I think a lot of us grew up on hamburger helper! My homemade version is 1000 times better if you ask me, a delicious meal the whole family can enjoy.
Sometimes I get odd cravings for things like canned alphagetti or hamburger helper..I’ll blame it on growing up in the 70’s haha.. I was really craving hamburger helper one day but I knew I had all the things in to make a homemade version so I saved myself the trip out to the grocery store and the $2 lol and created this delicious dish. It is so simple to make and the whole family can enjoy it, which is why it sits near the top of my Weight Watchers dinner recipes.
It is made with simple ingredients and customizable with ground beef, turkey, or chicken, this dish is sure to satisfy your nostalgic cravings while still being Weight Watchers-friendly at just 8 points per serving. Plus, it’s easy to make and perfect for the whole family to enjoy. Give it a try today and save yourself a trip to the storeI used ground beef but if you want to save a few points feel free to use ground turkey or chicken. Makes 6 servings at 8 points per serving on WW.
Ingredients used
- Ground beef
- Thyme
- Onion powder
- Paprika
- Garlic
- Salt & pepper
- Tomato paste
- Corn starch
- Beef broth
- Milk
- Pasta
- Shredded cheese
I love using the small shell pasta in this dish, this type of pasta just seems to suit the recipe but any pasta can be used. If you prefer a penne or rotini noodle it will work just as well. And if the one-pot pasta idea is what you’re after, my one-pot chicken taco mac and cheese is the taco version of it.
You could also swap out the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey if you are looking to lighten up this dish, if you follow WW and turkey/chicken is a 0PP food for you then it is a great option to swap it out and I promise it is just as delicious.
I love my Stove & Dove cast iron skillet for this dish, I definitely suggest having a good cast iron skillet in your kitchen, some recipes just taste so much better made in one. While a high-quality one is great to have you can still find a low-priced option on Amazon that will work just as well if it fits better in your budget.
I like using cheddar cheese in this recipe, it adds to the overall flavor of the sauce. If you don’t have cheddar in the fridge you can definitely try it with a different kind of shredded cheese.
This recipe should yield 6 heaping 1 cup servings. It pairs well with a salad (a creamy coleslaw is my pick), I like to serve it with some garlic toast and spoon some onto the toast, so good!
Homemade hamburger helper
Ingredients
- 1 lb extra lean ground beef
- 1.5 tsp dried thyme
- 2 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- Salt/pepper
- 2 Tbsp tomato paste
- 2 Tbsp corn starch
- 2 cups beef broth
- 1.5 cups 2% milk
- 2 cups pasta, I used small shells *measured uncooked
- 1 cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Cook the ground beef in a pan or skillet over medium heat, drain fat and return to pan.
- Add in the tomato paste, all seasonings, garlic and the corn starch, mix well.
- Stir in the broth and milk and then add the pasta, bring to a boil then reduce heat, cover with lid and let simmer for 9-12 minutes, stirring a couple of times..
- Remove from heat and mix in the shredded cheese, cover again for a few minutes to let cheese melt and the sauce thicken.
- Makes 6 heaping 1 cup servings.. *Note- you can swap out the ground beef for turkey/chicken to lower points on blue/purple
Notes
You can store leftovers in an air-tight container in the fridge for 2-3 days. This recipe freezes well making it a great option for meal prep. If you’re cooking for the freezer anyway, my sloppy joe casserole is another ground beef dinner that freezes just as well.
To reheat from frozen, let dethaw then you can cook it in a pan over medium heat on the stove, use a casserole dish in the oven or you can use the microwave.
Looking for some similar recipes? Try my Bacon cheeseburger pasta bake or One-pot turkey rigatoni , or the taco fiesta bubble up casserole when you want the same comfort baked up with biscuit dough
You may want to include the step that includes the minced garlic. It’s missing.
well it is part of “all the seasonings” but I did update it in case there is any confusion, thanks
This was a hit!! Made this for myself and the teens and there was nothing left haha
Super easy recipe and very tasty! Definitely will be making again in the future!
Thank you!
Hi Jeanette, yay!! I am so glad everyone enjoyed it 🙂
Made this tonight for dinner and it was awesome!!! If you like hamburger helper you will love this! Also very little mess, my kind of meal. We will make this again and again for sure.
Hi Nicole, I am so glad you enjoyed the pasta dish, we all loved it here too!
Do you cook the pasta shells before mixing in wity ground meat and seasonongs?
Hi Shantelle, step #3 the pasta cooks once you add the broth and milk and simmer for 9-12 minutes
Ugggg too much thyme. I may have to throw It out ?
there is 2 tsp in the whole dish?? Sorry that it was too strong for you, each to their own I guess but really 2 tsp of a seasoning in a dish that size is not a lot
Loved that we can enjoy “Hamburger Helper” again, thanks to your healthier version!
You are very welcome, glad you enjoyed it 🙂
Delish! A big hit with picky kids, I snuck some spinach and peppers in there too. Will make again for sure!
Awesome, I love when it is picky kid approved cause I myself have one of those haha
My husband and I love this! Have made it every week since you posted it. His coworkers are jealous when he hears up leftovers for lunch. Comes out great with nonfat milk too since that’s all I have.
Haha I love that!!! I’m so glad you both enjoy it 🙂
I just saw this so I have not tried it yet but I have been looking for good recipes with less sodium and diet friendly that people say is really good so I will be trying this soon.
Hi Ruth, I hope you enjoy the recipe 🙂
Family approved!! Perfect for that comfort food craving. I didn’t tell my husband it had reduced fat cheese until after he said he liked it lol Will definitely keep the recipe to make again. Thanks!
Awesome, so glad everyone enjoyed it 🙂
I input the ingredients in my WW builder and come out with 12 points on blue. I even used ground chicken breast. Not sure where this went wrong ;(
Hi Cindi, here is the breakdown in my App, sometimes products can vary but it should not be that high .. cornstarch 2, tomato paste 1, broth 1, milk 5, reduced fat cheese 12, extra lean ground beef 10, pasta (measured uncooked) 16
Thank you. what kind of pasta is 16 points for 2 cups?
I buy a brand here in Canada that is a high fiber and it works out to 16 SP for 2 cups measured dry, just try scanning a bunch at the grocery store and see what you can find
I am going to try this tomorrow for the first time, but with ground turkey.
My question is – Do I precook the pasta?
once you have added the broth and milk then you add the pasta (dry) it cooks during this step (#3)
We made this last week and it was so good we are making it again this week. It’s an easy recipe and a great comfort food in our house 🙂
Hi DeAnne, yay, I am so glad you all enjoyed it 🙂
Made this tonight and it was so yummy!! Very easy, love that it’s all in one pot. Easy to make, easy clean up are my kinda meals during the week. Thanks for sharing with us ☺️
Hi Becky, that is awesome to hear so glad you all enjoyed it 🙂
I really liked it! And it was super easy, but I agree with someone else that it might be too much Thyme. Idk if mine is super strong but it seems a bit overpowering. I still enjoyed it though!
I’m glad you enjoyed it, easy enough to lower the amount of thyme for next time 🙂
This was sooooooo delicious!!!! I enjoy many of your recipes!! Thank you for everything you do?
I am so glad you enjoyed it Tanya 🙂 and you are very welcome!
I’m so happy to have found you ..These ideas are fantastic
thank you so much
Hi, I hope you enjoy all the recipes 🙂
Kate,
‘This was GREAT! Husband loved it. Did make a few changes as I didn’t use the milk and used extra beef broth. Did partially cook the noodles in the beef broth as I needed to use gluten free pasta that cooks for longer than some gluten ones. Lastly I used fresh Tarragon as I had some in a pot outside my kitchen. Will definitely make this again. Thanks for the recipe!
Hi, I am so glad you both enjoyed it 🙂
It would be great to list pasta by weight. Definitely agreeing with way too much time. Would not use more than 1/2 tsp.
Thanks Emily, yes to each their own on the seasoning, I personally enjoy the amount used
If you don’t use cheese in the recipe (my husband won’t eat cheese, crazy I know) should I still use the milk? Or is the milk there to make the cheese a sauce. Would substituting more broth for the milk work do you think?
Hi Paula, the milk does help the cheese sauce.. I would think using the broth instead will work ok, I mean it is definitely going to taste different than the recipe without the cheese sauce
Thanks to Bre from YouTube, I have found you too. Can’t wait to check out more from drizzlemeskinny.com. Thank you for the hamburger helper recipe and points. I need all kinds of great ideas to make lower point versions of family favorites. Thank you.
Hi Joan, yay! I am glad you found me and I hope you continue to enjoy the recipes 🙂
Delicious!!!! I wasn’t sure if I like Thyme so I made it without it. Definitely will make it again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it 🙂
This was a family hit! Used rotini and added a shredded zucchini in the second step to add some veggie-bulk, that made it a little saucier but it was so good!! Thanks!
Awesome, so happy to hear you all enjoyed it 🙂
Could you tell me the measurement of one serving?
Hi Amy, this makes 6 heaping 1 cup servings as mentioned at the end of instructions 🙂
How many ounces of pasta does 2 cups dry come out to? The app doesn’t have a cup option for my pasta. I’m going to use Barilla Protein + elbow macaroni.
Hi Sam, according to google 2 cups dry pasta will give you approximately 4 cups cooked, hope that helps, try googling it too you should find what you are looking for
I made this tonight for dinner! We LOVED it! Definitely have to add this to the dinner recipe book. Thanks for sharing
I’m so glad everyone enjoyed it, one of our favorites too 🙂
Can you use almond milk instead of 2%?? Will
That change the consistency??
Hi Jackie, sure you can, I don’t think it will change it too much
Can you use flour instead of cornstarch??
Yes should be ok, the corn starch helps thicken the sauce a bit but flour should give similar results
Making this again for dinner tonight. Love that it is one pan and uses pantry staples. Another family favourite from Drizzle!
Yay, so glad you all enjoy it 🙂
This was amazing…..and I love the one pot way of cooking!! This pleased the whole family….thank you! ?
Hi Karen, thank you so much for sharing, I am so glad everyone enjoyed it 🙂
I laughed when I got your email tonight on the 5 most popular recipes because I had just finished my dinner of hamburger helper. I have made this recipe many times because I always have the ingredients on hand and my family love it.
Can I use skim (fat free) milk instead of 2% or nondairy creamer?
Yes that should be fine just expect it to be runnier than how mine came out. You could use a little flour to thicken it up.
It’s a staple at our house. We love it. Sometimes for a little added veg I added puréed pumpkin. You can’t taste it and it just adds to the creaminess and thickness so you wouldn’t need as much cornstarch.
Thank you!!
This is really good. Easy one pot meal I left out the Thyme. I used no sodium beef broth so I added 1 1/2 tsp Morton’s Seasonall Will be making this often
I want to use garlic powder instead of minced garlic, what would the ratio be?
I use a 1:4 ratio of garlic powder to minced garlic.
So I see that no one has commented on this recipe in the last two years. I just happen to stumble on it because I was hungry for hamburger helper but I wasn’t going to use a box.my only changes were; added in 1 tablespoon of unami seasoning, used Mostaccioli instead of shells and 2 tablespoons of Marsala wine to deglaze. It was delicious, we loved it. Can’t wait to take to the next potluck!
This looks good and easy.
Hi, great recipe!! When I work with dishes such as this or casseroles…I decrease the pasta (1 1/2 C uncooked) and I like to increase the veggies..so it already has tomatoes..but celery, green or red peppers, mushrooms or carrots would work…even some chopped zucchini . I often use less cheese too and do not notice the difference…1/2 in the dish and a sprinkle of good grated parm on top! You could also throw this in a casserole, and heat in oven, less convenient but really tastes great heated… and sprinkle some cheese on top , 5 min before you take out of the oven.. I love this as it is too, one pot meal! My version..in the oven..make a day ahead..heat and take to a pot luck…sprinkle a little parsley on top to garnish!