Healthy Hamburger Helper

Hello everyone! I am back to publishing new recipes after a little holiday hiatus! I really enjoyed spending Christmas bread with the kids without the pressure of creating new recipes, and then to be honest I felt like I needed a week to readjust to the back-to-school schedule. Our older two also have December and January birthday so it’s a busy season. We are back to our routine, but I’m still craving quick and healthy meals that are also cozy and comforting. I love a one-pot meal that can be made in 30 minutes, and this homemade healthy hamburger helper is a pasta recipe that’s just perfect. There are a ton of veggies in here and while I do think it’s important for kids to taste and experience vegetables individually, sometimes you just need to keep it easy and cook everything in one pot to keep it easy! This recipe was a hit with all of my kids and when you have five of them, that’s a huge success.

Ingredients for Healthy Hamburger Helper

• Olive oil: we are using ground turkey here to keep the recipe healthier, which means we need a little bit of added oil to help cook the vegetables.
• Onion and garlic: a must for flavor! Cooking the onions and garlic in the olive oil before adding the other ingredients adds a lot of flavor.
• Ground turkey: 1 1/2 lbs. of ground turkey is a great lean protein to use in this recipe.
• 1 large carrot: peeling and finely chopping this carrot or cutting it into chunks and shredding it in the food processor helps ensure the carrots cook completely and aren’t noticed by any picky eaters.
• 1 large zucchini: finely chop this as well.
• Smoked paprika: I love smoked paprika, it adds so much depth to a dish and when we are using turkey instead of ground beef in this recipe, it really contributes to the meaty flavor.
• Oregano: Another seasoning to add great flavor. Smoked paprika and oregano together are a great combination that I highly recommend.
• Salt and pepper: always!
• Milk: We are adding the dry pasta right to the rest of the ingredients to cook, which means we want to use more than just water for creaminess and taste.
• Broth: I recommend beef or chicken broth but any kind will work!
• Tomato sauce: The combination of milk, broth, and tomato sauce to cook in gives a great flavor and creaminess.
• 1 lb. short cut pasta: I used elbows but penne and rigatoni would also work. If I had shellbows on hand, I absolutely would have used those, they are such a fun pasta shape!
• Shredded cheddar cheese: When you’re making homemade hamburger helper, shredded cheddar is a must!
• Plain full-fat Greek yogurt: Adds extra protein and creaminess!

How to Make Healthy Hamburger Helper

• You are going to need a large pot for this since everything cooks in one pot! Heat the olive oil and add the onions, garlic, and carrots to cook for a few minutes before adding the zucchini. The carrots will need extra time to cook. Then add your turkey and cook until browned, breaking into pieces as it cooks.
• Add the salt, pepper, smoked paprika, and oregano. Mix to combine, then add the milk, broth, tomato sauce, and pasta. Stir to combine and bring to a simmer to cook until pasta is tender, stirring every minute or two.
• Once the pasta is done cooking, add the shredded cheese and Greek yogurt and stir to combine.
• Enjoy your easy one pot meal!

What to Serve with Healthy Hamburger Helper

• Honestly, nothing! This meal is perfect as is! If you want to serve it with a salad that works but I love that it’s an easy one-pot meal with nothing else required.

What to Do with Leftovers? 

• Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop with a little extra liquid of choice: broth, tomato sauce, or milk. Add more salt or pepper if needed the next day! Leftover pasta is delicious but it can be less “saucy” as the noodles absorb more of the liquid.