Healthier Hamburger Helper (One-Pot Homemade Recipe)

A delicious homemade one-pot pasta. Try this healthier hamburger helper with lots of protein and fiber for an easy 30-minute dinner. You’ll also love one-pot salmon orzo, healthy sausage sheet pan dinner, and chicken sausage pesto pasta.

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Hamburger helper just got a healthy makeover!

This nostalgic weeknight dinner was a favorite for a reason. It’s easy, it’s filling, and it’s simple enough to keep most kids happy. With this healthier hamburger helper, you’re getting all the cozy deliciousness you remember from childhood, with a major nutritious upgrade.

Homemade hamburger helper is the perfect one-pot dinner for the whole family. With lean meat, extra veggies, and lighter sauce, you can feel good about eating it too. Learn how to make this tasty dinner in less than 30 minutes.

Why you’ll love healthier hamburger helper

• Healthy and homemade
• Super filling
• Made in one pot
• Filled with vegetables
• Ready in under 30 minutes

What makes this homemade hamburger helper healthy?

Extra lean beef: Beef contains high quality protein, iron, zinc, and so much more nutrition… but it can be high in unhealthy fats and calorie-dense. This recipe calls for extra lean beef for more nutrition and less fat.

Vegetables: This tasty one pot pasta contains zucchini and baby spinach for a micronutrient boost.

Whole wheat pasta: You’d be surprised at how much extra protein and fiber you can add by swapping white pasta for whole wheat.

Milk, not cream: Don’t worry, we use real cheese in this healthier hamburger helper! But we lightened things up with a sauce made from beef broth and milk instead of cream. That means less unsaturated fat and fewer calories, with all the same satisfaction.

Ingredient notes

Olive oil: Because we’re using a lower fat beef, you’ll want a little oil to get things cooking. I recommend olive oil because most people have it stocked, but avocado oil or canola oil work too.

Extra lean ground beef: 90/10 or higher lean ground beef works great here. We’re looking for a leaner meat with more protein and less fat. You can substitute ground chicken or turkey if you wish.

Onion and garlic: The classic combo to build flavor. Don’t skip these! Feel free to substitute the white onion for a small yellow onion, or use jarred garlic to make life easier.

Zucchini: Vegetable number one in this healthier hamburger helper recipe! Feel free to substitute with any veggie you like — small chopped eggplant, broccoli, cauliflower, or bell pepper all work.

Tomato paste: This adds some delicious tomato flavor without adding tomato sauce. I recommend grabbing the tomato paste that comes in a tube for less waste.

Chili powder, salt, and pepper: This is the spice mix we’ll use to add flavor to this homemade hamburger helper recipe.

Crushed red pepper flakes: For a little spicy kick! Feel free to leave this out for a mild hamburger helper.

Whole wheat pasta: You can use whole wheat pasta, or a “protein” or “smart” pasta variety like Barilla Protein+ Pasta or Catelli Smart Pasta. Any pasta with extra protein and fiber will work here. Macaroni, orecchietta, or other small pasta shapes work best in this healthy hamburger helper recipe.

Beef broth: I like using Better Than Bouillon mixed with water for the best flavor. You could use chicken or vegetable broth instead if needed.

Milk: I use 2% milk, but any fat percentage will work.

Baby spinach: Vegetable number two in this healthier hamburger helper recipe! I recommend roughly chopping your baby spinach so it melts into the pasta.

Sharp cheddar cheese: Any aged cheddar will work for this recipe, orange or white. Pick a cheese with a strong flavor for more depth and deliciousness.

Swaps and variations

• No red meat — swap ground beef for ground chicken or turkey
• Extra spicy — add a spoonful of Calabrian chili oil
• Gluten-free — swap whole wheat pasta for gluten-free pasta or chickpea noodles
• Extra veggies — double the zucchini and baby spinach for more vegetables
• Parmesan hamburger helper — swap sharp cheddar for freshly grated parmesan

How one-pot pasta recipes work

This recipe for healthier hamburger helper is made in one pot. That means you’ll cook the veggies and meat, and then add your liquid and pasta directly in the same pan. Everything cooks together so you don’t have to boil the pasta separately. It’s amazing!

The key to making this one-pot hamburger helper recipe work is using the right amount of liquid, which can change depending on the shape of your pan. Make sure you add enough broth to submerge all of your raw pasta noodles before leaving it to simmer.

How to make healthier homemade hamburger helper

Heat oil in a large non-stick skillet or pot over medium heat.

Add beef, onion, and zucchini. Break up the meat with a spatula until it’s in small, even crumbles. Cook until the meat has no pink remaining and vegetables are slightly softened, about 6-8 minutes.

Add garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, pepper, and crushed red pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes or until garlic is just fragrant, stirring frequently.

Add pasta, broth, and milk. Stir. Make sure all the ingredients are submerged under liquid, and add more broth as needed.

Cook uncovered for 8-12 minutes or until pasta is cooked al dente, stirring occasionally. The exact timing will depend on the pasta brand and shape you use. You want your healthier hamburger helper at a gentle simmer — if it looks like a rolling boil, turn the heat down to medium-low or low.

Stir in baby spinach and cheese until melted and combined. If there’s excess liquid, let your hamburger helper rest for 5 minutes and stir again. Serve warm with freshly cracked black pepper and grated cheddar cheese. Enjoy!

Storage and re-heating instructions

Store leftovers in single serving food containers in the fridge. They’ll stay good for up to three days.

Re-heat on the stove: Transfer your leftover healthy hamburger helper to a non-stick pan. Sprinkle with water, cover, and turn the heat to medium. Cook for 5-6 minutes or until noodles are warm and sauce is bubbling, stirring occasionally.

Re-heat in the microwave: Transfer your homemade hamburger helper to a microwave-safe bowl. Sprinkle with water and cover with a paper towel. Microwave for 60-90 seconds or until heated through, stirring occasionally.

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• Large non-stick skillet

Tips for the best healthy hamburger helper

Adjust the beef broth as needed! The most important step for making one-pot recipes like this work is using the right amount of liquid. You want enough beef broth so that your noodles are entirely submerged, but not so much that it’s a soupy mess. Start with the amount listed in the recipe and add an extra splash or two as needed.