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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.
What is a good substitute the hamburger?
You can use ground turkey or ground chicken if you prefer.
Can you make this gluten-free?
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
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.
Watch the How-To Reel
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 post was originally published on September 9, 2021
This was soooo good! We tripled the zucchini and added about 1/2 a cup more broth, we don’t eat red meat so did it with ground turkey and it still was supper tasty
Hey Angela,
So glad to hear you enjoyed this recipe, thanks so much for making it! Happy Labor Day! xT
This was the perfect meal for a quick dinner night! I even prepped the beef and onion mix the night before. Couple of changes I made were sharp cheddar cheese and added Fresh Basil to top with the Parsley. (just because that’s what I had! NO Leftovers! Great meal. Thanks!
Thanks so much, Amy! Love to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, thanks a lot for trying it out! x
I have made this recipe for over a year now and my boys love it! No leftovers.
Yum!
Hey Joanna,
Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe always turns out well for you, thanks for making it so often! xT
This was delicious!!! I didn’t have any Zucchini on hand so I substituted it with broccoli and doubled the liquid. Fantastic recipe and toddler approved! I am in love with all your recipes!! I can’t wait for your next cookbook 🙂
Hey Haley,
Awesome! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Thanks so much for your kind message! xT
This is literally my family’s most favorite recipe! Everyone loves it and that’s a huge feat to pull off at my house. I had to sub rice for the pasta when I discovered my teenager had eaten all the pasta, and it was still delicious. It’s perfect!
Hey Melissa,
Wonderful! I appreciate you making this recipe so often and your comment! So glad to hear it always turns out well! x
Tieghan – I can’t thank you enough for this recipe! This is my toddler/working busy mom go-to recipe. It’s healthy, I feel like he’s getting a decent serving of veggies and I enjoy it too!!! I add one grated carrot and I feel so much better about my mom-goals for my toddler. Thank you again!
Hey Eva,
Awesome!! So glad to hear that you enjoyed this recipe, I appreciate you making it! Happy Monday! xx
This one is a winner in our house – even with 2 zucchini-averse eaters! Pro tip: 1-2 tbsp of dill pickle relish at the end is a great dash of acid and brightness!
Hey Anna,
Happy Friday!! I appreciate you making this recipe and your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Served this to some hungry hockey players and they loved it! Used bone broth instead of regular for added protein and added cayenne pepper for some added flavor. I’ll make this again ❤️
Hey Liz,
Fantastic! So glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it! xT
This was sooo good! Childhood nostalgia but way better tasting and for you. I used Goodles and added chopped spinach with the cheese at the end to add an extra boost of nutrients. I used heaping teaspoons for the seasonings and added an extra tablespoon of ketchup. It turned out amazing! So filling and delicious.
Hey Ashley,
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Happy Tuesday:)
I made this for my family of 4, and it made plenty of food! I did use others suggestion of doubling the spices in the recipe. I felt like it was seasoned perfectly. I used smoked paprika instead of regular, and it gave it a little extra flavor.
I did have to add 1/2c more milk while boiling as most of the liquid was gone. I did substitute the regular pasta for 12oz of gluten free penne. While it was cheesy, and very good, i think using Velveeta would give it more of the cheesy taste you get with boxed hamburger helper.
Hey Brooklyn,
Wonderful! So glad to hear this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for giving it a go! Thanks for sharing your feedback! xT
This has become a staple that I make about once a month. It makes a nice big batch for my family of four. It’s super easy to make and doesn’t cost a lot. I’m not a huge fan of ground beef so I sub in a 16 oz carton of mushrooms!
Hey Nicole,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe is always enjoyed, I appreciate you making it so often and your comment! xT
My husband used to eat hamburger helper when he was young so I thought I’d give this homemade version a try! It’s delicious & so easy. No need for anyone to buy the processed boxed hamburger helper with this great recipe. And it’s so simple!
Hey Andrea,
Thank you so much for making this dish and sharing your feedback, love to hear that it was enjoyed! xT
I made this for dinner last night and it was delicious! I doubled the spices and added a little cajun seasoning for a little more spice. Even my husband liked it! Next time I will double it and leave some chunks of zucchini as well as grating some.
Hey Sydnie,
Thanks so much for trying this recipe and your feedback! Glad to hear it was enjoyed:) xT
Dying to try this! Can I make this with ground turkey instead and different broth?
Hey Katie,
Totally, that will work well for you! Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope you love it! xT
very delicious and super simple to make. Only changes where I added an extra half cup of each liquid. Looked like it wouldn’t be enough otherwise. I also threw in some spinach for more veggies
Hey Andrew,
Wonderful!! Thanks a lot for trying this recipe and your comment, love to hear that it was enjoyed! x
I made this simmering with the lid on and it solved the liquid problem almost.i found it pretty
Under seasoned but good. Would double seasoning if I made it again.
Thanks for sharing your feedback, Amanda! Glad to hear you enjoyed the flavors. xx