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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.
Did you peel the zucchini before grating it
Hi Andrew,
I did not peel the zucchini. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love this dish! xx
Thank you I will. Making it tonight
This recipe was SO delicious!! I ended up using a bit more broth but I think that’s because my heat was higher. But other than that I followed it to a T and it was a huge hit for me and my husband (who is picky and at first gave me a glance for adding zucchini- but he complimented how tasty it was several times). Will absolutely be making this a staple in our home!
Hey Lauren,
Awesome! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
Love this food
Thanks so much Megan!
Like every other recipe I’ve tried from Half Baked Harvest – this one absolutely hits the spot. My husband is not a fan of veggies, but this one is a fun way to get him to eat zucchini without even realizing it.
It definitely hits the comfort food note without eating the processed version from the grocery store (and tastes much better)!
Thanks for making dinnertime so tasty Tieghan!
Hey Chandra,
Amazing!! I love to hear that this recipe turned out nicely for you and I appreciate you making it! xT
My husband made this last night and it was delicious! Not as saucy as yours looks, but great flavor! Zucchini was a fun addition.
Hey Jacqueline,
Wonderful!! So glad to hear that this dish turned out well for you, thanks a lot for making it! xT
I made this with jalapeño beef broth and jalopeno cheddar cheese! It’s awesome thanks Tieghan !
Hey Chantelle,
Amazing!! Thanks so much for trying this dish and your comment, I’m so glad it was enjoyed! xT
I had to just about double the amount of liquid (I added another 1 1/2 cups of milk and a cup of stock) and cooked the pasta (I used penne) for a full 10 minutes as that’s what the bag said was its cook time. But other than that, it was delicious!
Hi Jenna,
Thanks so much for trying this dish and sharing what worked best for you! So glad it was enjoyed! xT
This was great! This evening i panicked because we were out of chicken and i didn’t have another meal planned… but i did have beef in the freezer, a block of sharp white cheddar cheese, zucchini, and noodles! No ketchup but tomato paste worked fine. My noodles needed another cup of broth to finish cooking and took closer to 15 minutes. A+++++ !!!!
Hey Jen,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you giving this recipe a try and your comment, so glad to hear it turned out nicely for you! xT
We love this recipe! My kids are so excited when I make it (but they love every HBH recipe I make). The zucchini is a fun, tasty addition and I double the amount used. I don’t consider myself a great cook, but this recipe makes me look good 🙂 It’s great that it’s one pot and so easy for work/school nights.
Hey Erin,
Amazing!! I’m so glad to hear that your family enjoys this dish, thanks so much for making it so often:) xT
It took 30 minutes to get the pasta to be done. I had to keep adding broth and milk to keep it all from drying out. In the video you show water instead of broth and it seems you used less pasta because I used the exact ratio and it did not have that much liquid to meat and pasta. The video is way different than the recipe.
Hi Jo,
Thanks for trying this recipe and sharing your feedback, sorry to hear you had some issues. What kind of pasta did you use? You can use water or broth, they are both going to work the same:) I also used 1 pound of pasta. Please let me know how I can help! xx
This was ridiculously good. We couldn’t stop eating it. Followed the recipe exactly except had to add a 2nd type of cheese because I didn’t have enough cheddar. We loved it!!!
Thanks so much Fran:) So glad to hear this dish was a hit, I appreciate you making it! xT
Can I use oat milk?
Hey Meg,
Sure, oat milk would work for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
We loved this recipe just as it is! Thank you, as we will have this again.
Hey Teresa,
Happy Friday!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! xx
I’d love to try this recipe, but my daughter won’t eat zucchini. Do you have any recommendations for substituting the zucchini?
Hi Eunice,
Sure, you could do shredded carrots or just skip the zucchini. I hope you love this recipe, let me know if you give it a try! xT
I make this very often as my friends & family love it. I always double the recipe because it’s that tasty! I use ground turkey, add diced tomatoes, broccoli florets, double the zucchini, add a little velvetta cheese with the cheddar cheese. I even have my friend’s 3 yr old as my Sous chef because this recipe is a winner every time. Every one of your recipes I have made have been delicious. 🥰
Hi Cathy,
I appreciate you making this dish so often and sharing what works well for you! So glad to hear it is always enjoyed:) xT