Instant Pot Cheesy Hamburger Helper (Printer-Friendly)

Hearty macaroni, ground beef, and sharp cheddar unite in a creamy sauce—all prepared easily in your pressure cooker.

# What You’ll Need to Cook:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
02 - 500 grams lean ground beef
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 1 medium bell pepper (red, orange, or yellow), diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 teaspoons chili powder
07 - 1.5 teaspoons fine sea salt
08 - 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
11 - 750 millilitres beef broth
12 - 280 grams dried elbow macaroni
13 - 200 grams sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

# Steps to Prepare:

01 - Set the Instant Pot to sauté mode and add olive oil. Add ground beef and cook for 5 minutes, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon until browned. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add chopped onion, diced bell pepper, and minced garlic to the pot. Sprinkle in chili powder, salt, and pepper. Sauté for 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables have softened.
03 - Stir in tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Pour in beef broth. Scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly with a wooden spoon to release any browned bits.
04 - Stir in elbow macaroni. Ensure pasta is submerged in the liquid for even cooking.
05 - Seal the Instant Pot lid and set valve to 'sealing.' Select manual pressure and cook on high for 5 minutes. Allow the pressure to build before cooking time begins.
06 - Perform a quick release of pressure. Open the lid carefully and immediately stir in shredded cheddar cheese until fully melted and sauce is creamy.
07 - If desired, garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve hot.

# Extra Cooking Tips:

01 - For optimal melting, grate cheddar cheese fresh rather than using pre-shredded varieties.
02 - Orange, red, or yellow bell peppers provide a sweeter flavor profile; green peppers are more robust.
03 - To avoid Instant Pot burn notice, always scrape the bottom of the pot thoroughly after sautéeing.
04 - Recipe accommodates ground turkey as a protein variation.

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