Gluten Free Hamburger Helper

wooden spoon scooping homemade hamburger helper from a cast iron skillet.

5 from 2 votes

If you grew up eating hamburger helper and are looking for a healthier, allergy-friendly version, then you're in for a treat! Fresh ground beef and gluten-free macaroni are cooked all in one pan in under 30 minutes. This recipe has no funky ingredients, and flavors that will take you back to your childhood.

Cook Time25

Total Time25

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free

Servings:

Calories: 464kcal

Author: Olivia Parsons

Ingredients

1 lb lean ground beef
½ white onion diced
¼ cup tomato paste
1 teaspoon each: garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, cornstarch
½ teaspoon pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon salt
1½ cup gluten-free macaroni 200g
½ cup 2% milk
3 cups beef broth
1 cup old cheddar, grated
⅓ cup parmigiano reggiano, grated
Squeeze of lemon juice and a handful of parsley

Instructions

Heat a large 12" skillet over medium heat. Once warm, add the ground beef and the diced onion. Sauté until the ground beef is cooked. Discard excess fat.
Add the tomato paste & seasonings to the pan. Stir and toast for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the pasta to the pan along with the milk and 2 cups of beef broth. Bring to a rapid simmer and cook until the pasta is almost al dente. See your pasta box for approximate timing. Stir often, and add more beef broth as the pasta absorbs it. I use about 3 cups total.
When the pasta is cooked, stir in the old cheddar and some parmigiano reggiano. Mix in a squeeze of lemon juice for acid and parsley for garnish. Adjust seasoning to taste and serve.

Notes

Pasta shape: Use any small gluten free pasta you have. Mini shells would be great.
Dairy-free: The milk is easy to swap for a neutral dairy free alternative like soy or cashew milk. Dairy-free cheese may not melt as intended in this recipe.
Storage: Allow leftovers to cool and transfer to an airtight container. Keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. Note that the gluten free noodles will likely keep absorbing liquid and become quite soft as they sit.

Nutrition facts are an estimate.

Nutrition