Homemade Hamburger Helper

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This is a quick meal you can put together on a busy weeknight, or at your campsite. Make this in your Dutch Oven, or a skillet. If you’re making it on a camping trip, you can speed things up by browning the hamburger ahead of time and freezing it in a zip lock bag.

Heat your Dutch Oven with coals on the bottom, or if you’re in your kitchen, make it on your stovetop.

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Bob
Comfort food with pasta, made without all the salt and preservatives of a premade boxed mix.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 503 kcal

Equipment

  • Dutch Oven or Skillet

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb ground hamburger, turkey, or chicken If using beef, a leaner ground beef will work better. Otherwise you may want to remove some of the grease after browning the meat.
  • ½ medium onion, diced
  • ½ tsp minced garlic
  • 1 tsp Lowry's brand seasoned salt
  • 1 ½ cup milk Use low fat if you want to keep it healthy
  • 1 ½ cup beef broth A 14.5-ounce can is a little over 1 1/2 cups but close enough. I used just a little less milk to compensate, but I don't think it's necessary.
  • 2 ½ cup uncooked macaroni
  • 1 ½ cup pasta sauce or tomato sauce of your choice
  • 1 ½ cup shredded cheese Use low-fat cheese to keep it healthy. I used a Colby Jack mixture.

Optional Ingredients

  • ½ red pepper, diced
  • 1 cup finely chopped fresh spinach

Instructions
 

  • Add the meat, onion, garlic, seasonings, and any of your optional ingredients to your dutch oven, and cook over a medium heat to brown the meat.
  • Add the milk, broth, macaroni, and tomato sauce to the dutch oven, and bring to a boil, stirring occasionally.
  • Reduce the heat, and cook for 12-15 minutes with the lid removed from your dutch oven, or until you reach the desired texture.
  • Remove your Dutch Oven from the heat, and stir in the cheese. Put the lid on and let it sit for 5 minutes before serving.

Notes

A 10 or 12 inch Dutch Oven will work fine for this meal.  Can also be made in an 11-12 inch skillet.

Nutrition

Calories: 503kcalCarbohydrates: 41gProtein: 29gFat: 24gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 82mgSodium: 1192mgPotassium: 704mgFiber: 3gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1333IUVitamin C: 19mgCalcium: 253mgIron: 3mg
Keyword cast iron skillet, dutch oven, ground beef, hamburger, hamburger helper, macaroni
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