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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!
This was easy and delicious! I remember growing up and my mom making the boxed version. This is 100x better and it comes together pretty easy! Thanks Teagan for hacking the box version!
Thank you so much for giving this recipe a try! Hope you’re having a great Halloween weekend! 🙂 xT
This is so good, I didn’t change a thing! I raise Wagyu beef on my farm in Texas, so I’m always looking for beef recipes😉
Thanks so much Melanie! xT
This recipe is a definite keeper. I had everything already on hand. I read reviews before making as I always do, and agree, it was a little bland. With that being said, I drained the fat after browning the hamburger, which may have affected the flavor. I used a lot more liquid than the recipe called for too, as my pasta absorbed so much. I probably used a cup more milk and almost an entire carton of beef broth, I also ended up sprinkling beef bullion over it and mixing it prior to adding the cheese. My family was obsessed!
Thank you for the feedback Kecia! xT
We have made this twice so far! Absolutely delicious! My 1yo and 4yo loved it! I was wondering if I can meal prep this ahead of time? Is this freezer friendly?
Hi there! Yes, that should work just fine! xT
Not good. Was very hopeful! Watery and yet dry at the same time
Hey Sarah! I’m so sorry about that! Is there anything I can do to help? xT
We just finished eating this meal so I obviously had to run here and leave a review! 10/10! My whole family loved it. I didn’t have zucchini on hand so I shredded up 1 carrot and added that instead and it was great. Just what my husband needed after a long day at work and this gloomy fall weather 😊 thanks for the great recipe!
Thank you so much for trying out the recipe! Have an awesome weekend! xT
Delish and easy, also makes a ton! I added mushrooms/worschetshire sauce and totally agree that the ketchup is a good addition. I also had to add a lot more broth then noted.
Thank you so so much for trying out this recipe! So glad you enjoyed it! xT
My husband and I love this recipe so much it’s become a staple in our home! So easy to put together in the Dutch oven. We sub the beef for ground turkey and it stays just as flavorful!
Thank you! So glad to hear you’re enjoying this recipe! xT
A perfect comfort food on a cool Fall day. Super easy & tastes great. I loved getting to use some of the zucchini surplus from the garden as well. I used ground chicken instead of ground beef and added fresh thyme.
Thank you so much! Hope you have a great fall season! 🙂 xT
This is so good, made several times. I do add a solace of Worcestershire sauce to it.
Tried this recipe for the first time. Added a bit of extra stock and milk as needed to keep it saucy. Even the toddler ate it (well, at least tried it). Wondering if there are any reheating instructions?
Thank you Steph! I would just reheat in the microwave or oven! 🙂 xT
I made this for supper and it was a crowd pleaser! Mine wasn’t at all saucy unfortunately. Any thoughts on why? I used elbow macaroni.
Hi there! Hmm is there anything you did differently? Maybe the pasta just didn’t absorb as much water? xT
Hi! Haven’t made this yet – can I do a crockpot version?
I used a medium shell so I added another cup of broth just to cover it all up and it turned out creamy and delicious! It turned out just like the picture!
Hope you loved the recipe! Thank you so so much! xT
This is the second time I have made this and it does not turn out creamy. It’s very runny for me. I shredded a whole block of cheese myself and still was running and didn’t get a creamy consistency it was more liquidy. Followed step by step not sure why it doesn’t come out creamy for me. I make a lot of her recipes but for some reason this one just doesn’t like me lol!
Hey Sara! I’m so sorry you didn’t enjoy this recipe! Is there anything you’re doing differently/substitutions you’re making? xT
Today I made this recipe for the 4th time! We love it!
I use ground turkey instead of beef, but every other direction is followed to the letter, and works perfectly for me. Even when I use denser pasta that requires 12 minutes to be al dente it doesn’t need more liquid, just more time.
I make it for my kids who have each recently become new parents. It freezes well.
Other comments suggest using different veggies, which would also make it great. Maybe I’ll try doing that if I ever run out of zucchini (lots of it in my CSA boxes – which I shred to put into everything!)
Thank you sooo much Ruth! So glad you enjoyed this recipe!
This is exactly what I was looking for.. I added mustard powder, dried oregano, and cayenne. I also par boiled my pasta. The dish turned out perfect! Thank you for the amazing recipe, and to all the previous comments!!
Thank you for giving this recipe a try! I really hope you loved it 🙂 xT