If you grew up eating the boxed version of Hamburger Helper, youโll love this homemade hamburger helper made with real ingredients. Itโs a quick recipe that comes together in simple steps and delivers the same cozy comfort food flavorโwithout the box mix. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a go-to meal the whole family will enjoy.
Why Youโll Love This Recipe
- A quick dinner perfect for a busy weeknight. Looking for other quick meals? Check out all of our 30 minute meals.
- This homemade version of hamburger helper is a great way to use up leftover ground beef or ground turkey.
- A delicious meal packed with veggies like zucchini and spinach.
- Creamy, cheesy, and comfortingโjust like the classic hamburger helper you remember. Some of our other favorite comfort food recipes include our easy deconstructed chicken pot pie, Trader Joe's butternut squash mac and cheese copycat recipe, and easy ground beef stroganoff.
- Kid-approved and hearty enough for the whole family to enjoy.
- A great recipe to add to your list of easy meals youโll want to make again and again.
Ingredient Notes
- Yellow onion - can swap with white onion.
- Ground beef - we like to use lean ground beef or lean ground turkey for this recipe. Another favorite ground beef recipe is our crispy oven baked beef tacos.
- Tomato paste - you will need tomato paste, not tomato sauce for this recipe.
- Pasta - we have found that the best type of noodles to use in this recipe are medium pasta shells, orecchiette, or elbow macaroni.ย
- Chicken broth or beef broth - either will work here! Beef broth will have a more savory flavor.
- Milk - you can use whichever type of milk you prefer, but we recommend using at least 1%. You can use whole milk for a creamier version. You can also swap with an unsweetened plant based milk for a dairy free option.
- Shredded cheddar cheese - you can buy pre-shredded cheese or shred on your own. We like real cheddar cheese for this recipe but you can always swap with your favorite shredded cheese.
See the recipe card below for a complete list of ingredients and measurements for this cheesy hamburger helper recipe.
Recipe Tips & Variations
- Use some half and half or heavy cream in place of some of the milk for a creamier version. You could also add a dollop of sour cream or cream cheese.
- Serve with a simple side salad or a side of vegetables such as green beans or broccoli.
- Add a dash of hot sauce or some red pepper flakes for a little heat.
- Add other vegetables to the hamburger helper such as diced bell peppers, broccoli, shredded carrots, or mushrooms.
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
For the full recipe instructions, scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom of the page.
Step 1: In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3โ4 minutes until softened.
Step 2: Add ground beef or turkey to the pan and cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if needed.
Step 3: Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1โ2 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the shredded zucchini. Add the dry pasta directly into the pan and mix well to combine.
Step 5: Add 2 cups of the broth and the milk. Stir well, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged.
Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Leave the pan uncovered and let simmer for 18-23 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender. If the broth has been absorbed and the pasta needs slightly longer, you can add up to an additional ยฝ cup broth, a little at a time.
Step 6: Once the pasta is cooked al dente and the sauce has thickened slightly, add the chopped spinach and gently stir until wilted. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Homemade Hamburger Helper FAQs
We recommend storing leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and consuming within 3-4 days.
To freeze before cooking: Brown the beef or turkey with onions and garlic, then add the tomato paste, spices, shredded zucchini, and spinach. Let cool and store in a freezer-safe bag or container for up to 3 months. When ready to cook, thaw in the fridge overnight, then add pasta, broth, and milk to finish.
To freeze leftovers: Allow cooked pasta and sauce to cool completely. Store in an airtight container or freezer bag for up to 2 months. Reheat gently on the stove or in the microwave with a splash of broth or milk to loosen the sauce and keep the tender macaroni from drying out.
Note on pasta texture: Pasta will soften slightly after freezing and reheating. If you prefer firmer noodles, cook the pasta just until al dente before freezing, or freeze only the meat sauce base and cook fresh pasta when reheating.
For a gluten free hamburger helper swap the pasta with a gluten free noodle such as Banza chickpea pasta. For a dairy free homemade hamburger helper swap the milk for a dairy-free alternative and either omit the cheese or replace with a dairy-free option. For a vegetarian version omit the ground meat and use vegetable broth.ย
Other Creamy Pasta Recipes
If you make this easy homemade hamburger helper recipe, please let us know how it turns out in the comments below and/or rate the recipe! Donโt forget to tag us on Instagram to show us your finished productโit makes our day every time we see you trying the recipes we love!
Easy One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 pound lean ground beef or turkey
- 1, 6 ounce can tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ยฝ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ยฝ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 10 ounces pasta (medium shells, orecchiette, or elbow macaroni)
- 2-2 ยฝ cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 1 ยฝ cups milk of choice (cowโs milk or unsweetened almond or cashew milk)
- 2 cups chopped spinach
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3โ4 minutes until softened.
- Add ground beef or turkey to the pan and cook until browned and fully cooked through, breaking it up with a wooden spoon as it cooks. Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Stir in the tomato paste, garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1โ2 minutes.
- Stir in the shredded zucchini. Add the dry pasta directly into the pan and mix well to combine.
- Add 2 cups of the broth and the milk. Stir well, making sure the pasta is mostly submerged.
- Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Leave the pan uncovered and let simmer for 18-23 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender (cook time may vary depending on type of pasta). If the broth has been absorbed and the pasta needs slightly longer, you can add up to an additional ยฝ cup of broth, a little at a time.
- Once the pasta is cooked and the sauce has thickened slightly, add the chopped spinach and gently stir until wilted. Stir in shredded cheddar cheese until melted and creamy. Add additional salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
- Save time/prep ahead:ย
- Chop onions, zucchini, and spinach in advance and store in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- Pre-brown and freeze portions of ground beef or turkey to make this a true quick dinner.
- Shred cheese ahead of time and store in a sealed containerโready to stir in when you want that cheesy hamburger helper finish.
- See the FAQ for freezer instructions.
- For a gluten free hamburger helper swap the pasta with a gluten free noodle such as Banza chickpea pasta. For a dairy free homemade hamburger helper swap the milk for a dairy-free alternative and either omit the cheese or replace with a dairy-free option. For a vegetarian version omit the ground meat and use vegetable broth.ย
- The recipe can be found on My Fitness Pal by searching "BWB Homemade Hamburger Helper." The nutrition content provided for each recipe is an estimate created through the My Fitness Pal database. Please be aware that the nutritional content of each recipe may vary based on the products you use, the precision of your measurements, and the source you use to obtain nutrition data. While we try to provide accurate information, we give no guarantee regarding the accuracy of the nutritional information provided.ย
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