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Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper. Swapping the boxed stuff out and making everyone’s childhood dinner completely homemade, and healthier too. Plus so much tastier! Think of this hamburger helper as the tastier, creamier version of what you’d eat as a kid. It’s made with ground beef, seasonings, pasta, and a little shredded zucchini too (for added veggies). Comfort food at its best, this recipe is sure to become a family favorite.
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I didn’t grow up eating hamburger helper, neither did my brothers. But for whatever reason, this has been a recipe I wanted to try and recreate for a while now. Ever since my older brother mentioned the idea to me a year or so ago it’s been on my “to make” list.
Not going to lie, it’s obviously not my usual kind of recipe, as I tend to sway towards recipes with a bit more color. But something about recreating this in a healthier, tastier, way really excited me.
So while it may have taken me over a year to finally test this out and share, the day is here. And I’m excited because this really is that perfect early fall, September dinner.
The idea
So as I said, my brother had mentioned creating a recipe for homemade (not boxed) hamburger helper. He said that if I could make it like the boxed stuff, but with a creamier texture, and a little more depth of flavor, that it would be, “SO GOOD”.
I wasn’t excited at first, but then I started to think about the upgrades I could make. I wondered, “could I make it healthier, but still creamy? Could we add a little flavor, but still keep it classic? And could I make it all in one pot just like the box?”.
All of the challenges started to excite me, so I figured if I could get each one checked off, then I would have a great recipe!
This is a one pot dinner, so the details are simple
First of all, find yourself a nice big pot or braiser to cook this in. I love this one and think it’s the perfect size for this recipe.
Now, starting cooking! Simply add the beef and onion to your pot and brown it all over, add in some spices, and then the pasta. And next? The ingredient that adds a little health to the recipe…a bit of shredded zucchini.
I love adding shredded zucchini to pasta dishes like this. Not only does the zucchini incorporate a vegetable into the recipe, but it also adds moisture and creates an even creamier sauce.
Finish it up
Once the pasta and zucchini are both added, pour over the broth and milk. Add a squeeze of ketchup (sounds weird, but trust me), then cook everything together until that pasta is al dente.
It’s important to stir the pasta frequently to ensure that nothing is sticking. But other than that, everything is EASY.
The final step is to stir in a handful of cheddar cheese. Serve up the hamburger helper topped with fresh parsley (it needs a little color!) and enjoy!
As I always like to say – homemade is best!
Excited to have this recipe in my back pocket for cozy fall and winter dinners to come. And Creighton’s verdict? He loved every bite. He said, “how could someone not love this? It’s basically mac and cheese with meat…and it’s delicious”.
So there ya go! He doesn’t lie.
You can use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
Yes, you can use gluten-free pasta.
Looking for other easy family dinners? Here are a few ideas:
Broccoli Cheddar Chicken and Rice Casserole
One Pan Autumn Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole
Easy Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Cheese Stuffed Pasta Bolognese Bake
One Skillet Cheesy Broccoli Cheddar Orzo Bake
Lastly, if you make this Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Healthier Homemade One Pot Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pound short cut pasta
- 1 zucchini, grated , (about 1 cup grated)
- 2 cups low sodium beef broth
- 1 1/2 cups milk, (use what you drink)
- 1 1/2-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- 1. In a large pot set over medium hight heat, add the olive oil, onion and beef. Season with salt and pepper. Cook until brown all over, breaking up the meat as you go, about 10 minutes. Stir in the chili powder, paprika, and garlic powder, cook another minute.2. Add the pasta and zucchini and toss to coat, then pour in the broth and milk. Add the ketchup and stir to combine. Season with salt. 3. Bring to a gentle boil over medium high heat. Simmer 5-8 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring often. 4. Stir in the cheese and cook another few minutes until very creamy. 5. Divide the pasta among bowls and top with fresh parsley. Enjoy!
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Has anyone tried this with ground chicken? What type of cheese are you using?
Hi there,
Sure, ground chicken would work well for you here. The recipe calls for shredded cheddar cheese. Please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Can I use elbow pasta? If so, how much? Thanks!
Hi Cassie,
You can follow the recipe as is using elbow pasta. Please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
We loved this recipe!! One thing I did do was double the spices and add onion powder. I also did chicken broth because I forgot to buy beef broth and I needed to use the entire carton because there wasn’t quite enough liquid to cook the noodles. Super super good, my family loved it.
Hi there,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I added frozen zucchini spirals and doubled the spices. It was delicious and made for a quick weeknight meal! Loved by all!
Hi Mary,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I doubled the amount of ground beef (I have teenage boys) and added more liquid (broth and milk) to the pan with the pasta. Everyone loved it! Great recipe for a hungry family. Thank you!
Hi Julie,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
We loved this Healthier Hamburger Helper recipe, and so easy to make. I even made it the night before, so all we had to do was reheat and eat the next day. It did need a little thinning when we reheated it, but a little milk and an extra dash of cheese was all it took. This was great for a cold winter night – a definite keeper. We will be making it again and again!! Thank you
Hi Diane,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
Just made this (following Danielle’s comments recommending double spices) and it was so yummy and comforting! Great recipe!
Hi Annette,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I didn’t see the zucchini listed in the ingredients, so I didn’t have it when it came time to make. I chopped up some fresh broccoli that I had on hand. I also used red lentil pasta. 4 kids here ages 11 all the way down to 1 everyone loved it!
Hi Ruthie,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I did grow up with hamburger helper and the flavor of this was waaaay better! My kids have not grown up with it, but they loved this! Everyone happily gobbled this up. I used cavatappi shape of pasta so cooking time was a little longer and I added a little more broth to accommodate that. I didn’t have zucchini so I omitted, but I look forward to including next time!
Hi Michelle,
Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xTieghan
I’ve made this twice now and it’s the best! Here’s my tip from the second time around: double if not triple the spices! I found the first batch to be a little bland for my taste. I used a tablespoon of each spice and two tablespoons of ketchup. It turned out perfect! Probably the fastest HBH recipe I’ve ever made too. Keeping this one in the regular rotation!
PS the pasta shape is “shellbows” from Delallo Foods!
Hi Danielle,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
I made this and modified quite a bit BUT it is our fav dinner right now. I use oat milk instead of regular milk, and I sub out the pasta for broccoli, chopped zucchini, and mushrooms. SO GOOD
Hey Christina,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
Made this a few times now and its so good! So easy and delicious! My toddler loves it! I like to add tomato paste instead of ketchup.
Hi Aly,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
Fantastic! It hit all the notes we needed it to hit! Better than the box ever was and better for you too!
Hey Elizabeth,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
So good! I used chickpea pasta and added one can of cannellini beans for some extra protein and fiber. I put them in the blender with the milk so you can’t taste the beans at all.
Hey Becca,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan
This recipe was SO good! Made it for our two little kids (which they loved), but we ended up loving it even more! Perfect leftovers too! I’ve never made Hamburger Helper and will never thanks to this recipe! Thanks so much!
Hi Cari,
Awesome! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! xxTieghan