It’s time to make a journey down reminiscence lane as a result of I made you a selfmade, creamy, nostalgic, lightened up hamburger helper recipe that you simply’re going to LOVE.
The staff and I examined out this recipe final fall and OMG we stored going again to sneak bites from the pan. Bonus factors: Sidney and Viggo wolfed it up for dinner that evening even after I combined in some further veggies.
This wholesome hamburger helper is simply as simple to make as it’s scrumptious. You’ll actually cook dinner all the pieces proper in a single pan with a handful of pantry staples and the end result tastes 100x higher than the boxed stuff you grew up on. I’ve included tons of how to customise it with totally different meat choices, veggie add-ins, and even a touch of spice if the kiddos aren’t concerned.
OH and it takes nearly half-hour from begin to end. AKA the final word weeknight dinner you’ll make many times.
What’s hamburger helper?
Oh, hamburger helper. The nostalgic, scrumptious Betty Crocker dinner of my childhood (and doubtless a lot of yours!) The OG hamburger helper incorporates a field of noodles, powdered seasonings and starches and it’s meant to be mixed with floor beef for a whole meal. The boxed dinner was truly created within the ’70s throughout a meat scarcity for a fast and straightforward meal for households.
My lightened up model is sort of simply as fast and straightforward, and stuffed with substances you possibly can truly pronounce!
Components on this wholesome hamburger helper
I took the unique boxed magic and changed the fillers and pouches with flavorful seasonings, an exquisite selfmade sauce, and lean floor turkey for savory protein. You’ll LOVE this lightened up model made with healthful substances you possibly can be ok with. Right here’s what you’ll must make it:
- Floor turkey: we’re skipping the meat and utilizing lean floor turkey for that protein increase. You’ll cook dinner it down with onion and garlic for further taste.
- For the sauce: the simple sauce is made further creamy with low sodium rooster broth, any milk you’d like, and tomato sauce.
- Seasonings: the true wholesome hamburger helper style comes from paprika, dried oregano, and loads of salt and pepper.
- Pasta: the star of the present! I used pipe rigate pasta as a result of I really like how the sauce will get into each little nook and cranny of the noodle.
- Cheese: don’t overlook loads of sharp cheddar cheese. I used my fav Cabot sharp cheddar on this recipe.
Make it your individual
This simple hamburger helper recipe is ideal for customizing with substances you could have available. Listed here are some advisable swaps and add-ins you possibly can attempt:
- Add a lift of veggies: be happy to throw in shredded zucchini, sauteed chopped crimson bell pepper, or mushrooms or a number of cups of chopped spinach! My children often by no means know that it’s in there.
- Spice it up: in case you’d like you possibly can add some crimson pepper flakes on high.
- Select your meat: you possibly can completely use floor beef or floor rooster in case you’d like! Alternatively, you could possibly fold in cooked, cubed rooster breast.
- Decide your pasta: I’ve discovered that pipe rigate, shells, or giant elbow noodles are finest for this pasta so that you simply get the noodles properly coated with all of the creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you! It’s also possible to, after all, use your favourite gluten free pasta to maintain the recipe gluten free.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Certain! Merely omit the bottom turkey and fold in a can of chickpeas, black beans, or your fav plant-based meat substitute.
One pan wholesome hamburger helper in 3 steps
- Prepare dinner your meat. Begin by cooking down the bottom turkey in a giant pot or skillet with olive oil, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.
- Add the sauce & pasta. Stir in your entire sauce and seasoning substances till they’re effectively mixed, then fold within the pasta. Deliver all the pieces to a mild boil and cook dinner it uncovered till your pasta is tender and a lot of the liquid is absorbed. Tip: stir it on occasion so the pasta doesn’t get caught!
- Cheese it & devour. Lastly, take away it from the warmth and stir in all the cheddar cheese. Season with a bit of salt and pepper to style, then garnish with parsley and crimson pepper flakes in case you’d like!
Get fancy with a breadcrumb topping
This hamburger helper recipe would even be scrumptious baked with a breadcrumb topping! Right here’s the way to do it:
- Step 1: cook dinner the entire recipe as directed and pour it right into a 9×9 inch or 11×7 inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Step 2: make your breadcrumb topping by mixing collectively 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Step 3: sprinkle the breadcrumb topping onto the pasta and bake for 20 minutes at 350 levels F till the topping is golden brown.
Storing suggestions
You’ll be able to retailer any leftover selfmade hamburger helper in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4-5 days. Merely reheat within the microwave.
Extra pasta recipes you’ll love
Get all of my cozy pasta recipes right here!
I hope you like this lightened up hamburger helper recipe! In the event you make it remember to depart a remark and a ranking so I understand how you appreciated it. Get pleasure from, xo!


The
Bold Kitchen
Cookbook
125 Ridiculously Good For You, Typically Indulgent, and Completely By no means Boring Recipes for Each Meal of the Day
One Pan Lightened Up Hamburger Helper


The creamiest one pan lightened up hamburger helper made with easy substances for a nostalgic, comforting dinner the entire household will love. This wholesome hamburger helper takes simply half-hour to make and is full of flavorful and protein! Choices so as to add your fav veggies or spice it up if you would like.
Components
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound lean floor turkey (93% is sweet)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- Freshly floor black pepper, to style
- 3 cups low-sodium rooster broth
- 1 cup milk of selection (entire milk, 2% or unsweetened almond or cashew will work)
- 8 ounces tomato sauce (1 cup)
- 10 ounces pipe rigate pasta or shellbows
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (we use Cabot)
- Freshly floor salt and pepper, to style
- For garnish:
- Freshly chopped parsley
Directions
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Place a big pot over medium-high warmth and add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add in diced onion, garlic and floor turkey; season with the paprika, oregano, salt and pepper, to style. Break up the meat and cook dinner till now not pink, about 5-7 minutes.
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Add within the rooster broth, milk, and tomato sauce to the pot; stirring till effectively mixed. Subsequent, stir within the pasta and produce to a slight boil; you’ll cook dinner UNCOVERED, stirring continuously, till the pasta is good and tender, about 10-12 minutes (relying in your pasta form) and a lot of the liquid (however not all!) is absorbed. You’ll need a bit of little bit of liquid left to make the sauce good and creamy. Keep in mind you don’t must have this over a roaring boil, only a mild boil. Additionally, remember to stir usually so the pasta does not stick with the underside of the pan.
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Take away from warmth and stir within the sharp cheddar cheese and add further salt and pepper, to style. Serve instantly with recent parsley and crimson pepper flakes on high, if desired! Serves 4-6.
Recipe Notes
Spice it up: In the event you’d like you possibly can add some crimson pepper flakes on high or instantly into the meat combination with the spices.
I’ve discovered that pipe rigate, shells or giant elbow noodles are finest for this pasta so that you simply get the noodles properly coated with all of the creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you!
See the complete submit for suggestions, tips, and much more methods to customise this recipe!
Vitamin
Serving: 1serving (primarily based on 6)Energy: 446calCarbohydrates: 41.7gProtein: 25.5gFats: 20.3gSaturated Fats: 6.7gFiber: 2.7gSugar: 3.3g
Recipe by: Monique Volz // Bold Kitchen | Pictures by: Eat Love Eats
This submit was initially revealed on October tenth, 2022, republished on September tenth, 2023, and republished on October thirtieth, 2024.