Name: Elevated Hamburger Helper
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 60 min
Ingredients: 3 cups uncooked fusilli noodles ((4 cups cooked)); 2 tablespoons olive oil; 1 pound ground beef; 2 cups diced purple onion; 4 tablespoons diced garlic ((5 large cloves)); 1 cup diced green bell pepper; 2 1/2 cups finely chopped chard ((or kale)); 1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes ((no salt added)); 2 1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar or colby jack cheese; 2 tsp dried oregano; 2 tsp dried basil; 1/4 tsp ground sage; 1/4 tsp rubbed thyme; 1/2 tsp rosemary ((ground or whole leaf)); 1/4 tsp sea salt; 1/2 tsp garlic granules

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Hamburger helper taken up a notch with this quick and easy meal!

hamburger helper in cast iron pan view from above

Hamburger Helper is a delicious, easy meal with ingredients that are easily accessible for most. I can never leave well enough alone so here’s my elevated recipe with more pizazz added in.

This recipe is a great way to add more veggies into your meal. I’m not one to have a 3 course meal, but an all-in-one dish with a grain, protein, vegetables, and dairy? I’m all in.

Steps to Make this Dish

Sauté the raw vegetables.
Add Italian seasoning mix and ground beef and continue cooking.

You want to undercook the meat a bit at this stage so it doesn't overcook as you continue to add ingredients.
Add crushed tomatoes and continue cooking for a few minutes.

Decrease heat to low and add cheese and cooked noodles.
Gently combine all until the cheese is melted and serve! TIP: If you can tell that not everything will fit in your skillet, then add the cheese to the skillet to combine, then transfer the skillet ingredients to a large mixing bowl and add the noodles to combine all.

Ways to Change up this Recipe

Try gluten-free noodles if your diet requires it!
Try different vegetables like various greens, jalapenos, variety of colors of bell peppers (will add sweetness).
Add spice with crushed red pepper/red pepper flakes, ground chipotle, jalapeno.

Similar Recipes

hamburger helper cooked in cast iron with image pan tilted to the left

Elevated Hamburger Helper

Hamburger helper taken up a notch with this quick and easy meal!

5 from 2 votes

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Prep Time 10 mins

Cook Time 50 mins

Total Time 1 hr

Course Main Course

Cuisine American, Beef, chard, Kale

Servings servings

Ingredients

3 cups uncooked fusilli noodles (4 cups cooked)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 pound ground beef
2 cups diced purple onion
4 tablespoons diced garlic (5 large cloves)
1 cup diced green bell pepper
2 ½ cups finely chopped chard (or kale)
1 14.5 ounce can crushed tomatoes (no salt added)
2 ½ cups grated sharp cheddar or colby jack cheese

Italian Seasoning

2 teaspoon dried oregano
2 teaspoon dried basil
¼ teaspoon ground sage
¼ teaspoon rubbed thyme
½ teaspoon rosemary (ground or whole leaf)
¼ teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon garlic granules

Instructions

Cook Noodles

Bring water to a boil. Add 3 cups uncooked fusilli and bring back to a boil, then decrease to medium-low and cook for about about 7-8 minutes until al dente. Don't overcook the noodles because you don't want them mushy when you add them to the remainder of the dish.

Cook the Remainder of the Dish

In a large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil on medium heat. Once hot, add onions, garlic, bell pepper, and chard (or kale) and sauté for 5 minutes.
While cooking, combine all ingredients for the Italian seasoning in a small bowl.
Add Italian seasoning and ground beef to the vegetables. Cook for about 5 minutes, chopping meat during cook. It's ok if the beef is slightly pink at this point.
Add crushed tomatoes and sauté for another 3 minutes. Decrease to low heat, add cheese and cooked noodles and gently combine. Keep on heat until cheese is melted, then remove.
Add optional red pepper flakes to serve!

Notes

Option to add all ingredients except for cheese and noodles to crock pot and cook on low until meat is cooked and vegetables are tender (likely about 30-40 minutes).

I prefer to cook the noodles separate and add them at the end so they don't get mushy.

**Option to use gluten free noodles, then entire dish is gluten free.

Keyword hamburger helper, homemade hamburger helper, recipes with ground beef

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