Hamburger Helper Recipe


Ditch the field and make this lightened-up home made 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 really like remaking traditional 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 typically labored late again then, and my sister and I might deal with ourselves to a field meal at the very least as soon as every week. 

After all, in the present day’s model is home made and never from a field. It’s filled with scrumptious elements that you may really 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 home made model cooks multi function 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 organize, good after I want a tasty dinner in a rush.
  • Higher than a field combine. I make this recipe with turkey as an alternative of hamburger meat, however it nonetheless has all of the wealthy, creamy, savory flavors of the unique. It tastes even higher when you ask me! A couple of easy seasonings, hen broth, and a touch 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 a reasonable, family-pleasing dinner, in order that’s what I got down to recreate with this recipe. The elements beneath are simple and pantry-friendly, and I’ve included some notes to get you began. Scroll all the way down to the recipe card after the put up for a printable elements checklist with the complete recipe directions.

  • Olive Oil – Or your alternative of cooking oil, for sautéing. 
  • Onion and Garlic – I exploit diced yellow onion and freshly minced garlic. Any delicate onion is nice. If you have to substitute contemporary garlic, exchange every clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
  • Floor Turkey – I exploit 99% fat-free “further lean” floor turkey, however any floor meat will work right here. You may make this home made Hamburger Helper with hamburger meat (the traditional), 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 use 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 typically used Daiya vegan cheddar. You should utilize common cheddar, Monterey Jack, or gouda cheese. For the very best outcomes, shred the cheese contemporary from the block because it melts smoother this fashion.
  • Flour – To assist thicken the cheese sauce. All-purpose flour works completely. You could possibly additionally exchange 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 many others.
  • 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 an extended method to richen up the flavors within the sauce. You may also use soy sauce.

How one can Make Hamburger Helper

Identical to comparable 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 the way to make it:

  • Sauté. First, get your onions and garlic sautéeing in a scorching 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.
  • Cook 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 one more time, and serve!

Use Leftovers!

In case you have leftover roast turkey within the days after Thanksgiving or Christmas, that is the proper 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.

Ideas and Variations

  • Cooking instances may range. Your Hamburger Helper might have kind of cooking time relying on the kind of pasta you employ. 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 when 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 at liberty to regulate the seasonings to fit your tastes. Add kind of garlic and chili powder, or, when you favor a bit kick, sprinkle in cayenne pepper, crushed pink pepper flakes, or scorching sauce.
  • Add greens. In case you’d like so as to add in greens like spinach or kale, you possibly can chop these up and wilt them in on the finish. Frozen peas or a frozen vegetable medley are additionally fast, simple methods so as to add in further 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 one 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, however it nonetheless tastes nice.
  • Reheat. Heat your Hamburger Helper within the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring sometimes, till it’s warmed by. I like so as to add a splash of broth to assist skinny out and loosen up the sauce.

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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 continuously. 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. Cook dinner for 4 to five minutes, stirring sometimes, 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.

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

  • Serve! Take away your hamburger helper from the warmth and style for seasonings. Regulate 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 information is an estimate and supplied as courtesy. Values could range in keeping with the elements and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.

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