One Pan Healthy Hamburger Helper
Creamy, cheesy, and packed with savory beef flavor, this healthy Hamburger Helper is made in one pan with lean ground beef, protein pasta, finely grated carrots and zucchini, and plenty of cheddar. It’s ready in about 30 minutes with no milk or heavy cream needed.
Servings: 6
Ingredients
- 1/2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup diced onion (1 medium onion)
- 1 cup finely grated carrot (1 large or 2 medium carrots)
- 1 1/2 cups finely grated grated zucchini (1 medium zucchini)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon salt more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 1/2 cups beef broth
- 8 ounces dry chickpea elbow pasta or protein pasta elbows
- 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium high heat. Add the ground beef and cook for 6-7 minutes until the meat is mostly browned.
- Add the zucchini, carrot, and onion to the pan and cook for another 4-5 minutes until the veggies have softened.
- Next add the tomato paste, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the tomato paste begins to darken.
- Add the broth and pasta to the pan and stir to combine. Try to make sure the noodles are covered with liquid as much as possible. Reduce heat to low, cover, and cook for 9-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender. Add a splash of broth to loosen the noodles, if needed.
- When the noodles are cooked, turn off the heat, and stir in the cheese until melted.
Notes
- Grate the vegetables finely. Use the small holes of a box grater so the carrots and zucchini soften into the sauce instead of staying chunky.
- Pasta can vary. Protein and chickpea pastas absorb liquid differently. If the skillet looks dry before the pasta is tender, add extra broth a few tablespoons at a time.
- Don’t cook away all the liquid. The mixture should still look slightly saucy when the pasta is done since it will continue to thicken as it sits.
- Add the cheese off the heat. Freshly shredded cheddar melts most smoothly and helps keep the sauce creamy rather than grainy or oily.
- For leftovers: Add a splash of broth or water when reheating to loosen the sauce.
- Nutrition will vary depending on the ground beef, pasta, and cheese brands you use.
Nutrition
Calories: 396kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 825mg | Potassium: 622mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 4117IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 262mg | Iron: 6mg
