One Pan Wholesome Hamburger Helper

It’s time to make a journey down reminiscence lane as a result of I made you a do-it-yourself, creamy, nostalgic, lightened up hamburger helper recipe that you just’re going to LOVE.

The crew 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 devoured it up for dinner that night time even after I blended in some additional veggies.

This wholesome hamburger helper is simply as straightforward to make as it’s scrumptious. You’ll actually cook 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 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 time and again.

homemade hamburger helper in a bowlhomemade hamburger helper in a bowl

What’s hamburger helper?

Oh, hamburger helper. The nostalgic, scrumptious Betty Crocker dinner of my childhood (and doubtless lots of yours!) The OG hamburger helper comprises 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 really created within the ’70s throughout a meat scarcity for a fast and straightforward meal for households.

My lightened up model is nearly simply as fast and straightforward, and stuffed with elements you possibly can really pronounce!

cooking ground turkey in a pot to make an easy hamburger helper recipecooking ground turkey in a pot to make an easy hamburger helper recipe

Substances on this wholesome hamburger helper

I took the unique boxed magic and changed the fillers and pouches with flavorful seasonings, a beautiful do-it-yourself sauce, and lean floor turkey for savory protein. You’ll LOVE this lightened up model made with healthful elements you possibly can be ok with. Right here’s what you’ll have to make it:

  • Floor turkey: we’re skipping the meat and utilizing lean floor turkey for that protein enhance. You’ll cook dinner it down with onion and garlic for additional taste.
  • For the sauce: the simple sauce is made additional 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 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.

healthy hamburger helper in a pothealthy hamburger helper in a pot

Make it your personal

This straightforward hamburger helper recipe is ideal for customizing with elements you’ve gotten available. Listed below are some beneficial swaps and add-ins you possibly can attempt:

  • Add a lift of veggies: be at liberty to throw in shredded zucchini, sauteed chopped purple bell pepper, or mushrooms or just a few cups of chopped spinach! My children often by no means know that it’s in there.
  • Spice it up: if you happen to’d like you possibly can add some purple pepper flakes on prime.
  • Select your meat: you possibly can completely use floor beef or floor rooster if you happen to’d like! Alternatively, you could possibly fold in cooked, cubed rooster breast.
  • Choose your pasta: I’ve discovered that pipe rigate, shells, or giant elbow noodles are finest for this pasta so that you just get the noodles properly coated with all of the creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you! You may as well, after all, use your favourite gluten free pasta to maintain the recipe gluten free.

Can I make it vegetarian?

Positive! Merely omit the bottom turkey and fold in a can of chickpeas, black beans, or your fav plant-based meat substitute.

scooping up homemade hamburger helper from a potscooping up homemade hamburger helper from a pot

One pan wholesome hamburger helper in 3 steps

  1. Cook dinner your meat. Begin by cooking down the bottom turkey in a giant pot or skillet with olive oil, garlic, onion, salt & pepper.
  2. Add the sauce & pasta. Stir in your entire sauce and seasoning elements till they’re effectively mixed, then fold within the pasta. Convey the whole lot 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!
  3. Cheese it & devour. Lastly, take away it from the warmth and stir in all the cheddar cheese. Season with somewhat salt and pepper to style, then garnish with parsley and purple pepper flakes if you happen to’d like!

hamburger helper in two bowlshamburger helper in two bowls

Get fancy with a breadcrumb topping

This hamburger helper recipe would even be scrumptious baked with a breadcrumb topping! Right here’s how one can do it:

  1. 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.
  2. Step 2: make your breadcrumb topping by mixing collectively 1/2 cup breadcrumbs and 1 tablespoon of butter.
  3. Step 3: sprinkle the breadcrumb topping onto the pasta and bake for 20 minutes at 350 levels F till the topping is golden brown.

healthy hamburger helper in a bowlhealthy hamburger helper in a bowl

Storing ideas

You’ll be able to retailer any leftover do-it-yourself 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! When you make it be sure you go away a remark and a score so I understand how you favored it. Get pleasure from, xo!

cover of the ambitious kitchen cookbookcover of the ambitious kitchen cookbook

The
Formidable Kitchen
Cookbook

125 Ridiculously Good For You, Generally Indulgent, and Completely By no means Boring Recipes for Each Meal of the Day

One Pan Lightened Up Hamburger Helper

one pan hamburger helper in a bowlone pan hamburger helper in a bowl

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook dinner Time 25 minutes

Whole Time 35 minutes

Serves6 servings

The creamiest one pan lightened up hamburger helper made with easy elements 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.

Substances

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 pound lean floor turkey (93% is nice)
  • 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 alternative (complete 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

  • 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 not pink, about 5-7 minutes.

  • Add within the rooster broth, milk, and tomato sauce to the pot; stirring till effectively mixed. Subsequent, stir within the pasta and convey to a slight boil; you’ll cook dinner UNCOVERED, stirring steadily, till the pasta is sweet 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 somewhat little bit of liquid left to make the sauce good and creamy. Bear in mind you don’t have to have this over a roaring boil, only a light boil. Additionally, do not forget to stir typically so the pasta would not keep on with the underside of the pan.

  • Take away from warmth and stir within the sharp cheddar cheese and add further salt and pepper, to style. Serve instantly with contemporary parsley and purple pepper flakes on prime, if desired! Serves 4-6.

Recipe Notes

To make it extra nutritious: be at liberty to throw in shredded zucchini, sautéed chopped purple bell pepper, mushrooms or just a few cups of chopped spinach! My children often by no means know that it’s in there.
Spice it up: When you’d like you possibly can add some purple pepper flakes on prime 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 just get the noodles properly coated with all of the creaminess of the sauce, however as much as you!
See the complete publish for ideas, methods, 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