By With pantry staple ingredients and all in one pot, this healthy high-protein hamburger helper packs a flavorful and protein punch. Gone are the days of tasteless boxed Hamburger Helper, thanks to the acid from a splash of Worcestershire sauce. And the protein and fiber in this? It comes from bone broth and white beans blended into a creamy and dreamy sauce!
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Like many millennials, I grew up on boxed Hamburger Helper. It's my dad's favorite, and when paired with some veggies, it's one of our favorite high-protein pasta recipes that's balanced, quick to make, and is typically a sure bet with kids.
Needless to say, it's a nostalgic recipe for me, but I wanted to revamp it. Adding more flavor, protein, and fiber. This version does all that and is an absolute favorite with our family! Plus, we finally figured out how to reheat it so it tastes just as good on days 2, 3, and 4!
Jump to:
mise en place
This means "everything in its place" in French, and it's an important concept for one-pot dinners like this. Before you even start cooking, read the recipe carefully so you know what to expect! While the beef cooks, measure and portion out all spices, chopped veggies, etc, and then order them in the order that they get added to the recipe. This way, you don't have to worry about the garlic and spices burning while you're trying to measure out the bone broth.
key ingredients & swaps
All substitutions are a 1:1 substitute unless otherwise noted. See the recipe card for quantities.
- Ground beef or bison: Bison is leaner than ground beef, so we tend to use that. But if you use a fattier ground beef, I'd recommend draining the fat before proceeding with the rest of the recipe.
- Celery, carrots, and onion: These make up the flavor base, in French known as a mirepoix. The key is to finely chop/dice all the veggies.
- Sun-dried tomatoes: These come packed in oil or dried. Try to find the ones packed in oil - they blend easier.
- Bone broth: I like chicken bone broth because it's a bit milder in flavor, but beef works too.
- White beans: These can be great northern beans, cannellini beans, or any other similar soft white canned beans. Just be sure to drain the can first.
- Frilly pasta: I call it this because it's fun, but this just refers to pasta similar to cascatelli or Reginetti. Think lasagna noodles, but bite-sized!
- Worcestershire sauce: This is an absolute must!! We tested this recipe twice without adding it, and it just fell flat. It's the difference between this Hamburger Helper and all others, so don't skip it.
This recipe has not been tested with other substitutions or variations. If you replace or add any ingredients, please let us know how it turned out in the comments below!
hamburger helper spice
This homemade healthier hamburger helper definitely has its fair share of spices. So to save time, I'll make up a jar of the spices (doubling or tripling the spices). Then, when I go to make this, I just dump in ⅓ or ½ of the jar.
step by step: tips to nail this recipe every time
Be sure to scroll to the recipe card for the full instructions.
- Bison vs beef: After these are almost browned, drain any excess fat. We usually don't have to do this with bison.
- Mise en place: While that cooks, prep and measure out all the ingredients! Including blending the broth and beans.
- Reserve some broth: Depending on the type of pasta you use, you might need to top off the pot with broth. We want the noodles to be mostly covered, kind of pressing them down into the sauce.
- Stir halfway: The pasta can stick to the bottom, so be sure to give it a stir halfway through. This also helps the pasta cook evenly.
quick recipe video
use a big pot
This is not a skillet recipe; this is a Dutch oven or your largest stock pot recipe! We want lots of depth for the pasta to cook in.
how to store & meal prep it
Ok, hamburger helper can become quite sticky with time in the fridge so here's the key to reheating. This makes really great meal prep this way too!
- Fridge: Store for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Portion into small freezer-safe bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Either let them thaw overnight in the fridge first, or pop them in a pot of boiling water to thaw.
- Reheating: Here's the key! When reheating the pasta in the microwave, add a splash of bone broth. Stir and mix until creamy after it has warmed through, then add a splash of Worcestershire sauce right before eating. Stir that in, and then enjoy!
Recipe
Healthy High-Protein Hamburger Helper
Equipment
- 1 dutch oven
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef (or bison)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 white onion (diced)
- 2 carrots (large, diced)
- 2 celery stalks (diced)
- 1 cup white cheddar (shredded)
- ½ cup parmesan (shredded)
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 4 cups bone broth
- 15 oz white beans
- 6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 12 oz pasta
- 1 cup milk (may only need a ½ cup)
Spices
- ½ teaspoon salt and pepper (each)
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
Before you start!
If you make this recipe, please take a moment to leave us a review. We love to hear from you!
Instructions
- Before you start, take a minute to read through this recipe, then premeasure and chop everything. Then place it in the order you will use it on your counter. This is really imporant for one pot meals because they move quick!This includes chopping all the vegetables and blending together 4 sun-dried tomatoes, 2 of the 4 cups bone broth, and 15 oz white beans (drained). Blend well until you can't tell there are beans in the sauce.
- In a Dutch oven or large pot, partially brown 1 lb ground beef or bison (about 5 minutes, until mostly brown). Drain any excess grease.
- To the pot add 1 white onion, 2 carrots, and 2 celery stalks, and stir and cook until the beef is done cooking (another 5 minutes). Then, add in the spices: 2 cloves garlic, ½ teaspoon salt and pepper, 1 teaspoon paprika, ¼ teaspoon cayenne (can omit if you don't like spice), 1 teaspoon oregano, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 3 tbsps of the 6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauceand 2 tablespoon tomato paste. Stir to coat and saute until the garlic is softened and fragrant. About 1-2 minutes.
- Add the blended bean and bone broth mixture to the pan with the veggies. Stir to combine, then add the 12 oz pasta and top with the remaining 2 cups of bone broth. We want to make sure the pasta is mostly covered so give everything a good stir, press the pasta down into the sauce, then bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is cooked to al dente (soft but still has a bite to it). Be sure to stir halfway through for even cooking.
- While the pasta cooks, shred the cheese and measure out your milk. Add 1 cup white cheddar, ½ cup parmesan, and 1 cup milk (as needed). I usually only add the milk if my hamburger helper isn't very saucy. This will depend on the type of pasta you use.For example, a gluten-free pasta will absorb more liquid, so you might need to add a full cup of milk. Otherwise, I usually just add a half cup.Finally, finish it with the remaining 3 tablespoon of 6 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce and stir to combine. This last bit of acid is key to the best flavor!!
Video
Notes
- Fridge: Store for up to 5 days in the fridge in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Portion into small freezer-safe bags and freeze for up to 3 months. Either let them thaw overnight in the fridge first, or pop them in a pot of boiling water to thaw.
- Reheating: Here's the key! When reheating the pasta in the microwave, add a splash of bone broth. Stir and mix until creamy after it has warmed through, then add a splash of Worcestershire sauce right before eating. Stir that in, and then enjoy!
Looking for more information?
Additional substitution information can be found above in the substitution section of this post.
Nutrition Disclaimer
Nutritional information is an estimate and for informational purposes only.
Made this recipe for my fiancé and I and we loved it! I used about a quarter cup of diced sun-dried tomatoes with bowtie pasta and didn’t need to add milk. Adding this to our meal list and can’t wait to make it again! next time we’ll probably add a bit more cayenne pepper to add some heat. Thanks for another great recipe!
That sounds delish!
This was very good. We left out the cayenne and it still had kick. I also ran out of Worcestershire so I only used the first 3T but it had plenty of flavor. I think I would not add the 6T when I have it. As stated in the blog, this is even better the following day!
That's great to hear!
This is delicious! I think I may have done a little too much Worcestershire though, so my only tip would be to pay attention to that. I used whole wheat short pasta with ridges, and I did need the milk at the end. I also added mushrooms st the same time as onions and stirred in some diced zucchini for the second half of cooking (wanted to pack in more veg). I will be adding this to my roster!
So happy to hear that!
This recipe was amazing. I would have never thought to use blended beans in bone broth. It thickens the sauce while adding fiber and protein. The flavor was amazing and recipe was very easy. Definitely listen to the pro tip of having all ingredients ready prior to cooking. It moves fast as warned! I used Barilla protein bow ties and worked great. Can't wait to try other recipes but this was one of my favorites I've found on tiktok! One easy modification I made was using a precut mirepoix mix I got in the produce section (only because I was too lazy to chop myself) and it also sped up the prep!
So happy to hear that!
Absolutely delicious!
Awesome!