Unlike most homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Helper recipes that rely on cheddar cheese alone, my version builds flavor with marinara, parmesan, fresh garlic, herbs, and hidden vegetables for a richer sauce that creates the perfect homemade taste.
Quick Look: Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
- ⏱ Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 20 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 30 minutes
- 🍲 Servings: 4 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 1080 calories per serving
- 🍂 Flavor Profile: Bold notes of garlic and herb put the normal stale box mix to shame
- 👌 Difficulty: Easy - Make this for a dinner that is fast and easy to clean up!
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One pan meals are classic comfort food and always a great choice for weeknight dinners. My recipe uses fresh vegetables, and grated cheese to ensure you feed your family whole, healthy ingredients. The flavors will instantly give you the nostalgia of that famous box recipe while keeping it celiac safe and fresh! Whether you are looking for a quick recipe that takes 30 minutes or simply have some ground beef you need to cook, the answers are in this recipe!
If you like this recipe, make sure to check out my One Pan Chicken and Peppers. It's another hearty, gluten free dinner that gets to the table with minimal effort. I also recommend you check out my Mini Meatball Pasta and my Creamy Bolognese (A Creamy Twist on a Classic). If you need a veggie side dish, I have you covered with my Air Fryer Zucchini and Squash.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients and a creamy sauce to give you a dish everyone will love. The ingredients can also be found at any grocery store.
- Easy: This one pan meal is ready in no time. It only takes 30 minutes!
- Versatile: You can add your favorite vegetables or substitute the beef with other meat to create all kinds of delicious dishes.
- Better for You: With no added preservatives, fresh ingredients, and veggies, my recipe is a healthy Hamburger Helper copycat you can feel good about.
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"This recipe is a great gluten-free option. It was simple to follow and had incredible flavor!"
- Tisha L.
Ingredients
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
- Ground Beef: The heart of any Hamburger Helper meal, ground beef gives the recipe its texture, flavor, and body.
- Bell Pepper: This secret ingredient will make the dish pop! Bell pepper adds a slightly sweet, vegetal flavor.
- Spinach or Kale: Either of these adds more vitamins and minerals and more flavor. Don't worry, the nature of this dish means it will still be kid-friendly.
- Marinara Sauce: Marinara sauce is the rich, sweet base for the sauce. You can use a jar or the homemade recipe of your choosing.
- Beef Broth: Beef broth adds more depth of flavor than regular water.
- Gluten Free Elbow Macaroni: You can't have Hamburger Helper without macaroni!
Flavor Variations
- Use Different Protein: If you are looking to mix up the recipe, think about using chicken or ground turkey as substitutes for beef. They work perfectly with my unique blend of spices!
- Use Different Pasta: I always stick to gluten-free pasta so I can keep my house celiac safe but that doesn't mean penne or farfalle aren't great options!
- Go Dairy Free: A lot of families avoid dairy and this recipe can easy meet those dietary needs! Just switch out your cheese and heavy cream with non-dairy substitutes.
- Make it extra cheesy: Add shredded cheddar cheese for a super cheesy version. No processed powdered cheese necessary!
- Add more vegetables: Add your favorite vegetables like mushrooms, sweet peppers, or even mixed vegetables for more flavor and texture.
How to Make Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
Step 1. Cook the bell pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
Step 2. Push the veggies to the side, then add the ground beef and all dry seasoning. Cook until the meat is just browned.
Step 3. Add the remaining ingredients except the cream, parmesan, and spinach and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover, and simmer until the pasta is al dente.
Step 4. Allow the dish to cook down into the beef broth. This is where the herbs to mix with the beef and pasta.
Step 5. Mix in the heavy cream and cheese to create a melt-in-your-mouth texture.Give it one final stir, add in your spinach and dinner is ready. Enjoy!
Expert Tips
- Use Lean Beef: Using lean ground sirloin will usually help avoid any need to drain your beef before adding the other ingredients.
- Be generous with Seasonings: Fresh herbs are a great way to make this the best hamburger helper recipe online! The beef and pasta are great at absorbing those spices.
- Keep it Simmering: After making this dish countless times, trust me when I say this: Make sure the dish is only at a simmer when adding the heavy cream. This will prevent it from curdling.
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper FAQ's
Rubbery ground beef is the result of overcooking. Ground beef is safe as soon as it's no longer pink. Cooking it any longer than that creates a tough, rubbery texture and loss of flavor.
Gluten free pasta has a taste and texture that's almost the same as regular pasta. People can rarely tell the difference between the two.
Not really. Spinach has a relatively mild flavor, and when cooked in a pasta dish like this one that has so many flavors, it almost disappears. It's added for a little color and more vitamins.
I don't recommend it. Freezing anything with cream or pasta can be dicy. Recipes with cream tend to break, and it's very difficult to keep pasta from turning to mush.
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📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
Video
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 bell pepper diced small
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 lb ground beef
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoon paprika
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups gluten free elbow macaroni uncooked
- 1 bundle spinach or kale
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Then, cook the diced bell peppers and minced garlic until soft. Push to the side of the skillet.
- Add the ground beef, paprika, salt, pepper, oregano, and thyme. Cook until the beef is just browned.
- Add the marinara sauce, beef broth, and uncooked pasta to the skillet and ring to a boil for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and cook for 15 to 20 minutes until the pasta is al dente.
- Stir in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and spinach and cook until the spinach is cooked.
Notes
- Refrigerate for up to 3 days in an airtight container.
- Freezing is not recommended.
- To reheat, cook over medium-low heat in a skillet or saucepan until heated through.
- Cook your beef until no longer pink and then stop. Overcooking the beef makes it tough and rubbery.
- A cast-iron or heavy-bottom pan is best for this recipe because it makes it easier to control the heat.
- Your dish should never be hotter than a gentle simmer. Anything made with cream can break if the heat is too high.
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