One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
User Reviews
5.0
57 reviews
Excellent
-
Prep Time
5 mins
-
Cook Time
5 mins
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Total Time
30 mins
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Servings
4 servings
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Calories
291 kcal
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Course
Main Course, Dinner
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Cuisine
American
One Pan Homemade Hamburger Helper
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Just 5 minutes of prep for a homemade Hamburger Helper that's healthier and tastier than the store-bought version!
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Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2 cups water
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1 cup uncooked elbow macaroni
- ½ cup tomato paste (from a 6-ounce can)
- 2 tablespoons minced dried onion
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- salt and pepper, to taste
- Optional toppings: grated cheese; chopped fresh parsley
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Instructions
- Brown ground beef in a skillet over medium-high heat until no longer pink. Drain off the fat.
- Add remaining ingredients to the skillet, as well as about ½ teaspoon of salt and a dash of pepper.
- Stir to combine; bring to a boil. Once the mixture boils, reduce the heat to a simmer. Cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickens.
- Taste the pasta and season with additional salt and pepper, if necessary. Garnish with cheese and parsley, if desired.
Notes
- Brown the hamburger first. This gives the beef color, and seals in the flavor.
- Drain the fat. This is another important tip, since it's not only a healthier way of cooking, but it also prevents the finished dish from having a greasy texture.
- Don't omit the brown sugar. In order to achieve great tomato flavor, it's important to balance acidity and sweetness. Too much acid or too much sugar yields a sauce that tastes one-dimensional. The right amount of sugar perfectly balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Start with about 2 teaspoons of sugar here, and add more to taste, if necessary.
- The cheese garnish at the end is optional, but it sure adds great flavor! You can use shredded sharp cheddar cheese, Pepper Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, or any other good melting cheese. A sprinkling of Parmesan would also be nice.
- Swap out the ground beef and use ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken instead.
- In a pinch, vegetable broth or chicken broth will be a fine substitute for the beef broth.
- Don't have dried minced onion? Substitute with about 2 teaspoons of onion powder. You can also use about ⅔ cup of minced fresh onion; however, you'll need to cook the onion with the ground beef so that it softens.
- Add a dash of paprika to the sauce, or season with herbs such as parsley, rosemary, thyme, or basil.
- For added texture, sprinkle cheese and a few buttered breadcrumbs over the top, and then place the skillet under the broiler for a few minutes. This will give it a crunchy, cheesy topping similar to mac and cheese.
Nutrition Information
Show Details
Serving
1/4 of the recipe
Calories
291kcal
(15%)
Carbohydrates
26g
(9%)
Protein
30g
(60%)
Fat
6g
(9%)
Saturated Fat
2g
(10%)
Cholesterol
70mg
(23%)
Sodium
796mg
(33%)
Potassium
857mg
(24%)
Fiber
2g
(8%)
Sugar
4g
(8%)
Vitamin A
650IU
(13%)
Vitamin C
7.5mg
(8%)
Calcium
38mg
(4%)
Iron
4.3mg
(24%)
Nutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 291 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1/4 of the recipe | |
| Calories | 291kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 26g | 9% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 6g | 9% |
| Saturated Fat | 2g | 10% |
| Cholesterol | 70mg | 23% |
| Sodium | 796mg | 33% |
| Potassium | 857mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 650IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 7.5mg | 8% |
| Calcium | 38mg | 4% |
| Iron | 4.3mg | 24% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Genuine Reviews
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
57 reviews
Excellent
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