Homemade Healthy Hamburger Helper Recipe - Family Fresh Meals (2024)

FAQs

What can I add to Hamburger Helper to make it better? ›

Here are some recommended swaps and add-ins you can try: Add a boost of veggies: feel free to throw in shredded zucchini, sauteed chopped red bell pepper, or mushrooms or a few cups of chopped spinach! My kids usually never know that it's in there. Spice it up: if you'd like you can add some red pepper flakes on top.

Yes! Although traditionally Hamburger Helper has called for meat additions, these ingredients can be easily substituted by your choice of protein. Instead of meat, you can add vegetables or a meat alternative of your choice to Hamburger Helper meals to make them plant-based.

Once the ground beef is browned, add steak seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, and oregano. Stir well and add the beef broth, milk, tomato sauce, A1 Steak seasoning, and about 2 1/2 cups of pasta. I like to use a spiral pasta, but any pasta you have should work!

Milk adds a creamy texure and lends its flavor to the sauce in Hamburger Helper. You may not enjoy the results made with only water.

Instead of hamburger meat, we used a plant-based ground meat. If you're looking for plant-based protein alternatives, Lightlife ground meat is a great option! Made with pea protein, it takes less than 5 minutes to cook and you can store it in the freezer until ready to use.

The brand made its national debut in August 1971. With five flavors – Beef Noodle, Potato Stroganoff, Hash, Rice Oriental and Chili Tomato, it was an instant success. More than one in four – 27 percent – of U.S. households purchased Hamburger Helper in its first year. It was a bit surprising.

Water: If you're looking for a simple substitute, water can be used in place of milk. While it won't provide the same creaminess, it will still work well in the recipe [2]. Shredded Cheese: Adding shredded cheese to your Hamburger Helper can help thicken the sauce and add extra flavor.

If you eat a burger every day, Wiemann says that one of the biggest ways it will impact your health is increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. “The saturated fat found in red meat [which includes burgers] can lead to increased 'bad cholesterol' and lower levels of 'good cholesterol,'” she explains.

How can I thicken my Hamburger Helper? ›

Cornstarch will help thicken the sauce for a creamier and more silky cheese sauce.

All-Purpose Flour: Just a tablespoon of flour helps thicken the sauce. Brown Sugar: It may seem a little out of place but I added a bit of sugar to the recipe in order to more closely mimic the flavor of the boxed dinner. You may omit if you prefer.

Add fresh vegetables to the dish. Brown the ground beef and saute some onions, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and garlic on the side. Make the sauce, add the veggies and simmer until it is done. Some fresh herbs will liven things up too.

Easy Hamburger Helper ingredients

Water: or you can use beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to add extra flavor. Milk: adds to the creaminess along with the cheddar cheese. You could sub sour cream if you were feeling like experimenting in the kitchen.

Make sure to use the unsweetened and unflavored version [2]. Butter: Butter can be used as a substitute for milk to make the sauce rich and creamy. It adds a delicious flavor to the dish [2].