Easy One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
If you grew up eating the boxed version of Hamburger Helper, you’ll love this homemade hamburger helper made with real ingredients. It’s a quick recipe that comes together in simple steps and delivers the same cozy comfort food flavor—without the box mix. Perfect for busy weeknights or when you need a go-to meal the whole family will enjoy.
Servings: 5
Calories: 493kcal
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
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup shredded zucchini
- 10 ounces pasta (medium shells, orecchiette, or elbow macaroni)
- 2-2 ½ cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 1 ½ cups milk of choice (cow’s 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 3–4 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 1–2 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 ½ 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:
- 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 container—ready 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.
- 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.
Nutrition
Serving: 1serving | Calories: 493kcal | Carbohydrates: 57.3g | Protein: 32.1g | Fat: 15.2g | Saturated Fat: 5.7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2.2g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 708mg | Potassium: 911mg | Fiber: 4.6g | Sugar: 11.5g
