Hamburger Helper

As any immigrant can tell you, our families prioritize home cooking over everything else. This is why we made our own version of Hamburger Helper which bridges the gap between homemade and classic American. Although this recipe contains no processed ingredients, it still comes together in just 30 minutes and has all those classic flavors that we all grew up with. It’s comforting and hearty, so we know your family will love it. This dish feels like one giant hug in a bowl!

What stands out

Our Hamburger Helper recipe has all the comforting textures and flavors of pasta, ground beef, and cheese but with a little upgrade. Let’s face it: our ancestors would haunt us if we didn’t throw in some earthy paprika, sweet tomato paste, and flavorful beef broth to make it taste like it’s been slow-cooking for hours. This dish is suited to a weeknight meal and freezes beautifully, so you can make a big batch and have some for another night. This is cold-weather cooking at its best: hearty, warm, and satisfying for the whole family.

How to Prepare

To a big pot on medium-high heat, add the oil and let it get hot.

Once it shimmers, add in the ground meat, breaking it apart and cooking until the water evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to brown.

Once browned, add in the onions and stir.

Next, add in the minced garlic and stir.

Now, add the seasonings tomato paste, and stir again.

Add in the water broth and any small pasta shape of choice.

Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick.

Once the pasta is cooked, add in grated cheddar of choice and enjoy!

Kitchen tip

Once you add the pasta, make sure to continuously stir to prevent anything from sticking to the bottom of the pot.

Swaps

1. Our favorite pasta to use in this Hamburger Helper is small shells or elbow macaroni, but you can certainly use any pasta shape you like or have in the pantry.
2. You can use vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth instead of bone broth in this recipe. We suggest using a good quality unsalted (or low in sodium) broth with minimal ingredients.
3. Instead of Cheddar cheese, you can also use Parmesan, mozzarella, or Manchego. Anything melty would work!
4. Make this recipe dairy-free by using your favorite non-dairy melting cheese.
5. You can use ground turkey, beef, pork, veal, or chicken and they’ll all be.

Serve it with

• Serve this Hamburger Helper recipe with some buttery garlic bread.
• Serve this hearty dish alongside a fresh Simple Green Salad or our Lemon Parmesan Salad.
• Serve this with any simple veggie: steamed broccoli or beans, roasted carrots, or sauteed mushrooms.

Questions

What other pasta shape can we use in this hamburger helper?

Our favorite is small shells or elbow, but you can use any pasta shape you like or have in the pantry.

what can we use instead of bone broth?

You can certainly use vegetable broth, beef broth, or chicken broth instead of bone broth in this recipe. We suggest using a good quality, unsalted (or low in sodium) broth with minimal ingredients.

What other cheese would be good in this hamburger helper?

Cheddar cheese is classic but Parmesan, mozzarella, or Manchego would be, too. Any melty cheese of choice or a combination you love.

What type of ground meat can we use in this recipe?

This Hamburger Helper recipe is so versatile. You can use ground turkey, beef, pork, veal, or chicken and they’ll all be.

can we make this recipe gluten-free?

Make this Hamburger Helper recipe gluten-free by using any gluten-free pasta of choice instead.

Can we make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes! You can use your favorite non-dairy cheese instead of cheddar. Just make sure it melts nicely.

can we make this recipe vegetarian?

We haven’t personally tried it, but we think this Hamburger Helper would definitely work using a plant-based ground or even crumbled tofu.

can we freeze this dish?

Yes, you definitely can freeze a portion of this for another quick meal!

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

• ½ tablespoon olive oil
• 400 grams lean ground beef
• 1 onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp salt, to taste
• ½ tsp pepper, to taste
• 1 tsp paprika, to taste
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• 2 cups beef bone broth, unsalted
• 1 cup water
• 1.5 cups elbow pasta
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, grated

Equipment

• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board
• Liquid Measuring Cup
• Box Grater
• Large Pot

Method

1. To a big pot on medium-high heat, add the oil and let it get hot. Once it shimmers, add in the ground beef. You can also use ground turkey or chicken to lighten this recipe up.
2. Break the meat apart, and cook until the water evaporates. Once the water evaporates, the meat will start to brown.
3. Once browned, add in the onions and stir. Add in the minced garlic and stir. Now, add the seasonings tomato paste, and stir again.
4. Add in the water, broth, and any small pasta shape of choice. Our favourite pasta is small shells or elbow pasta but you can use any of choice.
5. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir every few minutes so the pasta doesn’t stick. Once the pasta is cooked, add in grated cheddar of choice and enjoy!