Homemade Hamburger Helper Healthy One Pan Meal Wellplated Com

Lean ground beef cooked with noodles in a rich and creamy sauce, this one-pan meal cooks entirely in a single skillet, even the pasta!

If you didn’t grow up with Hamburger Helper, it’s a boxed mix that contains dry noodles, a spice packet, and a powdered packet for the “sauce.”Once you purchase the mix, the only other ingredients you need to make Hamburger Helper are milk, ground beef, and sometimes cheese. The end result is a little bit like beef stroganoff.

I have a deep affinity for creating healthy, from-scratch versions of the iconic foods of my Midwestern childhood (hello, ‘90s!). You love them too, because these lightened-up comfort classics are among my most popular recipes.

We’ve tackled beef stroganoff in detail: one-pan Chicken Stroganoff, Instant Pot Beef Stroganoff, and Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff are crowd faves.My collection of casserole recipes is one of the most visited pages on my site.

Making this Hamburger Helper stroganoff, however, presented more of a challenge. I wanted to honor the spirit of the mix that held a place in our family pantry—the ultimate ease, creamy sauce, and family-friendly flavor—but use only real, healthy ingredients. I also wanted to surprise Ben, who let’s just say does not share my nostalgia for Hamburger Helper mix. When I served him this dish, I called it “healthy cheeseburger pasta” instead. (Feel free to use that one at home.) Ben LOVED it, and I did too!

Hamburger Casserole was Ben’s #1 recipe of 2020 (see our full list of favorite 2020 recipes here).I even went on to create this similarly-flavored Hamburger Casserole, which is basically a homemade Hamburger Helper casserole.

This Hamburger Helper beef pasta tastes rich and creamy, and even has surprising notes of umami. It’s almost—and we are talking about Hamburger Helper here so I do not say this lightly—gourmet. This healthy ground beef recipe will please picky eaters and discerning palates alike (just like this Ground Beef and Potatoes recipe). With only one pan to wash at the end, it will also please the kitchen clean up crew!

How to Make Hamburger Helper from Scratch

This Hamburger Helper recipe keeps true to the spirit of the box in flavor and in prep. It is EASY.

The secret to keeping this recipe easy AND to making it creamy is to cook the noodles in the pan with the other ingredients (just like my Chili Mac and Cheese), instead of cooking them separately.As the pasta starches release, they thicken the sauce to make it rich and creamy.

While boxed Hamburger Helper is made with milk, it’s not necessary here. Instead, Greek yogurt, cheese, and the pasta’s starches create the wonderful gravy that has come to be associated with this dish. To keep the recipe light, this healthy Hamburger Helper is made with vegetables and whole wheat noodles. Once you know how to make Hamburger Helper stroganoff from scratch, you’ll never want the mix again!

Hamburger Helper Recipe Ingredients

Lean Ground Beef. Lean, flavorful ground beef gives this dish that classic Hamburger Helper flavor. Plus, ground beef is packed with protein, vitamins, and iron.Whole Wheat Pasta. Using whole wheat pasta adds nutritional value to the dish (hello, fiber!), and the noodles hold up well during cooking..

Beef Broth. Using beef broth in this recipe is important for creating the rich, savory sauce flavors.Carrots + Onion + Garlic. A combination of carrots, onions, and garlic helps pack in added nutritional value and creates a deep base of flavor.Nonfat Greek Yogurt. Instead of homemade Hamburger Helper with cream cheese, Greek yogurt is my wholesome way of thickening the sauce and creating a creamy texture.Cheddar Cheese. Forget homemade Hamburger Helper with Velveeta. Sharp cheddar cheese melts perfectly into the sauce, helping to make it thick, rich, and DELISH!

Hot Sauce. A dash of hot sauce adds the perfect amount of dimension and interest. This recipe isn’t spicy, but if you’d like it to be, you can certainly add more.Dijon Mustard. The thing that makes you stop and say, “Oooohh, that’s good!! What is that?” In other words, don’t skip it.Smoked Paprika. A subtly smoky note.

The Directions

Storing, Freezing, and Reheating Homemade Hamburger Helper

To Store. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days.To Reheat. Rewarm Hamburger Helper in a Dutch oven on the stovetop over medium-low heat or gently in the microwave.To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Dutch Oven. An investment piece that’s worth every penny.Measuring Spoons. These are double-sided, which means fewer dishes to wash.Spatula. This simple, heat-resistant spatula is one of my most-used items.

The next time you are perusing the dry goods aisle and wondering which Hamburger Helper is the best, pull up this homemade Hamburger Helper recipe instead. It is truly the BEST hamburger helper!

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