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This elevated, homemade Hamburger Helper recreates the nostalgic comfort meal with extra nutrition, hidden veggies, and 34 grams of protein per serving. Ready in just 40 minutes, it’s a weeknight favorite the whole family will love.

Prep: 10 mins Cook: 30 mins Total: 40 mins
Servings: 6 servings 1x
Scale

Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 6 ounces dry chickpea shell or elbow pasta*
  • 1 tablespoon olive or avocado oil
  • 1 medium head broccoli florets, cut into small pieces (~ 2 ½ cups)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced (~ ⅔ cup)
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced (~ 2 teaspoons)
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups milk (whole milk or 2%)
  • ⅓ cup half and half
  • 1 tablespoon tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • ½ teaspoon paprika
  • ½ teaspoon fine salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Place a large skillet with a lid over medium-high heat. Cook the ground beef for 7-8 minutes or until cooked through, breaking into small pieces as it cooks. Remove the cooked ground beef to a bowl; set aside. 
  2. Meanwhile, as the beef cooks, cook the pasta in a saucepan of boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and set aside. 
  3. Wipe out the skillet from Step 1 and place it over medium-high heat. Add the oil, broccoli, onion, and garlic. Cook for 4-5 minutes or until the onions are translucent and tender.
  4. Sprinkle the flour over top of the vegetables and stir to evenly coat the veggies with the flour. 
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low and slowly add the milk, one cup at a time, whisking constantly after each addition. Once all the milk has been added and the mixture has thickened (about 8 minutes), add the half-and-half, tomato paste, mustard, shredded cheese, Italian seasoning, paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir together until mixed. Remove from heat.
  6. Add the cooked pasta and cooked ground beef to the skillet, carefully folding them into the cheese sauce and veggies until evenly mixed. Serve warm.
  7. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Notes

For gluten-free, use a gluten-free flour blend and gluten-free chickpea pasta, such as Banza. May also use regular gluten-free pasta shells.

For dairy-free, use unsweetened dairy-free milk instead of whole or 2% milk, canned coconut milk in place of half and half, and dairy-free shredded cheese

Substitutions

  • May sub lean ground turkey or ground chicken for the ground beef
  • May sub 3 cups green or red bell peppers for the broccoli

Nutrition Information

  • Serving Size: 1/6 of the recipe
  • Calories: 411
  • Fat: 16 g
  • (Sat Fat: 7 g)
  • Sodium: 522 mg
  • Carbohydrate: 34 g
  • (Fiber: 5 g
  • Sugar: 9 g)
  • Protein: 34 g
  • Cholesterol: 72 mg

Dietary

© The Real Food Dietitians
Recipe By: Ana Ankeny