Homemade Hamburger Helper

This is a family-pleasing, one-pot meal!  Quick and easy to throw together too.

Homemade Hamburger Helper (adapted from Kitchen Stewardship)

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb uncooked pasta
2 c. water *
1 1/4 cup tomato sauce*
2 tsp sugar
squirt of mustard
1 tsp black pepper
1 tsp onion powder
salt to taste (~1/2 tsp)
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Brown and drain beef. Stir in pepper, onion powder, tomato sauce, sugar, and mustard. Pour in water and pasta. Bring to a boil and reduce heat; cover and simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until the water is absorbed and the pasta is cooked. Turn the heat off and stir in the cheese.

*I didn't have tomato sauce so I used 2 c pureed tomatoes, plus 1 cup water (instead of 2) and 2 TBSP tomato paste