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Love that classic childhood boxed favorite, but want to make it all homemade and healthier? This Healthy Hamburger Helper Recipe is your solution!
Made in one pot, this healthier hamburger helper is gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, and so delicious!
Table of contents
One-Pot Homemade Healthy Hamburger Helper
We are all about quick and easy dinners, using minimal ingredients and this homemade hamburger helper recipe is definitely a winner. One of our favorite one-pot recipes alongside one-pot taco pasta, It’s made with items you likely already have in your pantry, and will surely be a hit with everyone in your home.
This recipe is reminiscent of that version you might remember as a kid. However, it uses real ingredients so it tastes so much better! Did I mention it takes about 30 minutes to cook? Save this recipe, and hang it on your fridge for the next time you need dinner fast!
Ingredients Needed and Substitutions
*Scroll down to the recipe card for the full recipe and ingredient list!
- Olive Oil: Avocado oil will also work.
- Veggies: Onion and garlic create a sweet, savory flavor base. Then, we include diced tomatoes for a pop of color and acidity.
- Grass-Fed Lean Ground Beef: You’ll need one pound of ground beef. I recommend using 80% or leaner. Or, feel free to substitute ground turkey or ground chicken if preferred.
- Seasonings: Sea salt, black pepper, paprika, and oregano create the classic savory flavor you know and love.
- Beef Broth: I recommend using low-sodium broth. Feel free to substitute chicken broth or vegetable broth if needed.
- Gluten-Free Elbow Macaroni: We tested this one-pot pantry pasta with different types of gluten-free pasta and with traditional whole wheat pasta as well. It all worked the same! So, feel free to use whatever you have on hand.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese: For the best taste and texture, buy a block of cheese, and grate it yourself! Pre-shredded cheese contains anti-caking agents that impact its flavor and prevent it from melting. Feel free to use a plant-based cheese if you need to keep this recipe dairy-free.
Where I Buy My Meat
- 100% Grass-Fed, Grass-Finished Beef
- Free-Range Organic Chicken
- Humanely Raised Pork
- Wild-Caught Seafood
Delivered to your door! The latest ButcherBox deal can be found right here!
How to Make This Healthy Hamburger Helper Recipe
- Sauté: Heat the oil in a large Dutch oven. Then, add the onion and garlic, and cook until they soften and become fragrant.
- Brown the meat: Add the beef, and cook, breaking it into pieces until it’s no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
- Season: Stir in the salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, diced tomatoes, and broth. Then, bring the liquid to a boil.
- Cook the pasta: Add the pasta, and cook to al dente according to the package instructions. Be sure to stir frequently to prevent the pasta from clumping!
- Add the cheese: Shut off the heat. Then, stir in the cheese, and let the pasta simmer and thicken.
- Serve: Garnish with fresh parsley, and enjoy warm!
Watch the video:
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze this healthy hamburger helper recipe for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat in a skillet or pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a splash of broth as needed to freshen the dish back up. You can also warm leftovers in the microwave, but the pasta is more likely to become a bit mushy.
FAQs
Sure! Simply omit the beef, and stir in black beans or chickpeas for a boost of protein. Or, use your favorite plant-based meat crumbles instead.
I love to include veggies like sautéed zucchini, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, red bell pepper, mushrooms, or spinach for a boost of veggies. You can also add a dash of red pepper flakes, chili powder, or hot sauce for a kick of spice!
I love to serve this dish with a side of gluten-free garlic bread, garlicky blistered green beans, air fryer broccoli, or a Caesar salad for extra nutrients!
More Pasta Recipes To Try
One-Pot Healthy Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 lb. grass-fed ground beef
- 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 15 ounce can diced tomato
- 3-1/2 cups beef broth
- 12 ounce gluten-free elbow macaronia
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Parsley for serving
Instructions
- Heat oil in large dutch oven over medium heat. Once hot, add onion and garlic and cook, stirring often until starting to soften, about 5 minutes.2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Add in the beef and cook until no pink remains. Remove any excess fat.1 lb. grass-fed ground beef
- Add in the salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, diced tomatos and broth and bring up to a boil.1 teaspoon fine sea salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon oregano, 15 ounce can diced tomato, 3-1/2 cups beef broth
- Once boiling, add the pasta to the pot and cook for as long as the package instruction states (if package says to cook pasta for 10 minutes, cook for 10 minutes), stirring every few minutes to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom.12 ounce gluten-free elbow macaronia
- Once the pasta is cooked through, shut off the heat and add the cheese. Stir together, then let the pasta sit for 5 minutes while the sauce continues to thicken up.1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Garnish with parsley, and serve!Parsley
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- Freeze this healthy hamburger helper recipe for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight.
- Reheat in a skillet or pot on the stovetop over medium heat. Add a splash of broth as needed to freshen the dish back up. You can also warm leftovers in the microwave, but the pasta is more likely to become a bit mushy.
ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS! And so so so easy. My entire family loved this, Lexi’s recipes never disappoint!
Cooking every night during this coronavirus lockdown is exhausting! A friend told me about this website, and when I found the Homemade Hamburger Helper, and it not only looked easy but I also had all the ingredients, I knew I had to try it. This was soooo good. My husband had three servings and I had to tell him to stop eating LOL.
Adding to my meal rotation for sure.
Soooo yummy. Soooo easy. And made lots for leftovers which I very much appreciate these days!
This recipe is so good!! It truly hit all the spots – comfort, taste, texture, etc. I used regular Barilla elbow macaroni and chopped up some extra celery and bell pepper to add in. I drained the tomatoes and also added in a second can. Spinach would be a good addition too! My husband and I practically scarfed half of down, it was just perfect for our chilly and wet Chicago weather.
My husband just said…tasted like childhood but it’s not from a box! It was so good! We will be putting this into the dinner rotation!
Do you think this would work with Banza chickpea pasta??? Looks so good!!!
I ended up using Catelli Gluten Free (mix of rice, corn and quinoa) because it was the only one my hubby could find at the grocery store since I usually only use a rice pasta, and it worked out perfectly! I doubled the recipe and started with 6 cups of beef broth (instead of 7 the doubling called for) and it was actually just the right amount. It looked too liquidy but Lexi is right, when it sits for 5 min it thickens right up! It was delicious and all three kids approve! Thank you for another winner!
Lexi, I want to make this but all the gluten free pasta I have indicates it must be rinsed well after cooking. Would using this kind of pasta make the mixture too startchy since I know it’s all cooked together in one pot?
What brands do you have? We’ve tried many different brands and it hasn’t turned out badly! The starch helps it thicken up! But happy to discuss if you let us know what brands you have!
OH MY GOD THIS WAS SO GOOD. Made this gluten free and used dairy free cheese. Didn’t have a can of diced tomatoes so I just diced up some fresh tomatoes. Also didn’t have paprika so used red chili powder. Also didn’t have enough beef broth so I did 2 cans beef broth and one can tomato sauce. Quarantine am I right?! This was honestly such a feel good recipe and will be making this often, might add some mushrooms next time!
Do you have the nutrition facts for this recipe??
It really looks delicious. I want to do the same. Thanks.
So good! Only change I made was used chicken broth instead of beef broth (didn’t have it). Adding this recipe to my weeknight dinner binder. Thanks, Lexi. 🙂
Made this last night. SO GOOD. It was a total hit with my boyfriend, too, who said “I feel like I’m being cooked for by a professional chef” Ha! In all seriousness, this recipe was great & a perfect way to use things that we already had in the pantry/fridge! I did use rigatoni, just because we didn’t have macaroni. And chicken broth, because we didn’t have beef broth. Both subs worked great! Can’t wait to have the leftovers for lunch today.
Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
Made this tonight as a quick dinner and it was delicious! My young kids that love pasta gobbled it right up. Simple ingredients and easy instructions. Will definitely be going into regular rotation at our house.
Did you happen to have anything as a side dish or item? I have this on my meal plan for this week and just wanted to see if you had any serving suggestions for a side. Thanks!
Hi Lexi, I really hope to make this tonight! I don’t have beef broth though. Do you think using water would still make it ok? Extra seasonings? Or I do have chicken and vegetable broth but I don’t want to change the flavor too much.
Water is fine!
Could this be made in an Instant Pot ?
We haven’t tested it, but you could give it a go! Let us know how it comes out if you do!
Lol sorry Lexi! I tend to scroll straight to the recipe. Now I see that yes everything goes in one pot!??♀️
We always give relevant information within the body of the post ALWAYS, so if ever in doubt about something, definitely check out what we’ve written above it 🙂
So are we cooking the pasta right in the beef tomato mixture?