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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.
This is a great one pot, fast, family friendly meal! I didn’t think there would be enough liquid to cook my pasta, but it ended up just perfect! I just needed to add a bit more salt, but otherwise it was yummy!
Thanks so so much for trying out this recipe! Have a lovely day! xT
Enjoyed this recipe and have made it a couple times – sometimes I add other veggies like spinach and mushrooms. I now know that it takes at least double the liquid to cook the pasta unless you par boil it ahead of time (my preferred method).
Thank you so much for trying out this recipe! Hope you enjoyed it 🙂 xT
I never leave reviews but I should have read some of these more closely before wasting a meal on this. For a 1lb of pasta, the liquid needed to be doubled, took twice as long to cook and necessitated twice as much spice as what was called for. I saw one reviewer added cayenne and giving it a kick may have been its only save.
If I were to make this again, I’d cook the pasta separately and add towards the end. But I won’t.
Thank you for the feedback Danielle! So sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe! xT
Can i use coconut milk(can) vs regular milk?
Hey Maria! Yes, that should be fine! xT
Grew up eating hamburger helper and this tastes just like it! Second time making and my fiancé and I love it. Great cozy fall meal.
Hi Laura! Thank you so so much for giving this recipe a try! Hope you’re having a lovely week! xT
This is one of my favorite dishes to make whether it’s for a weekly meal or having people over, it’s the best and all in one pot! Thank you!
Thank you so so much for giving this recipe a try! Hope you’re having a lovely week! xT
Super easy weeknight meal! Had ground turkey and chicken broth on hand, also used half pepperjack and half cheddar. Will definitely do this one again! Very flexible recipe. Thank you!
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! So happy to hear you enjoyed it! xT
What brand and type of pasta did you use?
Hi there! I used shellbow pasta from Delallo foods! 🙂 xT
Such a delicious, easy meal! I added broccoli instead of zucchini because that’s what we had available, and it was perfect. We’ll definitely make this again, and I think I’ll try switching up the type of cheese and veggies used…love that this recipe can be easily tweaked with whatever we have on hand!
Thank you so much for trying out the recipe! Have an awesome weekend! xT
Does this recipe freeze well?
I haven’t ever tried this recipe frozen before so I can’t say! xT
This recipe is delicious.
I made the recipe exactly as in but as another reviewer stated I found there wasn’t quite enough liquid to cook the pasta. I added an extra cup of broth and 1/4 cup of milk, a 1/2 tbsp more ketchup and found this worked out perfectly.
I don’t think it was an issue with the recipe as much as it was the past I choose needed more cook time.
This will be a regular for us, thank you!
Thanks for the feedback! xT
My family loved the end result but I had to 3 to 4 times the liquid and it took 45 minutes to cook the pasta in the dish! Next time I would cook the pasta separate and add at the end. Overall a family winner for taste!
Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Have a great day! xT
Can’t wait to try! I am curious if I could tweak the recipe and serve it over steamed veg (and pasta on the side for some whoever wants)? let me know your thoughts!!
Hi! That would be super yummy! xT
Excellent recipe!
I didn’t read the description and added cooked pasta, which made it a little soupy, BUT it was still great! Next time I’ll read before I cook 🤣
Thank you so much for giving the recipe a try! Have a great day! xT
Amazing!!!
Thank you Christine! xT