Amazing Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
You've got to try this amazing and somewhat healthier version of homemade hamburger helper. A quick meal that the whole family will love!
Easy to accommodate a low carb option by using zucchini lentil pasta, rather than the pasta shells.
It goes great with a side of steamed broccoli seasoned with salt and pepper.
You may also substitute the ground beef with ground turkey if desired.
Keep scrolling to see the recipe!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 box medium pasta shells (or your favorite pasta)
- 1.5 lb lean ground meat (93/7)
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground mustard
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or cayenne pepper for an extra kick)
- 1 dash salt and pepper (to taste)
- 1 chopped yellow
- 1 can no salt added Rotel (drained)
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/4 cup bread crumbs
- 1/2 cup reduced fat parmesan grated cheese
- 8 oz reduced fat shredded colby jack cheese (or pepper jack)
- 2 cups milk of your choice
Instructions
- Spray a large skillet with non stick cooking spray & place on medium heat.
- Add chopped onion, Rotel, garlic powder, ground mustard, pepper & ground meat to skillet and begin browning. Stir frequently.
- Meanwhile, add 1 quart of water and a dash of salt to a large pot and place on medium-high heat. (TIP: If you spray a little non stick cooking spray in the water you will boil your noodles in, it significantly helps the noodles from sticking to the bottom of the pot.)
- When water begins boiling, add pasta shells and boil for 8 minutes. Stirring frequently.
- Once meat is browned, remove any grease if necessary and set aside.
- Strain pasta noodles and return noodles to the pot.
- Add butter, milk, shredded cheese, parmesan cheese, salt & pepper to pasta shells.
- Stir mixture until butter and cheese are mostly melted.
- Add browned ground meat to the mixture and combine all ingredients with a wooden spoon.
- Serve & enjoy!
Notes:
Goes great with a side of steamed broccoli.
If your kids will only eat broccoli covered in cheese, go ahead and steam the broccoli then toss it into the homemade hamburger helper. This will ensure that they still get their serving of veggies.
For a lower carb option, use zucchini lentil pasta rather than the standard pasta shells.
May substitute ground beef with ground turkey if desired.
Want to make a dessert to go along with your pasta? Check out this Healthier Strawberry Pie Recipe
Don't have time to make it now? Here's an image you can pin for later!
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What's your favorite style of homemade hamburger helper?!
Let me know in the comments below!