Ditch the field and make this lightened-up do-it-yourself Hamburger Helper recipe! It’s a fast and straightforward 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. On the spot consolation, and family-friendly!
I’ve been making this Hamburger Helper recipe for years, and it all the time 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 no less than as soon as every week.
In fact, immediately’s model is do-it-yourself and never from a field. It’s full of scrumptious components that you would be able to 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 do-it-yourself model cooks multi function pot. Clear-up is a snap afterward.
- Simple. Hamburger Helper has all the time been the OG weeknight dinner. This recipe is fast and easy to organize, excellent 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, nevertheless it nonetheless has all of the wealthy, creamy, savory flavors of the unique. It tastes even higher in case you ask me! Just a few easy seasonings, hen broth, and a splash of Worcestershire sauce are all it takes to pack within the taste.
Components You’ll Want
The unique Hamburger Helper was a cheap, family-pleasing dinner, in order that’s what I got down to recreate with this recipe. The components beneath are simple and pantry-friendly, and I’ve included some notes to get you began. Scroll right down to the recipe card after the submit for a printable components checklist with the complete recipe directions.
- Olive Oil – Or your selection of cooking oil, for sautéing.
- Onion and Garlic – I take advantage of diced yellow onion and freshly minced garlic. Any gentle onion is nice. If you could substitute recent garlic, exchange every clove with ¼ teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Floor Turkey – I take advantage of 99% fat-free “further lean” floor turkey, however any floor meat will work right here. You may make this do-it-yourself 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 kind of short-cut pasta you’d like. Different good decisions 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 need to use common cheddar, Monterey Jack, or gouda cheese. For the most effective 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 can additionally exchange the flour with half the quantity of cornstarch.
- Milk – Any kind 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 need to use both hen or vegetable inventory, it’s as much as you.
- Worcestershire Sauce – Just a bit goes an extended solution to richen up the flavors within the sauce. You may also use soy sauce.
The best way to 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 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 convey 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 one more time, and serve!
Use Leftovers!
You probably 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 (just like a pulled pork mac and cheese).
Ideas and Variations
- Cooking instances would possibly differ. Your Hamburger Helper may have roughly cooking time relying on the kind of pasta you employ. You additionally would possibly want to make use of extra liquid for various pasta shapes. One thing to bear in mind.
- Add tomatoes. Stir a spoonful of tomato paste into the sauce, or add a can of diced tomatoes in case 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 roughly garlic and chili powder, or, in case you desire a little bit kick, sprinkle in cayenne pepper, crushed purple pepper flakes, or scorching sauce.
- Add greens. In case 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, simple methods so as to add in further veggies.
The best way to 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, nevertheless it nonetheless tastes nice.
- Reheat. Heat your Hamburger Helper within the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring sometimes, till it’s warmed via. 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 often. Stir within the garlic and prepare dinner for 20 seconds.
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Brown the turkey. Add the bottom turkey and season with chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Prepare dinner for 4 to five minutes, stirring sometimes, till the meat is browned. Then, take away from warmth and drain out the liquid.
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Mix. To the browned turkey meat, add the pasta, cheese, flour, milk, hen broth, and Worcestershire sauce and stir to mix.
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Prepare dinner. Convey the combination to a boil, stirring often; decrease to a simmer and canopy with a lid. Proceed to prepare dinner for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring often, till the pasta is tender and completely cooked.
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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 might differ in line with the components and instruments used. Please use your most well-liked dietary calculator for extra detailed information.