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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.
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.
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
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 675 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
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!
GLUTEN FREE PASTA REVIEW … I use and lice Andean dream pasta bc it holds its form the best without using corn. Awesome recipe. Use the most SHALLOW AND WIDE PAN that you can find (but the ingredients make for a hefty sum total) bc gluten free pasta does not like much stirring and folding. The cook time was not long. Keep tasting your gf pasta so it doesn’t end up mush. SO yummy.
Hey Deborah,
Happy Thursday! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe and thanks so much for making it! xT
This recipe is certainly on the regular rotation. Kid and Daddy approved!!
Hey Samantha,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
I’ve made this recipe three times now, with my own variations and it is just so good! Used Beyond Meat at a vegetarian substitute and added a chopped red bell pepper in with onions… amazing!!
Hey Rachel,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and thanks so much for trying it out! xx
We loved it!! I used ground turkey because that’s what I had on hand. Also used cheddar and Parmesan combo (at Aldi) and added a little Thyme on top. Delicious!
Hey Christine,
Happy Monday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This is so good! Husband approves! I used ground turkey and Oat milk because that’s what I had. This will be going into our regular rotation!
Hey Susan,
Happy Monday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
Delicious! Brought back memories, thanks!
Hey Kimberly,
Happy Monday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this recipe and sharing your feedback, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xT
This recipe is so delicious!! I used some gnocchi instead of noodles, it was so creamy and hearty and home-y!! I didn’t have any zucchini on hand, so threw in a handful of organic frozen peas!! Absolutely hit the spot!! ❤️
Hey Jessicca,
Happy Friday!!⛄️ Thanks so much for making this dish and sharing your review, so glad to hear it was a hit! xx
Second time making this and love it! Here are my tips- really brown the meat for more flavor, you might need more liquid so have extra broth on hand, and emphasize CONTINUOUS stirring while cooking the noodles otherwise they stick to the bottom of the pot and they don’t all cook well. This is a great meal and toddler approved! One happy mom for sneaking in the zucchini too!
Hey Megan,
Awesome!! Love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! xT
This is one of my favorite go to meals! There are times when I use sausage instead of beef. Overall, it is an excellent meal.
Hey Jocelyn,
I am delighted to hear that this recipe turned out well for you and appreciate you giving it a try! Have a great weekend:)
Oh my gracious… I made this tonight with gluten free pasta. My family devoured it. I used what I had on hand. I used chicken broth, a little cream cheese and sweet peas. So good. Thank you for an amazing quick dinner❤️
Hey Amber,
Thank you so much for giving this dish a try, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great Thursday:)
I made this following the recipe since it was the first time, and used brown rice pasta. The type of pasta, I think, is the deciding factor for the liquid. I had to add both broth and milk as the pasta had to cook for 15 min!! It was delicious at the end but will try reg pasta next go round
Hey Michelle,
Wonderful!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for making it! xT
very good – whole family enjoyed.
Hey Sara,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear this was enjoyed! xT
Tieghan! Another winner! This recipe is great! I actually conned my husband and son into making it so I could workout. With the recipe being all in one pot, the boys had no issue cooking it. We ran out of liquid before the noodles were cooked but that could have been our noodle measuring skills, but it was easily fixed by adding a bit more broth. This recipe will be made again for sure! Thank you!
Hey Shana,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx
Awesome!!
I made this on a night I was snowed in, so I made some swaps with what I had in the house: I didn’t have zucchini on hand so I left it out, and I used ground chicken/chicken broth instead of beef/beef broth. We also only ever have almond milk on hand, so I used that, and it worked totally fine.
I only used half the pasta because I had half a box of mini shells leftover from another recipe — I was going to supplement with penne, but once I poured the half box of mini shells in, it looked like plenty of pasta. I *did* end up using the recommended amount of liquid: I originally used a little less since it was less pasta, but it seemed to need more, and I wanted this saucy!
Finally, I *do* think this needs some other kind of seasoning to be more similar to Hamburger Helper’s cheesy Italian shells — maybe oregano or Italian seasoning? I’d try this next time I make this: it will totally be going in our rotation!
Hey Sammie,
Happy Wednesday!!🎇 I am delighted to hear that this recipe was enjoyed and appreciate you making it! Thanks for sharing your feedback and what worked well for you! xx
Can leftovers be frozen? Going to give this one a try.
Hey Ardith,
Totally, that would be just fine for you to do! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
I made this and after asking if I could freeze leftovers….they didn’t last long enough! I didn’t have zucchini so skipped that but fried fresh mushrooms in with the onions and used real garlic, also added some fresh Parmesan with the cheddar cheese. I also use whole wheat pasta when I cook. This is a keeper. The combination of spices almost gave it a sweet taste. I’ll be making this again!
Hey Ardith,
Wonderful!! Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Thanks for your comment! xx