This is the best Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe. Easy, healthy and delicious – this is a quick meal your family will love! This post is sponsored by our friends at ButcherBox.
This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Clickhere to read my policy and about affiliate links.
If you love easy one pan dinners – this Healthy Homemade Hamburger Helper is for you!
Many of us grew up eating the delicious cheesy pasta dish but I’m here to tell you it’s so much better when you make it from scratch!
Done in under a half hour, this cheesy hamburger helper is the perfect quick dinner that everyone will love! For more quick recipes, check out these Quick Healthy Dinners!
One pan, 30 minutes, simple ingredients.. there’s a lot to love about this easy hamburger helper recipe- but you might be wondering.. what’s the difference between store bought and this homemade hamburger helper recipe?
If you want more one pot meals, check out these Healthy One Pot Meals!
What is the difference between store bought Hamburger Helper and this Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe?
Homemade hamburger helper is so much better than store bought hamburger helper. Here’s why we love it:
- Way less sodium– 1 cup of cooked hamburger helper has over 1200 mg of sodium. Our homemade hamburger helper has under 400 mg of sodium for a 1.5 cup serving
- No preservatives- Hamburger helper is loaded with preservatives, added colors, and anticaking agents. While these aren’t bad in small quantities, they’re totally unnecessary
- Better for you – Our homemade hamburger helper recipe is made with real ground beef, dry pasta, some spices and cheese – unlike the packaged kind that is made with dried cheese and preservatives
Homemade Hamburger Helper Ingredients
To make healthy homemade hamburger helper you’ll need:
- ButcherBox ground beef
- onions
- rotini pasta
- Worcestershire sauce
- salt, pepper
- chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, paprika
- beef broth, water
- cheddar cheese
ButcherBox’s grass fed, grass finished ground beef is seriously what makes this recipe so great.
Their beef is an 85/15 mix, which is in our opinion- the perfect amount of fat to give recipes flavor!
We’ve been ButcherBox customers for years and absolutely love the convenience of it, along with the super high quality meat!
Want free ground beef? Right Now when you join ButcherBox you can get free ground beef for a year and $10 off! That’s up to 24 lbs of ground beef for free!
You can learn more about ButcherBox in this ButcherBox Reviews post!
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
Making hamburger helper is easy! Here’s how we made it:
- Heat a pan over medium high heat. Spray the pan with cooking spray.
- Brown ground beef and onion in the pan until cooked through-about 10 minutes.
- Add in the seasonings, pasta, broth and water. Stir and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally for 12-14 minutes.
- Move the pan off the heat and add in shredded cheese.
What kind of pasta is best to use in Homemade Hamburger Helper?
Pretty much any pasta will work in homemade hamburger helper but rotini, penne or medium shells are recommended as cook time is all similar.
We don’t recommend gluten free pasta for this recipe. This recipe is a one pan pasta recipe and gluten free pasta can get very mushy. Use at your own risk!
Searching for the best pan for your one pan meals? We LOVE this pan! It’s non toxic, non stick, and cleans up in seconds with just a little soap and water (seriously, food does NOT stick to it!)
Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions for Homemade Hamburger Helper
Pasta: For pasta you can use rotini, penne or medium shells (cook time is all similar). We don’t recommend gluten free pasta for this recipe. This recipe is a one pan pasta recipe and gluten free pasta can get very mushy. Use at your own risk!
Ground Beef: We highly recommend using ButcherBox ground beef in this recipe. It tastes like classic hamburger helper. You can use ground turkey in this recipe if you’d like, but we really recommend ground beef! (ButcherBox also has an amazing free-range ground turkey)
Worcestershire sauce: Worcestershire sauce isn’t easy to substitute. If you don’t have it, use 1/2 a tablespoon of soy sauce
Salt: This is a higher sodium recipe. You can cut the amount of salt in half if you’d like and add to taste
Beef Broth: We recommend using homemade bone broth in this recipe but any broth will work. Chicken or vegetable broth/stock can be used interchangeably. We recommend using a low or no salt broth
Cheddar Cheese: You can omit the cheese from this recipe to make it dairy free if you’d like. We haven’t tried this recipe with other types of cheeses. We recommend using a block of cheddar cheese and grating it yourself as pre-shredded cheeses don’t melt as well. If you like super cheesy pasta- check out this Healthy Mac and Cheese!
Hamburger Helper FAQ
Why is hamburger helper so bad for you?
Hamburger helper isn’t terrible for you, but it is loaded with sodium. One serving of hamburger helper has over 650mg of sodium which is about 1/3 of the daily value. Hamburger helper also has many preservatives, which can be avoided by making your own.
What to serve with easy Homemade Hamburger Helper?
This homemade hamburger helper is a complete meal in itself. We recommend serving it with some bread on the side and parmesan cheese on top!
If you’re looking for some veggies you can serve this recipe alongside:
- Spinach Strawberry Salad
- Buffalo Brussels Sprouts
- Garlic Roasted Brussels Sprouts
- Green Beans Almondine
- Lemon Parmesan Roasted Asparagus
What can you add to Hamburger Helper?
This hamburger helper is delicious on it’s own but you can add other things to it. Here are our suggestions:
- Pickles: Pickles are delicious when stirred into hamburger helper!
- Extra Veggies: You can add sautéed veggies to this recipe. Zucchini, mushrooms, and bell peppers are all great additions to this recipe
- Cheese: Extra cheese is always a good addition to this recipe.
How to store healthy homemade hamburger helper?
How long can homemade hamburger helper be stored? You can store homemade hamburger helper in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
We haven’t tried freezing this recipe, but I wouldn’t recommend it. Freezing pasta can lead to a mushy mess!
Is Hamburger Helper healthy to eat?
Yes, hamburger helper is healthy to eat when you make it from scratch! Regular hamburger helper has a lot of sodium and preservatives. Making it from scratch is a much healthier option
How to reheat easy homemade hamburger helper?
Microwave: You can reheat this hamburger helper in the microwave for 1-2 minutes
Stove: You can heat this hamburger helper on the stove in a sauce pan. We recommend adding a little bit of broth if you’re going to heat it over the stove as it might get dry.
Love ground beef? Check out this list of 25+ Healthy Ground Beef Recipes!
Other healthy one pan recipes:
Here are some of our favorite dinners that only require one pan. Click here to grab our free healthy 30 minute dinners cookbook.
Want free ground beef? Right Now when you join ButcherBox you can get free ground beef for a year and $10 off! That’s up to 24 lbs of ground beef for free!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
4.94 from 111 votes
This is the best Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe. Easy, healthy and delicious – this is a quick meal your family will love!
WW Freestyle Points 15
Prep Time : 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time : 25 minutes minutes
Total Time : 30 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ButcherBox Ground Beef
- 1/2 onion chopped finely
- 3 cups rotini pasta sub penne or medium shells (10 oz)
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1.5 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
Heat a pan over medium high heat. Spray the pan with cooking spray.
Brown ground beef and onion in the pan until cooked through- about 10 minutes.
Add in the seasonings, Worcestershire sauce, raw uncooked pasta, broth, tomato paste and water. Stir, cover and bring to a boil.
Once boiling, remove cover and reduce to a simmer, stirring occasionally for 12-14 minutes or until pasta is done and liquid is reduced by 3/4.
Move the pan off the heat and add in shredded cheese.
Stir until combined, taste for salt and pepper and add more as desired.
Video
Nutrition Facts
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Amount Per Serving (2 cups pasta & beef)
Calories 507Calories from Fat 189
% Daily Value*
Fat 21g32%
Saturated Fat 11g69%
Trans Fat 1g
Polyunsaturated Fat 1g
Monounsaturated Fat 8g
Cholesterol 103mg34%
Sodium 459mg20%
Potassium 566mg16%
Carbohydrates 36g12%
Fiber 2g8%
Sugar 3g3%
Protein 40g80%
Vitamin A 317IU6%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 235mg24%
Iron 4mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. This is an estimate and can vary pending your ingredients
Tried this recipe?Share it! Make sure to tag @thecleaneatingcouple or use #thecleaneatingcouple!
As a culinary enthusiast with extensive experience in homemade recipes and a deep understanding of cooking techniques and ingredients, I can confidently discuss the concepts highlighted in the article about the best Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe. Here's a breakdown of the key elements covered in the piece:
-
Homemade vs. Store-bought Hamburger Helper: The article emphasizes the superiority of homemade hamburger helper over its store-bought counterpart. Homemade versions typically contain less sodium, no preservatives, and use real ingredients like ground beef, pasta, spices, and cheese.
-
Ingredients:
- ButcherBox Ground Beef: The choice of ground beef significantly influences the flavor and quality of the dish. ButcherBox's ground beef, particularly their grass-fed, grass-finished variety, is highlighted for its taste and quality.
- Onions: Used to add flavor and depth to the dish.
- Rotini Pasta: The preferred choice for its texture and ability to hold sauces well.
- Worcestershire Sauce: Adds umami flavor to the dish.
- Spices: Including salt, pepper, chili powder, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika for seasoning.
- Beef Broth and Water: Used as the cooking liquid to cook the pasta and infuse it with flavor.
- Cheddar Cheese: Adds creaminess and richness to the dish.
-
Cooking Method: The cooking method involves browning the ground beef and onions, adding seasonings, pasta, broth, and water, simmering until the pasta is cooked, and then adding cheese to finish.
-
Tips, Tricks, and Substitutions:
- Suggestions for pasta types and warnings against using gluten-free pasta due to texture issues.
- Recommendations for using ButcherBox ground beef and Worcestershire sauce.
- Advice on adjusting salt levels and using homemade bone broth for added flavor.
- Tips on grating cheese for better melting and options for making the dish dairy-free.
-
Nutritional Information and Health Considerations:
- The homemade version is touted as healthier due to lower sodium content and the absence of preservatives.
- Serving suggestions include pairing the dish with bread and vegetables for a balanced meal.
-
Storage and Reheating:
- Homemade hamburger helper can be stored in the refrigerator for up to three days and reheated using a microwave or stove.
Overall, the recipe offers a healthier, tastier alternative to the classic store-bought version, with an emphasis on using quality ingredients and simple cooking techniques to create a flavorful dish that the whole family can enjoy.
