It’s time to take a shuttle down reminiscence lane as a result of I made you a selfmade, creamy, nostalgic, lightened up hamburger helper recipe that you just’re going to LOVE.
The staff and I examined out this recipe remaining fall and OMG we stored going again to sneak bites from the pan. Bonus issues: Sidney and Viggo wolfed it up for dinner that evening even once I jumbled together some further veggies.
This wholesome hamburger helper is simply as simple to make as it’s scrumptious. You’ll actually prepare dinner the whole lot proper in a single pan with a handful of pantry staples and the end result tastes 100x higher than the boxed belongings you grew up on. I’ve integrated lots of the way to customise it with other meat choices, veggie add-ins, or even a touch of spice if the kiddos aren’t concerned.
OH and it takes on the subject of half-hour from begin to end. AKA without equal weeknight dinner you’ll make over and over.
What’s hamburger helper?
Oh, hamburger helper. The nostalgic, scrumptious Betty Crocker dinner of my formative years (and most probably a lot of yours!) The OG hamburger helper incorporates a field of noodles, powdered seasonings and starches and it’s intended to be blended with floor red meat for an entire meal. The boxed dinner used to be in fact created within the ’70s throughout a meat scarcity for a fast and simple meal for households.
My lightened up model is nearly simply as fast and simple, and stuffed with elements you’ll be able to in fact pronounce!
Components on this wholesome hamburger helper
I took the unique boxed magic and changed the fillers and pouches with flavorful seasonings, a ravishing selfmade sauce, and lean floor turkey for savory protein. You’ll LOVE this lightened up model made with healthy elements you’ll be able to be ok with. Right here’s what you’ll want to make it:
- Floor turkey: we’re skipping the meat and the use of lean floor turkey for that protein spice up. You’ll prepare dinner it down with onion and garlic for added 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 actual wholesome hamburger helper style comes from paprika, dried oregano, and a number of salt and pepper.
- Pasta: the celebrity of the display! I used pipe rigate pasta as a result of I really like how the sauce will get into each little corner and cranny of the noodle.
- Cheese: don’t fail to remember a number of sharp cheddar cheese. I used my fav Cabot sharp cheddar on this recipe.
Make it your personal
This simple hamburger helper recipe is absolute best for customizing with elements you’ve available. Listed here are some really helpful swaps and add-ins you’ll be able to check out:
- Upload a spice up of veggies: be happy to throw in shredded zucchini, sauteed chopped pink bell pepper, or mushrooms or a couple of cups of chopped spinach! My youngsters in most cases by no means know that it’s in there.
- Spice it up: when you’d like you’ll be able to upload some pink pepper flakes on best.
- Make a selection your meat: you’ll be able to completely use floor red meat or floor rooster when you’d like! Then again, you might want to fold in cooked, cubed rooster breast.
- Pick out your pasta: I’ve discovered that pipe rigate, shells, or huge elbow noodles are absolute best for this pasta in order that you get the noodles effectively covered with the entire creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you! You’ll additionally, after all, use your favourite gluten unfastened pasta to stay the recipe gluten unfastened.
Can I make it vegetarian?
Certain! Merely overlook the bottom turkey and fold in a can of chickpeas, black beans, or your fav plant-based meat exchange.
One pan wholesome hamburger helper in 3 steps
- Cook dinner your meat. Get started through cooking down the bottom turkey in a huge pot or skillet with olive oil, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.
- Upload the sauce & pasta. Stir in your entire sauce and seasoning elements till they’re smartly blended, then fold within the pasta. Carry the whole lot to a gradual boil and prepare dinner it exposed till your pasta is delicate and lots of the liquid is absorbed. Tip: stir it each so incessantly so the pasta doesn’t get caught!
- Cheese it & eat. In any case, take away it from the warmth and stir in the entire cheddar cheese. Season with slightly salt and pepper to style, then garnish with parsley and pink pepper flakes when 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 best way to do it:
- Step 1: prepare 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 through blending in combination 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of butter.
- Step 3: sprinkle the breadcrumb topping onto the pasta and bake for 20 mins at 350 levels F till the topping is golden brown.
Storing pointers
You’ll 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 comfy pasta recipes right here!
I am hoping you’re keen on this lightened up hamburger helper recipe! If you’re making it remember to depart a remark and a ranking so I know the way you really liked it. Experience, xo!
One Pan Lightened Up Hamburger Helper

The creamiest one pan lightened up hamburger helper made with easy elements for a nostalgic, comforting dinner the entire circle of relatives will love. This wholesome hamburger helper takes simply half-hour to make and is filled with 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 just right)
- Freshly floor salt and pepper, to style
- 3 cups low sodium rooster broth
- 1 cup milk of selection
- 8 oz tomato sauce (1 cup)
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 10 oz pipe rigate pasta
- 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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Position a big pot over medium-high warmth and upload in 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Upload in diced onion, garlic and floor turkey; season with salt and pepper and get a divorce the beef, cooking till not crimson, about 5-8 mins.
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Subsequent, upload within the rooster broth, milk, tomato sauce, paprika and dried oregano; stirring till smartly blended. Subsequent stir within the pasta and convey to a slight boil; you’ll prepare dinner UNCOVERED till the pasta is good and delicate, about 10-12 mins (relying in your pasta form) and lots of the liquid (however now not all!) is absorbed. You’ll need slightly little bit of liquid left to make the sauce great and creamy. Have in mind you don’t want to have this over a roaring boil, only a mild boil. Additionally, remember to stir each so incessantly so the pasta chefs flippantly and doesn’t get caught to the ground of the pan.
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Take away from warmth and stir within the sharp cheddar cheese and upload further salt and pepper, to style. Serve in an instant with contemporary parsley and pink pepper flakes on best, if desired! Serves 4-6.
Recipe Notes
Spice it up: when you’d like you’ll be able to upload some pink pepper flakes on best.
I’ve discovered that pipe rigate, shells or huge elbow noodles are absolute best for this pasta in order that you get the noodles effectively covered with the entire creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you!
See the total publish for pointers, methods, and much more tactics to customise this recipe!
Diet
Serving: 1serving (in response to 6)Energy: 446kcalCarbohydrates: 41.7gProtein: 25.5gFats: 20.3gSaturated Fats: 6.7gFiber: 2.7gSugar: 3.3g
Recipe through: Monique Volz // Formidable Kitchen | Images through: Devour Love Eats
This publish used to be at first revealed on October tenth, 2022, and republished on September tenth, 2023.