Ditch the field and make this lightened-up selfmade Hamburger Helper recipe! It’s a fast and simple one-pot dinner with all of the acquainted flavors, made with seasoned floor turkey, melty cheese, and complete grain macaroni. 

I like remaking basic dinners from my childhood, from Hamburger Helper to beefaroni, to creamy hen stroganoff and mac and cheese. Prompt consolation, and family-friendly!

Homemade hamburger helper served on a platter.

 

I’ve been making this Hamburger Helper recipe for years, and it at all times brings me straight again to the dinner desk as a excessive schooler. My dad and mom usually labored late again then, and my sister and I might deal with ourselves to a field meal at the least as soon as per week. 

In fact, right this moment’s model is selfmade and never from a field. It’s filled with scrumptious substances that you would be able to truly pronounce! I make my Hamburger Helper with complete wheat pasta, floor turkey, and vegan cheese with out sacrificing any of the creamy, comforting flavors we all know and love.

Why I Love This Hamburger Helper Recipe

  • One pot. Identical to the unique Hamburger Helper from a field, this selfmade model cooks multi functional pot. Clear-up is a snap afterward.
  • Straightforward. Hamburger Helper has at all times been the OG weeknight dinner. This recipe is fast and easy to arrange, excellent after I want a tasty dinner in a rush.
  • Higher than a field combine. I make this recipe with turkey as a substitute of hamburger meat, but it surely nonetheless has all of the wealthy, creamy, savory flavors of the unique. It tastes even higher in the event you ask me! A number of easy seasonings, hen broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce are all it takes to pack within the taste.
Homemade Hamburger Helper ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.Homemade Hamburger Helper ingredients with text labels overlaying each ingredient.

Elements You’ll Want

The unique Hamburger Helper was an affordable, family-pleasing dinner, in order that’s what I got down to recreate with this recipe. The substances beneath are straightforward and pantry-friendly, and I’ve included some notes to get you began. Scroll right down to the recipe card after the publish for a printable substances checklist with the total recipe directions.

  • Olive Oil – Or your alternative of cooking oil, for sautéing. 
  • Onion and Garlic – I take advantage of diced yellow onion and freshly minced garlic. Any delicate onion is nice. If it is advisable substitute recent garlic, substitute every clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Floor Turkey – I take advantage of 99% fat-free “additional lean” floor turkey, however any floor meat will work right here. You may make this selfmade Hamburger Helper with hamburger meat (the basic), floor hen, floor pork, or floor sausage.
  • Seasoning – Chili powder and candy or smoked paprika, plus salt and black pepper to style.
  • Elbow Macaroni – I make my hamburger helper recipe with whole-grain macaroni noodles, however you should utilize any sort of short-cut pasta you’d like. Different good selections are penne, small shells, rigatoni, cavatappi, and fusilli.
  • Cheese – Any dairy or non-dairy shreddable cheese works on this recipe. I’ve usually used Daiya vegan cheddar. You should utilize common cheddar, Monterey Jack, or gouda cheese. For the perfect outcomes, shred the cheese recent from the block because it melts smoother this manner.
  • Flour – To assist thicken the cheese sauce. All-purpose flour works completely. You might additionally substitute the flour with half the quantity of cornstarch.
  • Milk – Any sort of milk you’d like, whether or not that’s almond milk, soy milk, common milk, and so forth.
  • Hen Broth – I like to make use of low-sodium fat-free hen broth. You should utilize both hen or vegetable inventory, it’s as much as you.
  • Worcestershire Sauce – Just a bit goes a protracted approach to richen up the flavors within the sauce. You may also use soy sauce.

How you can Make Hamburger Helper

Identical to related one-pot pasta dinners, like my hen broccoli pasta, this recipe comes collectively in a single pan on the range in about half-hour. Right here’s learn how to make it:

  • Sauté. First, get your onions and garlic sautéeing in a sizzling skillet with oil. 
  • Brown the meat. As soon as that’s softened and aromatic, add the bottom turkey. Season with salt, pepper, chili powder, and paprika, and brown the meat for 4-5 minutes. Take it off the warmth afterward and drain any extra liquid.
  • Mix. Add the dry macaroni to the skillet together with the cheese, flour, milk, and hen broth. Give it a sprinkle of Worcestershire sauce and produce it to a boil.
  • Prepare dinner. Decrease the warmth to a simmer, then cowl and prepare dinner for 8-10 minutes, till the pasta is al dente. Stir, style for seasonings yet another time, and serve!

Use Leftovers!

You probably have leftover roast turkey within the days after Thanksgiving or Christmas, that is the right meal to place it to make use of! Shred the cooked turkey and stir it in on the finish, after the pasta has cooked. You may also do that with poached hen or pulled pork (much like a pulled pork mac and cheese).

Hamburger Helper served on a large oval platter.Hamburger Helper served on a large oval platter.

Suggestions and Variations

  • Cooking occasions may differ. Your Hamburger Helper may have kind of cooking time relying on the kind of pasta you utilize. You additionally may want to make use of extra liquid for various pasta shapes. One thing to remember.
  • Add tomatoes. Stir a spoonful of tomato paste into the sauce, or add a can of diced tomatoes in the event you like a tomato-y Hamburger Helper.
  • Add bacon. Sauté diced bacon with the onions, or stir in cooked crumbled bacon proper earlier than serving.
  • Change up the seasonings. Be happy to regulate the seasonings to fit your tastes. Add kind of garlic and chili powder, or, in the event you choose a little bit kick, sprinkle in cayenne pepper, crushed pink pepper flakes, or sizzling sauce.
  • Add greens. Should you’d like so as to add in greens like spinach or kale, you may chop these up and wilt them in on the finish. Frozen peas or a frozen vegetable medley are additionally fast, straightforward methods so as to add in additional veggies.
Overhead image of macaroni and ground beef in a bowl with a fork.Overhead image of macaroni and ground beef in a bowl with a fork.
Homemade hamburger helper in a bowl with a fork.Homemade hamburger helper in a bowl with a fork.

How you can Retailer and Reheat Leftovers

  • Refrigerate. Retailer any leftover Hamburger Helper in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days. It turns into a bit drier because the pasta absorbs extra of the sauce, but it surely nonetheless tastes nice.
  • Reheat. Heat your Hamburger Helper within the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring often, till it’s warmed by means of. I like so as to add a splash of broth to assist skinny out and loosen up the sauce.

Extra One Pan Pasta Dinners

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  • Sauté the onions. Warmth the olive oil over medium-high warmth in a deep-sided, nonstick skillet or a Dutch oven. Add onions and prepare dinner for 3 minutes, stirring incessantly. Stir within the garlic and prepare dinner for 20 seconds.

  • Brown the turkey. Add the bottom turkey and season with chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Prepare dinner for 4 to five minutes, stirring often, till the meat is browned. Then, take away from warmth and drain out the liquid.

  • Mix. To the browned turkey meat, add the pasta, cheese, flour, milk, hen broth, and Worcestershire sauce and stir to mix.

  • Prepare dinner. Deliver the combination to a boil, stirring incessantly; decrease to a simmer and canopy with a lid. Proceed to prepare dinner for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring incessantly, till the pasta is tender and totally cooked.

  • Serve! Take away your hamburger helper from the warmth and style for seasonings. Alter accordingly, after which serve.

Energy: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 27g | Fats: 10g | Saturated Fats: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fats: 1g | Monounsaturated Fats: 2g | Trans Fats: 0.01g | Ldl cholesterol: 51mg | Sodium: 284mg | Potassium: 494mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 333IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 134mg | Iron: 2mg

Dietary data is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could differ based on the substances and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed data.

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