A childhood favourite made from scratch, this homemade cheeseburger macaroni recipe is delicious, comforting and super easy to make right in the Instant Pot®!

Before I go onto this easy cheeseburger macaroni recipe I have to share a little story.
So I was gone from civilization earlier this week. Yep, Dawn was off the grid.
What did I do?
I left the house without my phone.
No phone for the entire day (also known as my idea of living on the wild side).
Tragic, right?
Okay, not really, but you don’t realize how much you rely, reach for or depend on something until you don’t have.
I was seriously catching myself throughout the day reaching for my phone with no phone to be had.
I felt lost.
Anyone else ever forget their phone and felt that way? Anyway, when I got my phone in my little hands again everything felt right. Ha!
Truth be told, it was probably a good thing. We all spend too much time with our face in our phones anyway, don’t we?
Onto this delicious ground beef Instant Pot recipe, shall we?
Love macaroni recipes? Try this creamy stove-top mac and cheese!

Homemade Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
Know those boxed hamburger meals? The ones with the cute little hand character on the front of the package? Basically, you add a little meat and milk to the box mix and way to go.
I loved that growing up! Well, this is a homemade version, but better! There’s no powdered flavour packets and it tastes absolutely delicious!
Plus, it’s easy to make!

Oh, and no judgement, but I sometimes serve cheeseburger mac and cheese with ketchup. Some habits die hard.
If you’re feeling extra fancy, you could also garnish with some chopped parsley, green onion or chives. Use what you enjoy best!
If you’re licking your screen right now, I understand, LOL.

Tips for Making This Recipe
- This homemade hamburger helper recipe calls for one cup of shredded cheese. It’s kinda difficult to measure one cup of cheese because, like flour, for example, the quantity could vary depending on how well it’s stuffed into the cup; feel me? It works out to be about 4 ounces or 120 grams or about ¼ of a one-pound block of cheese. If you like things extra cheesy, feel free to add more.
- I’ve made this with both cheddar and mozzarella (and sometimes a combo of the two). Just pick whatever you enjoy as long as it’s a good melting cheese.
- The sauce will thicken further as it stands. Enjoy once it’s made.
Recipe Variations
- Don’t have or prefer to use another type of protein? Try ground turkey or chicken.
- Like things more spicy? Add more hot sauce or cayenne. Like less spicy? Omit or add less.
- Macaroni pasta was used here because it’s traditional for this recipe. However, if you’d rather try something else, use a similarly sized pasta.

More Comfort Recipes
Stay tuned for another tasty ground beef recipe coming your way shortly.
If you make this easy cheeseburger mac and cheese recipe, be sure to leave a comment below!!

Cheeseburger Macaroni Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, peeled and diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ pound lean ground beef
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce, use less if you prefer less spice (I used Sriracha)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 8 ounces dried macaroni pasta, 2 cups
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 2 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese, about ½ cup
- 2 ounces shredded cheddar cheese, about ½ cup
- ¼ cup creme fraiche, or full-fat sour cream (optional but yummy)
Instructions
- Turn Instant Pot to "Sauté." (I used an 8-quart Instant Pot.)Note: Settings may vary on your Instant Pot, depending on the model. Please refer to the manufacturer's guide on how to use your Instant Pot.
- Adjust the [+] or [-] button to set the timer to 12 minutes.
- Add olive oil to the Instant Pot and, when hot, add onion and garlic. Cook, stirring often, for about 2 minutes. Add ground beef, salt, black pepper, oregano, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and tomato paste. Stir. Cook, breaking the ground beef into small pieces and stirring occasionally, until it's fully cooked through (the ground beef should no longer be pink and be browned all the way through), about 8 to 10 minutes. If there is any time left on the timer, press "Cancel." Stir in macaroni pasta and beef broth.
- Close and lock lid. Set the vent on the lid to "Sealing" (steam valve in closed position). Ensure you follow the manufacturer's guide for closing and locking the lid.
- Set Instant Pot to "Pressure Cook" or "Manual" (high setting) button (depending on which model you have). Adjust the [+] or [-] button to set the timer to 5 minutes (it will take roughly 5 minutes to come to pressure before the Instant Pot starts to count down the 5 minutes cook time).
- After the pressure cook cycle is up, follow the manufacturer's guide for Quick Release and wait until the Quick Release cycle is complete. Unlock and remove lid, being careful of any remaining steam (ensure you follow the manufacturer's guide for unlocking and removing the lid).
- Stir in the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Let sit for 3 to 4 minutes until the cheese melts. Stir in creme fraiche or sour cream (if using). Serve and enjoy!Note: You can use ½ cup each of shredded mozzarella cheese and cheddar cheese or 1 cup of either.
Notes
- The sauce will thicken further as it stands.
- Macaroni pasta was used here because it’s traditional for this recipe. However, if you’d rather try something else, use a similarly sized pasta.
- Ensure you are familiar with the manufacturer recommended operating instructions and know how to properly/safely use your Instant Pot (or any kitchen appliance/device/tool you are using).
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
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Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
LAURA WEAVER says
This is simply amazing! This recipe has quickly become a BIG family favorite. There are never any leftovers. I thank you for sharing. We enjoy this recipe even more when made with ground turkey instead of beef. The flavor is AMAZING!
Dawn | Girl Heart Food says
Thank you very much, Laura!! That is so wonderful to hear!!