One skillet dinners are family friendly, hearty, affordable. This Homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Helper recipe reminds me of the classic meal in a box but fresher and less processed. It tastes better and doesn’t take much longer than the package mix. It’s an all around good weeknight meal option.
What is Hamburger Helper
According to Wikipedia, Hamburger Helper first hit grocery store shelves in 1971 as a response to rising meat prices due to a meat shortage.
Hamburger Helper is a General Mills product under the Betty Crocker label. It’s a boxed dinner that contains a dried pasta variety or rice and a seasoning packet. The boxed dinner ingredients are combined with ground beef and a liquid such as water or milk. These ingredients allow the home cook to make a complete meal on the stove in one skillet.
Is Hamburger Helper Gluten Free
According to the Betty Crocker Website, there are currently no Helper Meals in the product line that are gluten free.
While the Better Crocker Brand does not have gluten free options, Walmart’s Great Value private label does have a few dinner kit options available.
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Recipe Tips
Shred Your Own Cheese – Packaged shredded cheese contains anti caking additives such as potato starch. Shredding your own cheese and melting it into the meal gives creamier results.
Watch the Salt – Beef Bullion and broths can be loaded with salt. Use the salt measurement in the recipe as a guideline and adjust as needed.
Gluten Free Pasta – Any short cut gluten free pasta such as macaroni or shells works in the recipe. I really like the Tinkyada Brand of Pasta.
Don’t Over Cook the Pasta – Stir and check the pasta occasionally as it cooks. You want the pasta to have a little bite to it. Over cooked gluten free pasta gets mushy and falls apart.
Somethings are just as easy to make homemade and taste better than their store bought processed product. This Gluten Free Hamburger Helper is one of those recipes that falls into that dinner category.
More Gluten Free Ground Beef Recipes
Gluten Free Ground Beef Lo Mein – a delicious, budget friendly, take out inspired recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Gluten Free Oven Baked Meatballs – These are tender and super easy. They get baked in sauce making for an easy dinner option when paired with some pasta or salad.
Classic Gluten Free Shepherds Pie – A go to recipe that everyone has their own version of. This is my favorite way to make this mashed potato topped, ground beef casserole.
Gluten Free Spaghetti Pie – a layered baked pasta casserole that starts with a gluten free spaghetti crust. Then add a layer of ricotta cheese, hearty meat sauce and shredded mozzarella or an Italian blend of cheese. It’s a fun dinner twist.
Easy Gluten Free Meatloaf – Using sauteed vegetables and gluten free bread soaked in a little milk keeps this full of flavor and juicy!
Find More Gluten Free Recipes on YouTube and Pinterest.
Homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 Lb. Gound Beef
- 1 Medium Yellow Onion, Chopped
- 2 Garlic Cloves, Minced
- 1 Tbs. Ketchup
- 1 tsp. Chili Powder
- 1 tsp. Paprika
- ¾ tsp. Salt
- ¼ tsp Pepper
- 1 ½ Cups Gluten Free Macaroni or Other Short Cut Pasta
- 1 ½ Cups Milk
- 1 Cup Beef Broth or Water
- 2 Cups Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Instructions
- In a large sauté pan with a lid, brown the ground beef and onion over medium high heat.
- Once browned, drain any excess fat from the beef.
- Add the garlic, ketchup, chili powder, paprika, salt, and pepper and mix well.
- Add the beef broth and milk and bring to a boil.
- Once boiling, add the gluten free macaroni, cover and reduce the heat to low.
- Simmer for 14 minutes or so, until the pasta is cooked.
- Once the pasta is cooked, turn off the heat, and add the cheese in batches and stir until melted.
- Serve in bowls topped with chopped parsley, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Shred Your Own Cheese – Packaged shredded cheese contains anti caking additives such as potato starch. Shredding your own cheese and melting it into the meal gives creamier results.
- Watch the Salt – Beef Bullion and broths can be loaded with salt. Use the salt measurement in the recipe as a guideline and adjust as needed.
- Gluten Free Pasta – Any short cut gluten free pasta such as macaroni or shells works in the recipe. I really like the Tinkyada Brand of Pasta.
- Don’t Over Cook the Pasta – Stir and check the pasta occasionally as it cooks. You want the pasta to have a little bite to it. Over cooked gluten free pasta gets mushy and falls apart.
