Some variations for this recipe include:

• Using different kinds of cheese
• Adding in vegetables, such as onions or green peppers
• Using a different type of pasta.
• Add Worcestershire sauce.
• Use tomato paste instead of ketchup.
• Add in some taco seasoning
• Use fresh herbs

Can I use chicken broth instead of beef broth?

This should be fine. It may change the flavor ever-so-slightly, but it shouldn’t be very noticeable!

Are the noodles mushy?

The noodles should be cooked al dente, but not mushy. The best way to prevent them from getting mushy is to make sure you do the quick pressure release as quickly as possible when the timer goes off.

How can I store the leftovers?

You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Can I freeze the leftovers?

You can freeze the leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper

Yield: 7 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Check out one of our favorite easy Instant Pot dinner recipes - homemade hamburger helper. This easy meal is perfect for busy weeknights - it features a cheesy beef and pasta mixture that comes together in a snap!

Print

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1/2 tbsp minced garlic
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 8 oz dry elbow macaroni
• 4 cups beef broth
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Turn instant pot to the saute setting and heat olive oil.
2. Add ground beef and brown until no longer pink and drain excess fat.
3. Add minced garlic and cook until fragrant.
4. Deglaze the pot with a little bit of beef broth.
5. Add ketchup, mustard, seasonings, macaroni, and brothe to the pot and stir well.
6. Place lid on top and set to manual high pressure for four minutes.
7. When the time goes off, quick release all the pressure.
8. When pressure is released, take the lid off and mix in the cheese. Serve immediately

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 7 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 424Total Fat: 28gSaturated Fat: 12gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 99mgSodium: 977mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 1gSugar: 1gProtein: 29g

What does it mean to deglaze the bottom?

Deglazing the pot is essential for making sure your food doesn’t burn. When you use the saute feature to brown the ground beef, pieces of the meat get stuck to the bottom of the pot.

So before you add the rest of the ingredients in, you need to deglaze! You can do this very simply by following these instructions:

• Add a small amount of water or broth to the bottom of the bottom
• Using a wooden spoon, crape the bottom of the pot until it looks like there are no more bits and pieces of meat stuck to it.

Why did I get a burn notice?

There are two main reasons you will get a burn notice:

• You did not put in enough liquid
• You did not deglaze the bottom of the pot.

Can I make this recipe dairy free?

We have not made this recipe dairy-free, but you could try using your favorite dairy-free cheddar shreds and a dairy-free sour cream.

What should I serve with this recipe?

You can make this a complete meal with some delicious sides dishes including steamed vegetables, a simple salad, or garlic bread.

More Weeknight Dinner Recipes:

• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Instant Pot Chicken Alfredo
• Easy Instant Pot Tomato Soup Recipe
• Instant Pot Ham Potato and Cheddar Soup

This Instant Pot homemade hamburger helper is quick, easy and delicious – perfect for busy weeknights. It’s also healthier than boxed Hamburger Helper, since it’s homemade. You can customize it with your favorite ingredients or variations.

Plus, the leftovers are freezer-friendly, so you can make ahead and have a quick meal ready to go. Who knew making a delicious meal like this could be so easy? We love this cheesy pasta dish, and we know that it will be one of your family favorites for years to come.

The post Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper first appeared on What's in the Pot.

The post Easy Homemade Instant Pot Hamburger Helper appeared first on What's in the Pot.

This Instant Pot soup doesn’t require much prep or cook time, but it tastes as if it has been simmering on the stove for hours. This ham potato soup is naturally creamy when using Russet potatoes as they break up a little bit while cooking.

It’s getting colder outside, and that means it’s time for some delicious soup! 

But who has time to make soup from scratch? Not me. That’s why I love this Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup recipe.

This ham and potato soup is perfect for a chilly night. It only takes a few minutes to prep, and then the Instant Pot does all the work. Plus, this soup is naturally creamy thanks to the Russet potatoes.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• ¼ c. diced onion
• ½ c. diced celery
• 1 c. carrots, diced
• 2 c. chopped ham
• 1 lb. fresh russett potatoes (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. thyme
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ c. half and half
• shredded cheddar cheese (for serving)

Directions:

1. Add oil, garlic, onion and celery to the Instant Pot.
2. Set the pot to SAUTÉ and sauté the ingredients until the onion is soft, stirring frequently, about 3–5 minutes.
3. Stir in carrots, ham, potatoes, broth, and seasonings (salt, thyme, and pepper).
4. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal shut.
5. Close the pressure release valve.
6. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes.
7. When the cooking cycle is complete, let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
8. Open the instant pot and carefully stir in half and half.

Can you make this soup ahead of time?

This ham and potato soup is great to make ahead of time, just heat it up on the stove or in a microwave until it boils.

Can you freeze this soup?

This ham and potato soup freeze well. You can freeze it in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. I recommend thawing the soup on the countertop before reheating it on the stove or in a microwave. You can also defrost in the Instant Pot with 1 cup of broth for about 15 minutes on manual pressure.

I also like to use these Souper Cubes for freezing soup. It makes for easy reheating, too!

Tips for making ham and potato soup

• You can use a leftover ham or just buy some from the store – I always like the Costco ham.
• I like to use Better than Bouillion for
• stocks because it’s easy to store and I can just use 1 cube per cup of liquid for this ham and potato soup recipe.
• Substitute the dairy milk with almond, cashew or coconut milk.
• Do not substitute Russet potatoes with any other type of potatoes – you need the starchyness that the russets provide for this soup.
• You can use frozen green beans if you don’t have fresh ones on hand, too!
• If you are not Vegan, feel free to add some shredded cheddar cheese on top of the finished soup for more flavor.

How to store ham and potato soup

This soup keeps well in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze leftovers of this ham and potato soup recipe for up to 3 months.

When I make a batch of this Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup, I like to portion it out into individual containers that are freezer safe, then store them in the freezer for quick and easy meals.

Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes

Print

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. oil
• 1 tbsp. minced garlic
• ¼ c. diced onion
• ½ c. diced celery
• 1 c. carrots, diced
• 2 c. chopped ham
• 1 lb. fresh potatoes (cut into 1/2-inch pieces)
• 4 c. chicken broth
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 tsp. thyme
• ¼ tsp. pepper
• ½ c. half and half
• shredded cheddar cheese (for serving)

Instructions

1. Add oil, garlic, onion and celery to the Instant Pot.
2. Set the pot to SAUTÉ and sauté the ingredients until the onion is soft, stirring frequently, about 3–5 minutes.
3. Stir in carrots, ham, potatoes, broth, and seasonings (salt, thyme, and pepper).
4. Place the lid on the Instant Pot and seal shut.
5. Close the pressure release valve.
6. Set the Instant Pot to manual, high pressure for 5 minutes.
7. When the cooking cycle is complete, let pressure naturally release for 10 minutes.
8. Open the instant pot and carefully stir in half and half.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 4 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 352Total Fat: 16gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 2381mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 5gSugar: 6gProtein: 19g

What should I serve with this soup?

There are so many great options – our mind always goes straight to BREAD.

• Rolls
• Breadsticks
• Texas Toast
• French Bread

A dinner salad would go great with this soup as well!

Can I make this soup in the crock pot?

You can make this soup in the crockpot if you like. Follow all of the instructions until you get to the part where you turn on the Instant Pot! Put your slow cooker on low for 2-3 hours or high for 4-6.

How long to cook the potato soup in the instant pot?

This soup will cook for about five minutes at manual high pressure. However, take into account the time it takes to get to pressure.

What are great toppings for Ham and Potato Soup?

I love to top this ham and potato soup with some shredded cheese, a few pieces of diced green onion or a dollop of sour cream.

Variations for recipe:

• You can use other veggies in this ham and potato soup such as corn or green beans, too.
• Use bacon bits instead of ham
• Use smoked turkey instead of ham
• Adjust the spices so that it tastes great for your palate – garlic powder, salt and pepper are staples in my house when it comes to this soup.
• Use a different type of cheese – pepper jack would be fantastic with this meal!

More Recipes You Might Enjoy:

• Easy Instant Pot Chicken, Potatoes, and Carrots
• Instant Pot Honey Garlic Chicken
• Homemade Tomato Soup
• Homemade Tomato Soup

This Instant Pot Ham and Potato Soup is the perfect comfort food for a chilly night. It’s easy to prep, and the Instant Pot does all the work. Plus, this soup is naturally creamy thanks to the Russet potatoes. You can make this soup ahead of time, freeze it, or cook it in the crockpot – it’s so versatile!

The post Instant Pot Ham Potato and Cheddar Soup first appeared on What's in the Pot.

The post Instant Pot Ham Potato and Cheddar Soup appeared first on What's in the Pot.