This gluten free Hamburger Helper is everything the stuff from the store wishes it could be without all the preservatives. This easy, one pot meal is loaded with beef, veggies, and a rich creamy sauce and mixed with gluten free noodles for a classic, comfort food meal everyone can enjoy.
One pan meals are classic comfort food and always a great choice for weeknight dinners. Recipes like this one or one pan chicken and peppers make it easy to get a delicious, hearty, gluten free dinner on the table with minimal effort, and that's something we can all enjoy.
I used my new Deluxe Hybrid Nonstick Pan for this recipe, and I was impressed with its quality. Its nonstick surface, which is also scratch resistant, by the way, made it super easy to make this recipe, and it's PFOA-free which is so important to me.
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Why You'll Love This Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Recipe
- Simple Ingredients: This recipe uses simple ingredients available 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, this is a healthy Hamburger Helper coypcat you can feel good about.
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Video
Ingredients
- Ground Beef: The heart of any Hamburger Helper meal, ground beef gives the recipe its texture, flavor, and body.
- Olive Oil: Olive oil adds flavor to the veggies while they're cooked. I prefer Costabile olive oil for its quality and purity. Use Code: 15GOLDENGK for 15% off.
- Bell Pepper: 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.
- Heavy Cream: Heavy cream adds body and richness to the sauce.
- Beef Broth: Beef broth adds more depth of flavor than regular water.
- Parmesan Cheese: Parmesan cheese adds an earthy, slightly nutty undertone that works perfectly in this dish.
- Gluten Free Elbow Macaroni: You can't have Hamburger Helper without macaroni!
See the recipe card at the end of the post for a full list of ingredients and their exact amounts.
Flavor Variations
- Make it spicy: Add diced jalapenos for a spicy kick.
- Change up the meat: You can use ground turkey, chicken, pork, a beef and pork blend, or even chorizo for this recipe.
- Make it extra cheesy: Add shredded cheddar cheese for a super cheesy version.
- Add more vegetables: Add your favorite vegetables like mushrooms, sweet peppers, or even mixed vegetables for more flavor and texture.
- Make it dairy free: Use plant milk for a dairy and gluten-free version.
How to Make Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
1: Cook the bell pepper and garlic in olive oil until soft.
2: Push the veggies to the side, then add the ground beef and all dry seasoning. Cook until the meat is just browned.
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.
4: Add the remaining ingredients, stir, and cook until the spinach is cooked. Enjoy!
Hint
Using lean ground sirloin will usually help avoid any need to drain your beef before adding the other ingredients.
Storage
Refrigerate this gluten free Hamburger Helper copycat in an air-tight container for up to 3 days. To reheat, add it to a skillet with a bit of water if necessary and cook over medium-low heat until heated through.
What to Serve with Homemade Hamburger Helper
Serve this delicious dish with a side of your favorite vegetables like this air fryer zucchini and squash for a full, satisfying meal.
For a dessert as classic as the dish itself, try finishing things off with chocolate cake, snickerdoodle cookies, or coconut cream pie.
Tips
- If you use ground round, chuck, or pork, drain your beef before adding the other ingredients to avoid a greasy dish.
- Lean ground sirloin reduces or eliminates the need to drain your beef.
- Be sure your dish is only at a simmer when adding the cream to avoid curdling.
- Use a large skillet to ensure it can accommodate all the ingredients in this dish.
More Easy Skillet Recipes
FAQ
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.
Related
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📖 Recipe
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
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.
Audrey says
A million times better than the boxed stuff!! This is a great recipe to keep on hand.
NKendrick says
Thank you so much!
Amy Liu Dong says
This is so delicious and very enticing! My family just make this and we definitely love and enjoy it. Another dish that will go to our favorite list! Thanks, loved it!
DK says
I love how this is not only easy to make but also so nutritious. Such a favorite comfort food. Will definitely try this one instead of the ones in stores!
Juyali says
Yum! So much better than the boxed stuff. If you are craving an easy and comforting recipe, this is it. Delish.
Anonymous says
This worked exactly as written, thanks!