This one-skillet, creamy Homemade Hamburger Helper is made with ground beef, macaroni and cheese – real ingredients you can feel good about feeding your family for dinner!
Homemade Hamburger Helper
This Homemade Hamburger Helper, made with ground beef and macaroni, is creamy and delicious. It’s pure comfort food and not just kid-friendly–it’s also high in protein and easy to make! I polled my Instagram community, and many of you asked for more one-pot recipes. I love cooking this way so much that I have a whole cookbook dedicated to one-pot recipes, Skinnytaste One and Done, which is one of my most popular cookbooks. My husband and kids gave this recipe two thumbs up and asked me to include it in my regular dinner rotation. More one-pot pasta recipes you should also try are this One-Pot Chicken and Orzo, Instant Pot Baked Ziti, and One-Pot Spaghetti and Meat Sauce.
You’ll Love This Healthier Hamburger Helper Recipe
Truth be told, I’ve never had hamburger helper growing up, but I do like the concept and convenience of taking hamburger meat and adding it to macaroni with some cheese for a simple weeknight meal. After playing around with the ingredients, we loved how it turned out! Tommy calls this Beef-A-Roni and went back for seconds!
I tried it with high-protein pasta but found it tastes best with regular good-quality pasta, like DeLallo cavatappi or fusilli. If using elbows, the pasta cook time may be too short, resulting in a mushier pasta. Here are a few reasons to love this meal:
- One Pot Meal: This beef pasta cooks all in one pot, meaning you don’t have to scrub a ton of dishes.
- High Protein: The milk, beef, and cheese give this pasta dish over 35 grams of protein per serving.
- Great way to use a package of ground beef if you’re looking for something different than burgers and meatballs.
- Dietary Restrictions: It’s Weight Watchers-friendly and high-protein. It’s also easy to make dairy-free and gluten-free.
- Affordable Ingredients: Ground beef costs less than other cuts of meat, making it a more economical way to eat beef. The rest of the ingredients are fairly low-cost.
- Family Friendly: If you have picky eaters at home, this is a great kid-friendly recipe.
If you make this healthy homemade hamburger helper, I would love to see it. Tag me in your photos or videos on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook!
What You’ll Need
Hamburger Helper Ingredients:
Ground beef, milk, and cheese combine to create the best creamy, cheesy macaroni. See the recipe card below for the exact measurements.
- Ground Beef: Since we’re adding milk and cheese, I kept the beef lean and chose organic beef.
- Seasoning: Kosher salt and paprika season the meat.
- Onion and Garlic enhance the flavor and make the pasta more aromatic.
- Tomato Sauce balances the richness of the meat and cheese. Two tablespoons tomato paste can be used instead.
- Worcestershire Sauce adds a hint of tanginess and elevates the overall flavor.
- Chicken Broth: The pasta cooks in the broth for flavor, beef broth can also be used.
- 2% Milk adds creaminess while keeping the pasta light.
- Pasta: Choose a short pasta shape, like rotini, cavatappi, or shells. If you use elbow macaroni, cook the pasta for 6 to 8 minutes each time so it doesn’t get mushy.
- Part-Skim Cheddar Cheese: Stir the cheese in at the end and let it melt for a rich, cheesy pasta.
How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper
Here’s how to make hamburger helper step-by-step. My favorite part is that it cooks in one pot. The recipe card contains the complete instructions.
- Brown the beef in a large, deep skillet or large pot on medium-high heat. Season it with salt and paprika and cook it until it’s browned.
- Aromatics and Sauces: Sauté the onion and garlic for a few minutes, and then add the tomato sauce and Worcestershire. Lower the heat and cook until the sauces have reduced and are caramelized.
- Cook the Pasta: Add the broth and pasta to the pot and bring it to a boil. Decrease the heat to medium, cover the skillet, and cook until the pasta is almost tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Milk: Stir in the milk, cover the skillet, and cook medium-low, stirring periodically, until the pasta is al dente and most of the milk is absorbed.
- Cheese: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cheese.
Variations
- Ground Meat: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey, ground chicken or ground bison.
- Dairy-Free: Hamburger helper is better with milk since it gives it a creamy texture, but you can substitute a dairy-free alternative, like unsweetened rice milk and use a dairy-free cheese like Violife, which is the one I find melts the best.
- Soy-Free: If you have a soy allergy, you can omit the Worcestershire sauce or substitute coconut aminos.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Cheese: Swap cheddar with shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack.
- Cheeseburger Pasta: Chop tomato, pickles, and onion, mix it in a bowl with a little pickle juice, and put it on top.
- Macaroni and Cheese: If you want it cheesier, like mac and cheese, add more cheddar.
- Add Veggies: Diced bell peppers, carrots, spinach, broccoli or mushrooms would work great.
- Spices: Play around with different spices, for smoky flavor use smoked paprika. For chili flavor add chili powder, or simply add garlic powder in place of fresh garlic.
FAQs
What ground beef is best for hamburger helper?
Using lean ground beef is best because it’s lower in saturated fat and won’t make the dish greasy.
What can you substitute for ground beef?
Any ground meat such as ground turkey or even a vegan meat substitute will work here.
Is Hamburger Helper unhealthy?
This Homemade Hamburger Helper is so much better than store-bought. If you grew up having boxed “Hamburger Helper” as a kid, I think you’ll love this healthier version that’s lower in sodium and made with real food.
Serving Suggestions
Here are some vegetable side dish ideas if you want to add a little color and round out your meal.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container in the fridge for 4 days.
- Freeze the pasta for 3 months in freezer-safe containers.
- Thaw the dish in the fridge the day before and microwave or bake until warm.
A Great Base for So Many Variations
Think Philly Cheesesteak Macaroni or Taco Macaroni, by playing around with the ingredients and swapping different cheese or veggies you can come up with so many variations. Leave me some ideas in the comments and I will share some variations!
More Macaroni Recipes You’ll Love
- Lighter Baked Macaroni and Cheese
- Macaroni Casserole
- Macaroni Salad with Tomatoes
- Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese
- Baked Broccoli Macaroni and Cheese
Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Equipment
- large deep skillet with a lid
Ingredients
- 3/4 pound 93% lean ground beef
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 cup onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce, or tomato passata or puree
- 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cups 2% milk, or dairy-free milk for DF
- 8 ounces dry pasta, such as cavatappi, rotini or elbows or small shells or gluten-free pasta if needed
- 1 cup part-skim sharp cheddar cheese, or dairy-free cheese for DF
Instructions
- Heat a large deep skillet over medium-high heat and add the beef and 1/2 teaspoon salt and paprika. Cook, breaking the meat up into small pieces until browned, 5-6 minutes. Add onion, garlic and cook until aromatic; 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add tomato sauce and Worcestershire sauce; reduce until almost dry and caramelized, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add chicken broth and pasta and bring to a boil, lower heat to medium-low and cover. Cook 8 to 10 minutes, stirring halfway until the pasta is almost tender and the liquid is mostly absorbed.
- Uncover, add the milk, and cook, covered stirring periodically medium-low until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, 8 to 10 minutes.
- Remove from heat, uncover and stir in cheddar cheese.
Last Step:
Please leave a rating and comment letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business to thrive and continue providing free, high-quality recipes for you.Notes
- Meat: Substitute ground beef with ground turkey or ground bison.
- Dairy-Free: Hamburger helper is better with milk since it gives it a creamy texture, but you can substitute a dairy-free alternative, like unsweetened rice milk and use a dairy-free cheese like Violife, which is the one I find melts the best.
- Soy-Free: If you have a soy allergy, you can omit the Worcestershire sauce or substitute coconut aminos.
- Gluten-Free: Use your favorite gluten-free pasta and gluten-free Worcestershire sauce.
- Cheese: Swap cheddar with shredded mozzarella or Monterey jack.
- Cheeseburger Pasta: Chop tomato, pickles, and onion, mix it in a bowl with a little pickle juice, and put it on top.
- Macaroni and Cheese: If you want it cheesier, like mac and cheese, add more cheddar.
So good and flavorful. My kids are picky and request this weekly. Make half with cheese and half without
So glad they enjoy it!
Delicious and easy! Even my extremely picky daughter was enjoying it, which says a lot. Thanks, Gina!!!
Easy, quick, and simple ingredients. The first time I made this was for my Dad who is rather picky with a somewhat restrictive diet. He loved it and asked for leftovers! A new go-to when we want something healthy and delicious.
Quick, inexpensive, delicious and healthy.
My husband loved this dish. However, I thought it was a bit bland. Next time I will add some Italian seasoning and garlic
Love this recipe! When I click on WW points, why does it tell me to download WW app when I already have it?
Simple and easy dinner. I really enjoyed one pan cooking also. I will be making it again.
This was so surprisingly good! We liked the change from a more tomato based pasta. It was easy to make, and came out very well gluten and dairy free. I used Barilla GF macaroni, Follow Your Heart cheddar shreds, and Oatly medium fat oat milk. We’ll be making this regularly. The only problem is to stop eating it once made!
Too much liquid!
Good
Extremely easy and so, so good! I used a whole pound of beef, rotini noodles (because that’s just what I had), whole milk, and shredded “Mexican blend” cheese (again, just because that’s what I had on hand). Otherwise, followed the recipe as written. Was a little unsure after the time passed with the broth and i was adding the milk, seemed to still have a fair bit of liquidity to it.. but followed through and after pulling the pan from the heat, adding the cheese and letting it rest for a few minutes, it was perfect! Tastes exactly like Hamburger Helper but infinitely better. I will DEFINITELY be repeating this recipe, highly recommend! Thank you for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This is a unicorn of a recipe. Delicious, comforting, and nutritious? It’s already going in the rotation. Generous portion sizes, great flavor, staple ingredients.
I have a bunch of regular elbow macaroni to use up, but I’m excited to make this with protein pasta. It would have lights out macros, with that.
The ratios of water to pasta is perfect for the cook time. That’s a hard thing to get right and this recipe does. 10/10
I used this recipe as a way to get rid of random things in the fridge. I made it ONLY for my teens because Hamburger Helper sounds awful. I wasn’t even going to try it!!! I’m so glad I did!!!! It’s really very good!!! I had a bunch of leftover precooked ground beef from a nacho bar that I did the other night. Used that, scallions instead of onion, gluten-free pasta from partials of two random boxes, colby for the cheese, and for the milk I had a few tablespoons of coconut milk leftover from another of Gina’s recipes and I mixed it with leftover sour cream from my nacho bar. The recipe is a fantastic base and would work with SO many different add-ins. Thank you!!
I’m not sure I’ve ever lett a recipe review… but I HAD to on this one!!! This was by far the best homemade Hamburger Helper recipe I’ve ever attempted. It’s way better than the boxed meal! And simple ingredients. Not a single wasted bite and we’re already planning what day to have it again! Definitely try this one!
I am so impressed with this. About halfway through I was contemplating ordering pizza just in case. This ended up being a huge hit!
OMG! This recipe was so good! Way better than I expected. It was creamy, filling, and perfect for a warm, comforting meal. Super easy to make, and the fact that it’s a one-pot meal makes it even better. This is definitely going into my bi-weekly rotation. Plus, the serving size is just right! (We used 1 lb of ground beef instead of 3/4 lb)
My family loved this Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe! It’s officially been added to our weekly rotation. Super easy, one-pot prep and total comfort-food perfection—such a win for busy nights.
♥
Have made this recipe for 20 years and to see it here makes me feel good knowing I was making a healthy choice for my family, our variation is Taco mac and cheese, adding in taco seasoning and adobe chili along with green chilies and corn. I never added milk but will try that next time.
So easy, quick and delicious. Kid friendly. Great for a busy work day
This was great, we made some modifications to be GF and DF but great recipe! Definitely make again.
I’m not a big recipe girl, but this one STAYS on rotation when we have company, and every single time they ask for the recipe (and sometimes their friends who heard about how good it was also message me looking for it!). It’s delicious, nostalgic, and impossible to mess up. My partner asks for it at least once a week when it gets cold out. I’m obsessed, THANK YOU!!
♥
This was a very easy and tasty meal to make on a week night.
I followed the recipe and it turned out very good!
This is a great and easy recipe for a working mom, I double the recipe and we have plenty of leftovers for lunch the next day. I’ve also made with ground turkey and chicken, basically whatever I have in the fridge! Huge bonus that it’s only one pot!
Perfect!♥
Kid approved. Didn’t make enough!
I love kid approval! 🙂
So easy and so good! I know it changes the nutrition a bit but I double the recipe and use 2 lbs of ground turkey (93/7) and a 15 oz can tomato sauce. My family asks for this every other week or so.
So yummy!!
Made this exactly as written. Perfection! My whole family loves it and I make it at least 3x a month! Thank you!
Can you cook the meat in the slow cooker? I’m thinking to do that but cook the noodles and add it later.
I made this with shell Goodles for extra protein and ground turkey instead of beef. It was excellent!!
Hi! I was thinking of using goodles! Did you have to extend the cooking time?
Made this tonight and it was sooooo good!!! I used ground turkey in place of beef and tomato paste in place of sauce & we were not disappointed! This will definitely become part of my regular rotation….thank you!!!
Leftovers? What leftovers? 😂 This is so good!
Lol, glad you enjoyed it!
Our family loves this recipe! It’s a go to on our weeknight meal rotation
This was absolutely delicious, I added green bell peppers and then some spinach at the very end, served it with Ginas roasted parmesan green beans !!!! This is getting made every week in my house 🙂
I added corn for some veggies, so good!!
Make this every other week! Kids love it!
Great fall comfort food!
Great recipe, flavor filled and doesn’t feel like you’re missing anything. Made it on Sun for a Monday evening meal to heat and eat. Using leftovers for lunch. Next time will add more veggies like mushrooms.
Delicious! Added some chopped creminis to use up with the meat – Didn’t use all the cheese at end and added 2 tbsp of half and half. Was filling and comforting! Kids loved it too – will be keeping in rotation
I made this last night and it was really good! My husband ate it all and he does not eat much of what I prepare! It is simple and quick! I did use 1/2 cup of whole milk and 2 types of cheese along with penne! paired with blistered green beans and it was meal! Thank you for these wonderful recipes!
Excellent, so glad you enjoyed this easy recipe!
This is soooo delicious! Also really filling. We have enough for a few days worth of lunches. Yum!
So easy and so delicious. My husband and I loved this recipe. Thanks, Gina!
Glad you both enjoy it!
This dish was absolutely amazing. I love the creaminess and the balance of Worcestershire sauce and tomato sauce. Quick and easy!
I was not a fan of “Hamburger Helper” but the recipe sounded good so I made this last night. So easy and wonderful flavor! Thanks for all the great recipes!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Easy and flavorful
This is a fantastic recipe – it is delicious and easy to prepare in one skillet!!!! I don’t know why I haven’t made it before! Thanks Gina for another great recipe!!
Love this recipe, great to have in rotation for the school year! Also helpful that you’re working with ingredients that everyone most likely already has on hand : )
Tried for the first time today. As usual,(skinnytaste recipes) wasn’t disappointed! Forever grateful Gina for what you do. Bringing tasty recipes to us with half the guilt. You are a rock star!
Thanks Wendi!
This is our go to recipe almost every other week, my kids love, it, I love it, and we can’t get enough of it.
My kids didn’t jump up and down about it, but my husband and I loved it – so it’s in rotation lol. It’ll grow on the cubs… hopefully:-)
So, so good! My 2.5 year old loved it, which is a big deal. I swapped turkey instead of beef, used gluten free noodles and it was excellent.
Perfect!
This was delicious! I mistakenly used tomato paste rather than sauce, and I used gf pasta. We will definitely make it again.
Delish! Made it with ground turkey for my parents, my kids, and myself and we all enjoyed it. I added some hot sauce to my serving since it’s a great vessel for that too lol.
I forgot to rate this. 5 stars!
I thought this would be good, but I didn’t know it would be this good. I used 99% ground chicken. I also had a tomato from the garden and made my own sauce. Delicious! And I can’t believe the serving size, it is so filling!
I just top my cheese when I serve it! I perfer it that way!
This recipe turned out delicious and super easy! 🍽️
Instead of using tomato sauce, I swapped in a can of fire-roasted tomatoes plus 1 tablespoon of tomato paste for extra depth of flavor. Honestly, I loved the taste even before adding cheese—so next time I might skip it altogether to save a few fat grams. 😉
But for this round, I went all in with a blend of cheddar, mozzarella, and a sprinkle of parmesan—and it was amazing!
Glad you enjoyed it! 🙂
Easy and delicious!!
An adult/healthy version of a guilty pleasure.
So yummy
Yummy
Family loves this recipe and it is on our regular rotation. Enjoyed by even the pickiest eaters. I use high protein pasta as well as bone broth.
A keeper on repeat! Picky husband raved. I stayed on plan. Win. Win.
My favorite meal when I don’t want to stress over dinner !
Made this one last night. It was delish! Even my picky kids (and let me tell you how picky one of them is) ate it and enjoyed it. Will be putting this on repeat!
Can you meal prep this? If so, how would you do it?
Very easy to make and ended with a flavor my whole family enjoyed. Thank you
This was absolutely delicious and tasted just like hamburger helper without all the guilt of it. I made it for myself, my 2 year old and my absolutely 1 year old. The 2 year old fought me about it (as he does) but still liked it enough to eat most, and my 1 year old devoured it like I did! I threw some cooked broccoli in a food processor and snuck it in too at the end with the cheese. I’ll be making this plenty more times!
I used heavy cream, because that’s what I had and Colby jack cheese. I didn’t have an onion so onion powder it is and I used 1/2 cup of tomato sauce. It was so WONDERFUL!
Absolutely delicious! Not your mothers hamburger helper for sure!
This isn’t the hamburger helper I cooked 40 years ago when we first got married. We love this dish and is on rotation now! Thanks for another delicious recipe!!
♥
Simple & delicious
Delicious and Easy to make!
My entire family loved this dish and so easy to make. My entire weekly menu is basically from Skinnytaste!
Thanks Amie! ♥
So simple and tasty! I omitted the onions and added onion powder this time because I didn’t feel like chopping. So quick, easy, and flavorful!
Delicious recipe…like always:). I cook almost exclusively from your website. Thank you so much!!
Outstanding
Tasted better than boxed with no preservatives
I made it gluten free for my celiac child
Our whole family loved it
Thank you skinny taste came through again!
This was delicious! It was a hit with my 12 yr old and husband. I’ve never had the boxed version of Hamburger Helper so I can’t say if they’re comparable but I will definitely make this again!!
OMG this is soooo good! Made with ground turkey. Can’t wait for leftovers!
My new favorite!! So good and so easy and so adaptable
My family loves this! I make this every couple weeks.
I love how easy it is to adapt this recipe to what I have on hand. I had ground beef and ground turkey so I used a mix. I didn’t have shredded cheese, but I had sliced American cheese and Parmesan so I use that. I didn’t have milk, but I had half-and-half. I didn’t have tomato sauce, but I had tomato paste. It comes out delicious every time I modify it just based on what I have in my kitchen.
Love it. I’ve made it as written. I’ve adjusted it based on what I have in the kitchen. Sometimes I add extra veggies. Sometimes I use Italian sausage with mozzarella. I always use ground turkey rather than beef
I made this and LOVED it. I used ground chicken instead of beef and it was terrific!!!
This was good. Made it gluten-free pasta, vegan cheese added diced zucchini, broth gluten-free/no salt .
So easy and had a picky crowd going back for seconds! Followed the recipe using almond milk and cavatappi.
I’ve been making your recipes for about 14 years and this is one of my all time favorites! Made it last week and making it again tonight. I like to use full fat cheese but I use less of it, about 3/4 cup. It ends up being only about a 50 calorie difference total, so only 12ish more calories per serving. Thank you for this awesome recipe!
So happy you love it!
Very good! I added a Tbsp of cornstarch with the milk to thicken the sauce up a bit. Will definitely make again. Thanks Gina!
This one was perfect for a night where I just wanted some comfort food. I grew up eating HH very occasionally, but when I first moved out on my own, had it about once a week. This was so good! I grated my own sharp cheddar cheese for maximum melting and it really hit the spot. Served it with a nice side salad.
I usually love these recipes but this did not work out for me. The pasta took a long time to get tender, I added more liquid, and the final texture wasn’t great. Many Skinnytaste recipes are in our regular rotation, so this is an exception.
This recipe was out of this world GOOD 👍. I made it with ground turkey because that was what I had. Will be making this again really soon.
This is wonderful! My only recommendation that I would give is to use low sodium chicken broth.
Another delicious recipe from my favourite recipe website!
Thank you!
Very delicious. Will never buy boxed Hamburger helper again. Even my very picky husband loves it.
We like it better without the cheese and I use a pound of hamburger and 1/2 c tomato sauce.
My partner said, “This meal has no right to be this good.” Another winner, Gina!
I did make some tweaks based on the comments, but I expect it is excellent as written.
Love, love, love this! Made this recipe tonight for the first time. It’s definitely going in the rotation. Thank you!
easy & so good! my toddler approved
It’s meaty, cheesy goodness!!!!! My picky son devoured it. It was delicious!!! You won’t be disappointed. A recipe for everyone in your family. Definitely making this again!!
I made this tonight and gobbled it down and I could have eaten more. I added some red pepper flakes to spice it up and my hubs loves Worcestershire so we put extra. I made the mistake not checking my cheddar stock and I only had 1/2 cup worth so I added 1/2 cup of grated parm (not the green stuff) and it was still yummy. I added some extra chicken broth at the end to make it a bit saucier. This was so easy to make and it was quick to get on the table. A one pot meal that is definitely going into the rotation!
can you use banza chic pea pasta ? will it taste the same
Hi V, yes you can make this with chick pea pasta…I have not, but read many of the reviews and saw that some other commenters had 😉😊
My family loved this recipe!
It was quick to make with easy ingredients I already had on hand.
Made it exactly as written, delicious. Everyone loved it. Thank you Gina
This was fantastic but there is a downside which is good luck having just having one serving lol I haven’t had the beloved boxed stuff in a few decades. This is the absolute best replacement. Easy. And fast. And it tastes amazing. I didn’t change anything other than I used a mix of wheat and plain elbows and just used the lower (8mins when required) time. I always love reading what others did differently and I’m going to try a few of their ideas next time!
I was hesitant to make this, but I am so glad I tried it. We have had it a couple of times and it is a hit with everyone. Fast and great flavor. A win for any night of the week.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Delicious! I used 1lb of lean ground turkey in mine and it was perfect! My family loved it. Quick and easy meal to throw together. Thank you so much for sharing! 🙂
This tasted better than I expected. This will be a goto now!
Yum! Very nostalgic taste. Both my husband and I loved it. I added 8 oz of chopped mushrooms to the pan before the beef and served peas on the side. I also used unsalted beef broth but next time I will I use regular beef broth. I’m lazy so topped with “shaky cheese” (the Kraft grated parm) at the end.
Easy and delicious!
I am so happy I saved this recipe a few weeks back! I finally made this and added more onion and a couple poblanos. I doubled the recipe and used ground turkey and it turned out wonderfully. Comfort food that fits my macros, perfect! Thank you!
Simple ingredients yielded a great comfort food
So yummy! WW points are now 10 😀
Clean out the refrigerator night, and this was perfect. Made gluten free, I added a red pepper, mushrooms and broccoli.
This is delicious! It’s my second time making it and I’m making it with ground elk. I do increase the meat slightly to 1 lb and I double the overall recipe so use 2 lb.
So easy, one pot and yummy!!!
Made this tonight, very good! Definitely a keeper.
Delicious and easy!
Easy AND delicious! Definitely a keeper!
This is a huge hit in our family! I did use beef broth and it added a wonderful flavor. It also stored well for lunch prep.
This was a big hit in our house. Way better than the boxed Hamburger Helper!
This was delicious and easy! My husband and I grew up with Hamburger Helper, my kids have no idea what it is, haha, but we all enjoyed this. I cut up some mushrooms and added at the end of cooking the ground beef. I also subbed in GF pasta. I will put this in the regular rotation!!
SO good! I think it tastes better than store bought hamburger helper. I have made it twice and my husband and 1 year old devour it.
One of my favorites and such a crowd pleaser. I love this recipe because its easy, delicious and reheats well. I had to really practice restraint with my serving size it was so good.
So easy!
Comfort food is the best and this IS definitely that.
This recipe is a KEEPER!
Super easy and amazingly tasty! I used almond milk and an aged lactose free cheddar. Doubled the recipe so we can eat again another night.
This is a family favorite of mine. We make it several times a year. It’s so quick and easy and the kids love it. I had a little bit of Cajun seasoning to mine and it still taste just as great
Loved this!
Made this as written. It was delicious, Gina! Thank you for another great “comfort” food “lightened” up!
This recipe was a 10/10! Can’t wait to make again, it’s a perfectly cozy meal on chilly nights.
Delicious! So comforting on a cold night. I used unsweetened almond milk, regular shredded cheese instead of skim, and also added a bag of frozen peas for some easy vegetables. Yum!
Very delicious! I tailored the onion & garlic to my family’s taste & used chickpea penne pasta.
This was way better than I anticipated and my 10 year old loved it, too! Adding to the rotation!
I love this recipe! It’s definitely in my rotation of meals to make. The only modification I do is use the whole package of ground turkey and put in 1/2 cup of the tomato sauce. Turns out perfect everytime. It’s great also because then I have leftovers for the week.
I switched up the recipe just a bit for more protein but this was deeeeelish! I used low sodium chicken broth for a Lowe sodium content. I used chickpea pasta and Darigold Fit milk for higher protein. I also used the whole pound of lean beef only because I didn’t have any use for 1/4lb. I love your recipes! It makes eating healthier much easier and more pleasant. I don’t feel deprived!
Everyone loved this one and we don’t even like actual Hamburger Helper 😛
Soooo much better than Hamburger Helper!
We liked this a lot! I added the whole onion because I didn’t want to waste it, a box of sliced mushrooms with the broth step, and about a cup of chopped frozen kale toward the end to make this a one pot meal with enough veggies to avoid feeling guilty, lol. Kid and Hubs ate it all very happily. I think I could have gotten away with two boxes of mushrooms, since they really cooked down. They add a little extra umami, too. I’m pondering trying to get away with vegetarian meat crumbles next time.
My whole family loved this! Made plenty of leftovers that we continued to enjoy even once reheated.
I always feel silly reviewing recipes I modified, but I’m doing it now so that others know it’s still good this way!! Because of the nutrition plan I’m on, I used reduced sodium versions of everything I could (chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and I reduced the salt slightly). I used the whole pound of beef because they only sell extra-lean in whole-pound increments in my store. I also used skim milk and reduced fat cheddar jack (and I added a little extra cheese). I also used whole grain pasta. It was still great, AND salty enough to be really reminiscent of the hamburger helper of my childhood. Thanks for another great recipe, Gina! Since I went on my nutrition plan, it’s been hard to find recipes that my husband and I both enjoy — this one was a winner!
So glad you both enjoyed it!
I was skeptical but this was really, really. You will not regret. Try it everyone!
We did not enjoy this. I wonder if it is bc we did not grownup on Hamburger Helper.
This was great! A lot of food and tastes way better than the boxed stuff. I gave it to my college student and he makes it all the time! Nice easy recipe for a new cook.
Delicious!!
Delicious and so quick and easy. How about a stroganoff version of the hamburger helper? That was my favorite!
Yes! This is so good and easy to make. I would highly recommend. Definitely will be making this again!
Easy delicious dinner! Great for a week night and the whole family liked it. Even my picky 10 year old
Anyone use beef broth? I have that on hand but didn’t know if it would dramatically change the flavor? Thanks!
I used beef broth! It tasted great to me!
Delicious and fun for dinner:)
Loved it! Super easy and fast. It’s my second time making it in a month.
So good. I will definitely be sharing this recipe. Made it as is no tweaks.
Wow!! The first taste took me right back!! But no powdered fake cheese and who knows what else!!) This recipe is perfect just as written! Thanks Gina
Made with gf noodles (added extra 1/2c broth) and it turned out great! Will add chopped kale next time and/or a diced green pepper. Had with the watermelon/feta/argula/mint salad from the website which was also delicious.
I have never had hamburger helper so I can’t speak to the similarities but wow!! This was a hit, my family loved it and I personally went for thirds😂
Glad everyone enjoyed it!
To make this a little cheaper, I’m going to use Beef Better than Bullion instead of broth. I feel like good broth is so expensive! And I’m going to ramp up the veggies a bit with chopped fresh mushrooms added with the broth and chopped fresh kale added just before the milk. I’ve got volume eaters here, and I think that will help bulk it up a bit (and add some more antioxidants, etc.). My teen is going to want more than a cup and a half, but if I can get it closer to 2 cups with veggies (and he has more like 1.5-2 servings), that should keep everybody happy. I’m excited to try this!
THIS IS VOODOO, I STG. How does this taste the same if not better than the stuff I grew up on!?
Lol, glad you enjoyed it!
Saw this recipe posted many times on the Facebook community page, tried it last night for dinner … it is a hit! tasted great and was a healthy serving! Would highly recommend and will be making this often.
Made this last week and it was a hit. I’ll be making this again.
1.5 year old toddler approved – he has a dairy allergy so I omitted the cheese altogether, used oat milk instead of milk, and finely chopped spinach so he wouldn’t notice the vegetable.. he inhaled it. will be making again thank you!!
I love skinny taste and most of our weekly meals are Gina’s creations. But I found this really heavy and one dimensional. It needed stewed or chopped tomatoeson top. My son declared this “his favorite meal of the year” but my daughter and I thought it was very rich. It could have been that we were on the verge of colds and our appetites weren’t the same. I’ll try it again but have more veggies on the side.
I really enjoyed this! I had to make a few small changes base on what I had on hand. Skim milk instead of whole milk. Trader Joe’s Lite Shredded 3 Cheese Blend instead of sharp cheddar. Rao’s pizza sauce instead of tomato sauce. And I used a 1 pound package of ground beef instead of 3/4 pound. I’ll be doing this one again!
Turned out great! We added a scoop of sour cream to ours and it was very tasty
Delicious! My whole family loved it. Will definitely make again.
I was so happy to find a healthy version of hamburger helper to share with my kids and this was a winner! I did use a whole lb of hamburger and increased the other ingredients a bit. Next time, I will probably make it creamier/cheesier vs tomatoey, just preference. Thanks!
Easy, tasty and filling and tasty. Just needs a little more salt.
This was so good! I will definitely be making this again. I used hot paprika and used a bit more. Very easy and only one pan to wash.👍🏻
Big hit with my whole family. I used protein pasta
I only use protein pasta. And this was a hit at my house too. Easy and tasty with a green salad or vegetable.
So easy and delicious. I used ground chicken (and added a full pound) and some frozen mixed vegetables mixed in at the end. Perfect weeknight quick meal and teenager approved, they asked to take the leftovers in their lunches tomorrow.
Perfect! 🙂
can I use cream?
This was AMAZING! I at first freaked out because I didn’t have any Worcestershire sauce (who ever runs out of this stuff anyways??) but I searched online for a substitute and did half soy sauce and half steak sauce. My family of 4 absolutely loved this! I told my husband that it came from Skinnytaste and he couldn’t believe it! Thank you for creating healthy meals that are good for the whole family! I have the Enchilada soup in my crock pot for tomorrow 🙂
Perfect! Glad everyone enjoyed it!
Kid approved! Great for weeknights!
Delicious! Followed the recipe to a tee, made with cavatappi and was just perfect. Served with green beans. Made 6 medium portions/servings. a Thank you Gina for another slam dunk recipe!
I thought there was no way this would actually capture the flavors of Hamburger Helper but somehow it actually did!! I made this for dinner and will have the rest for lunches this week, hopefully it stays nice and creamy when reheated!
Loved this! Very kid friendly. We served with broccoli on the side and it was a huge hit. The sauce does soak into the pasta the next day if you are eating leftovers but easy to revamp with a plastic of milk and tomato sauce. This will be on the regular rotation!
I made this last night exactly as written. It was really easy and really good. I will make it again and add the pickles and onions
I grew up eating hamburger helper and loved it. What’s on the shelf isn’t the same and its not good. This recipe is one of my new favorites. I’ll be making this for dinner quite often for dinner. Thanks for sharing 😊
Kids loved this meal. No left overs.
This was fast, delicious, and liked by picky kids! I doubled up the recipe for leftovers. I made this with rotisserie chicken breast (had to use up) and added leftover corn, a bit extra tomato sauce, and about another cup of liquid. It seemed soupy at first, but the elbow noodles I used quickly absorbed the rest of the liquid. This was made in about 20 minutes after an exhausting day teaching second grade. I look forward to making this with ground beef next time! Thank you Gina!
Glad you all enjoyed it!
I made this while here at camp. It was the perfect dish to eat in the great outdoors nice and simple and filling. It was delicious! I added a little extra tomato sauce and just 1 clove of garlic. Will definitely make this one again!
I don’t like hamburger helper but my husband does so thought I would try this recipe. It’s good. I used barilla protein pene pasta and it tastes great
I used skim milk and reduced fat shredded cheddar cheese. Thanks for the good recipe. I always enjoy your recipes I am a weight watcher life timer so these recipes are great for me and they taste good so may family likes them as well
Thanks Teresa! Glad you enjoyed it!
This was DELICIOUS!!! Two thumbs up from the kids and my husband. It is the perfect comfort food, and I served it with a. salad. A definite crowd pleaser!
Whole family loved it! I have less than 10 recipes that everyone will eat for dinner, thanks Gina for adding another one to the list!
Perfect!
Easy and excellent!!!
I used ground turkey but otherwise followed the recipe exactly. Absolutely delicious! I wish I had this recipe when my boys were little; they would have lapped it up.
Comes together easily, but unfortunately it is bland, very bland. I am rather surprised by the reviews. Does not remind me of hamburger helper in flavor although almost as simple. If I were to make it again, I would have add a significant amount of spice including more salt, and some pepper, maybe smoked paprika instead of regular, and herbs. Could be very good but needs reworking.
This was super easy and delicious. Finally – I didn’t have to make two meals.
Tastes much better than the box crap, but takes a lot longer!
My 1st thought when I read the list of ingredients was that 8 ounces of pasta was a lot of pasta. But if Gina says 8 ounces, then 8 ounces must be the correct amount. Well to me this recipe has way too much pasta. I will confess that I have never bought Hamburger Helper so I’m thinking that 8 ounces of pasta replicates Hamburger Helper, so Gina gets a pass lol. This recipe was quite good and I will make it again with 5 ounces of pasta and maybe some green pepper.
Dang ! I could have eaten the entire thing!! I’m gonna cook it for less time next time cause I like it a little firmer. The flavor is was out of this world!!!
My family loved it. I doubled the recipe so we could have leftovers. I added the milk when I added the pasta and chicken broth.
When I doubled it, I used 8 oz block of Colby cheese that I shredded.
Love that this recipe doesn’t have nearly the amount of sodium! Weeknight Win!
Husband and kid friendly! A great kitchen pantry stable recipe. Made exactly as outlined but used the higher fat version of the ingredients because that is what we had in the house. My whole house loved it! Next time I will try it with the lower fat ingredients and am thinking about adding some finely grated zucchini to get in some hidden veggies for my toddler. Thanks for all the great recipes!
So good! It took me back to college when I didn’t know how to cook many dishes yet, and made Hamburger Helper occasionally.
My husband loved it too. This recipe is a keeper!
This was delicious! I used a food processor to mince the onions so my kids didn’t see them, and made the recipe as written. Only sub was using manchego, as my husband is lactose intolerant with cow’s milk, but can do sheeps milk cheese. Absolutely delish!
Made this recipe with chopped chicken and whole wheat elbows… everything else I followed pretty closely and my family loved it.
This was easy and my husband ate three bowls. I’m not a good cook and I can ruin many a fine recipe so the fact that he came back two more times means this was a good recipe that’s hard to screw up! 90s kids will love it!
Awesome!
We loved it! My son had seconds and asked for it as an afterschool snack the next day!
Perfect!
My kid and husband loved this soo much. My husband said this has to go into our menu going forward
Delicious
I have never like hamburger helper and had high hopes for this. I believe the tomato sauce and cheddar cheese did not taste well together. I might play with the cheese. However was a quick and easy meal.
As a 90s kid, parents were both at work and I was making family dinners at a young age. Hamburger helper was one meal in our dinner rotation. This recipe brought me back, but was even better. My kids were fighting over the last bit that was left in the pan!
Highly reccomend for a comfort meal.
You know what I was just thinking? You probably don’t lol. I make a pic of the old recipe for my vegan friends with chickpeas and I wonder if you could do the same here I bet you could. Just an idea
Gina, I’m worried to make this. It feels like the pasta is going to be overdone. Is it? You know I’ve been following you forever and I have full faith in every recipe you’ve ever posted. Tell me that it’s not overcooked so that I can make it today. I have all the ingredients.
Depending on the pasta shape it’s not over cooked but if you are worried, just cook it less time.
This was very easy and was so comforting. My boys loved it! I made it with 93% turkey and served with a salad.
I was obsessed with hamburger helper as a kid and have made many homemade versions, but this one is the best by far! Better than the original but very to the flavor profile. Love it!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Better than the original! The whole family loved it! Quick, easy and one pot makes it a 10/10!!
YAY!
I love so many of your recipes. They make up the bulk of what I cook. I am excited to try this! I am struggling to find part-skim cheddar cheese. What brand did you use or would you recommend? Thank you!
You could try the trader Joe’s mixed one. That’s low fat. Also Cabot has a low-fat cheese but it’s hard to find.
If you have a Kroger near you I found it with the Kroger brand.
Another delicious and fast meal. We all loved it.
super easy and a great “comfort food” recipe the whole family loved. My kids and I are extremely health conscious and try to eat a high protein low fat diet so we used protein pasta, 1% milk and ground chicken…also added some oregano and fresh basil and it was so good – only problem is wanting more. I bet it will be even better tomorrow! Thoughts: next time add whipped cottage cheese;)
Very tasty. Used ground chicken and mozzarella cheese because that’s what I had. Hesitated to add milk to the dish but that was so worth it. Came out creamy and delicious. Skinnytaste does not steer you wrong!
This was very tasty especially if you are craving mac and cheese type of dish. I did add some mushrooms as suggested and since I did not have ground turkey, used ground chicken instead. I also used tomato paste instead of tomato sauce since that is what I had. Didn’t have any onions but used onion powder instead.
My mother made hamburger helper as a camping meal (3 kids, kid friendly stuff) I made it occasionally when I first married and didn’t really know how to cook 30+ years ago. I think it might just be time to make this again, as a comfort food dish it sound about right.
Yes!!
I try to cut points wherever I can because I have a large appetite. Has anyone made with 99% lean turkey – still good enough?
It would be fine I made it with 93% and liked it.
Disappointed no sodium levels are listed in the nutrients values. That’s the first thing I look for.
Sorry it’s a mistake its there now.
I loved hamburger helper as a kid and would love to try this. However, my husband can’t have tomato or Worcestershire sauce. I’ve got a sub I regularly use for Worcestershire, but is there something I could sub for the tomato sauce?
Check online but my husband has CKD and tomatoes products are not good for him. I’ve found recipes for a sauce made with beets and carrots that supposedly tastes super close to a spaghetti sauce. Have not made it yet myself.
Leave it out, use tomato paste instead if you wish.
Unfortunately, any tomato product is a no-go. I might try it with a little beef broth and see how that goes.
This looks amazing! You usually list sodium in your nutritional stats but I don’t see it on the recipe, would you happen to have that info? It helps me to know if I need to make any adjustments. Thank you!!
It’s there, sorry it was missed.
This recipe came out just as I was hitting the site for a dinner idea using ground beef. My 12 year old loved it, and so did I. Quick and easy, perfect for a weeknight!
So happy to hear!
I have never had hamburger helper before so I can’t compare it to that but I thought it was great. I would make it again. I made it with ground turkey and served it with broccoli. It was a quick enough weeknight dinner. My kids had seconds next time I will double the recipe so we can have leftovers.
So glad you liked it!
On the recipe card list of ingredients tomato sauce is listed. However, in the instruction section tomato puree is referenced. Could you please clarify.
sorry same thing but I will fix so theres no confusion