Make this classic Hamburger Helper recipe at home! This family-friendly dinner is great for both kids and adults. This nostalgic recipe is great for family dinners, meal prep, and leftovers. This homemade version is made with wholesome and nutritious ingredients. You will love this nostalgic and cozy recipe that takes less than 30 minutes!
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This Hamburger Helper recipe is quick and easy to make!
- It takes less than 30 minutes from start to finish.
- Everything is made in one skillet. This makes clean-up easy!
- Satisfy your comfort food cravings with this healthy and hearty meal.
- This recipe is picky-eater approved.
- This version is much healthier than the store-bought version.
- It is made with whole, real foods.
- It becomes so creamy!
- This recipe is great for people and families of all ages.
- Use any type of ground meat. Choose beef, pork, chicken, or turkey.
- The flavor is a mix between beef stroganoff and a cheeseburger!
- Check out this Classic Lasagna or this Buffalo Chicken Pasta for another classic dinner recipe!
Ingredients & Substitutes
Scroll down to the recipe card at the bottom for the full Hamburger Helper recipe.
Use any type of ground meat. Beef, turkey, pork, and chicken all work well. Check out these Chicken Burgers too!
Sweet onion adds a robust flavor.
Both garlic powder and onion powder add additional flavor.
A little sea salt and pepper provide more flavor.
Nutritional yeast adds a cheesy flavor. It replaces the need for powdered cheese.
Suga- free tomato sauce adds moisture and a hearty flavor. Double check labels for added sugars and preservatives.
Chicken broth adds more moisture and becomes the base of the sauce. In addition, double check ingredient labels. If needed, use beef broth.
Uncooked whole wheat pasta is a great pasta option. For gluten-free, choose chickpea pasta or veggie pasta. If using veggie pasta, add only at the end. Veggie pasta needs to cook for only 3 to 4 minutes.
Lastly, cream cheese makes the broth super creamy! It also thickens the sauce. Allow the cream cheese to sit on the kitchen counter for an hour before cooking. This helps it soften up. If in a pinch, run the pack of cream cheese under hot water for a few minutes before making this Hamburger Helper recipe.
Taste & Texture
This healthier Hamburger Helper recipe tastes like a cheeseburger stroganoff! The main flavors are ground meat, cheese, and pasta. It is picky eater approved!
The overall texture is creamy! The meat is crumbly, the pasta is perfectly soft, and the sauce is thick and creamy. This dish is delicious!
How to Make
Step 1
First, brown the ground beef in a skillet until crumbly. Remove any excess grease from the pan.
Step 2
Add the finely chopped sweet onion to the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes, until slightly soft.
Step 3
Next, add in all remaining ingredients except cream cheese. Stir to combine.
Step 4
Bring this mixture to a light boil. Then, lightly boil for 4 minutes.
Step 5
Reduce the heat to a low simmer. Add in the room temperature cream cheese. Mix cream cheese in.
Step 6
Simmer for at least 10 minutes, up to 20 minutes. If it gets too dry, add more broth as it continues to simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
Step 7
Finally, remove the skillet from the heat. Ladle this Hamburger Helper recipe into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs!
Expert Tips for Success
Brown the ground beef until crumbly.
Finely chop the onion. Otherwise, it will not cook through.
Add the uncooked pasta to the skillet. Do not cook the pasta beforehand.
Use room temperature cream cheese. It mixes in much easier this way.
If you do not have time to soften cream cheese, run the package under hot water for a few minutes. It will become soft.
Continue to stir to prevent burning.
Serve this Hamburger Helper recipe hot and fresh for best results.
Flavor Variations & Add-Ins
There are a few ways to mix up the flavors of this easy Hamburger Helper recipe.
Use ground turkey, ground chicken, or ground pork.
If desired, use cubes of chicken breasts or chicken thighs.
Replace tomato sauce with salsa for a spicier flavor.
Add in some cumin and chili powder for a taco pasta flavor.
Use a different shape of pasta.
Top with shredded cheese for an extra cheesy result.
How to Serve & Store
Serve this homemade Hamburger Helper recipe hot and fresh! It is equally as delicious as leftovers too.
Serve by itself or with a side dish. Since the meal is rich and creamy, serve with a light side.
You will also love this Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta!
Serve with a side salad, roasted veggies, whole wheat bread, or your favorite side.
Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat, add leftovers to a skillet over low medium heat. Add in enough broth. Then, cook for a few minutes until warmed.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Regular store-bought Hamburger Helper contains added sugars and preservatives. This homemade version is made with real food ingredients.
Sure! Use any type of ground meat. Cubed chicken breast or pulled chicken also works well. This will be less similar to classic Hamburger Helper.
This recipe can be easily made gluten-free. Use chickpea pasta or veggie pasta.
Yes! This recipe is great for picky eaters and kids. Everyone loves it!
Use either whole wheat penne pasta, chickpea pasta, or veggie pasta. Zucchini noodles or sweet potato noodles are a great option. You can also make the meat sauce and serve over spaghetti squash for a low carb option.
Equipment Needed
Large Nonstick Skillet: This large nonstick skillet is great for making dinner! It is easy to clean and large enough for a family dinner.
Wooden Spoons and Spatula: These wooden spoons and spatulas are great for stirring.
You May Also Enjoy
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Chicken Marsala Pasta
- Creamy Lemon Shrimp Pasta
- Weeknight Tomato Basil Pasta
- Garlic Tomato Pasta with Kale
If you enjoyed this healthy Hamburger Helper recipe, please leave a rating and comment! For more inspiration, check out my Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest. For 5 free weekly meal plans and more free resources, sign up to receive my free newsletter! Check out these Dinner Recipes for more ideas.
Hamburger Helper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey)
- ½ cup finely chopped sweet onion
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp sea salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp nutritional yeast
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 8 ounces uncooked whole wheat pasta
- 4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
- fresh parsley (optional garnish)
Instructions
- First, brown the ground beef in a skilletuntil crumbly. Remove any grease.
- Add the chopped sweet onion to the skillet. Cook for 3 minutes, until slightly soft.
- Next, add in all remaining ingredients except cream cheese. Stir to combine.
- Bring this mixture to a light boil. Lightly boil for 4 minutes.
- Reduce heat to a low simmer. Add in the room temperature cream cheese. Use a wooden spoon to mix cream cheese in.
- Simmer for at least 10 minutes, up to 20 minutes. If it gets too dry, add more broth as it continues to simmer. Stir occasionally to prevent burning.
- Finally, remove skillet from heat. Ladle Hamburger Helper into bowls and garnish with fresh herbs!
Notes
- Use ground beef, turkey, chicken, or pork. Any ground meat works well.
- Cook the ground meat until brown and crumbly. Break it apart with a wooden spoon.
- Add the pasta uncooked to the skillet. It is not supposed to be pre-cooked.
- Continue stirring to prevent burning.
- Check ingredient labels for added sugars. Tomato sauce and chicken broth often have additives in them.
- Use room temperature cream cheese. This easily mixes into the skillet.
- For an extra creamy version, add even more cream cheese.
- Store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- To reheat, add leftovers to a large skillet with some chicken broth. Stir and cook until warm.
Enjoy this homemade hamburger helper recipe!
Is there a way to make it dairy-free? (Aka substitute for the cream cheese?
Sure! You could use dairy free cream cheese or even use canned full fat coconut cream. Enjoy!
This was so good! Made exactly as written and my family loved it, thank you!
You are so welcome, Robin! We are excited to hear that!
Seriously so delicious!!
We agree completely!
Would this be ok with cauliflower instead of pasta if one was avoiding carbs? I think I might try cooking the Cauli seperately and combining at the end.
I bet it would be! I would suggest combining at the end like you suggested. Enjoy!
I’ve always wondered if you can use Hamburger Helper to make meatloaf. I think it would be really tasty!