Healthy Hamburger Helper

This healthy hamburger helper is just as easy to make as it is delicious. You’ll literally cook everything right in one pan with a handful of pantry staples and the result tastes 100x better than the boxed stuff you grew up on. It is the one-pan, under 30-minute meal that your family will love time and again!

How to make a Healthy Hamburger Helper Dinner

Ingredients

• 1 pound ground beef
• ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 2 (15-ounce) cans butter beans, drained and rinsed
• ¾ cup low-sodium beef broth
• 1 cup macaroni noodles
• 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
• finely chopped parsley for serving (optional)

Directions

1. Brown the beef and onion. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with your spatula, until the meat is browned.
2. Season the beef. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir for another minute.
3. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add a large pinch of salt and the 1 cup macaroni noodles. Cook to al dente according to the package directions.
4. Add the broth and beans. Add the beef broth, stir together, and bring to a simmer. Then stir in the butter beans and macaroni noodles.
5. Make it cheesy. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the cheese, and stir until melted. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.

Tips:

• Try using 93% lean ground beef, that way you will not have to drain off any excess grease.
• The butter beans release natural starches as they cook, creating a creamy, thick, and silky consistency without the need for added milk, flour, or cornstarch. If you’d like a thicker sauce, you can always mash some of the beans directly in the sauce and add even more beef broth to make it extra saucy! Conversely, because the beans do release more starch the more they’re stirred, if you’d like an end result that looks more like the photos above, don’t over-stir it.
• Storage tips: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.