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Mom’s Homemade Hamburger Helper

A bowl of hamburger helper with a baking dish of hamburger helper in the top left.
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A comfort food classic, this homemade hamburger helper is packed with fresh pasta, a meaty sauce, and filling bites that remind you of home.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound Elbow Pasta
  • 1 pound Ground Meat (beef or turkey work best)
  • 24 ounces Pasta Sauce
  • 1 Onion (diced)
  • 3 pods Garlic (chopped or microplaned)
  • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 1 cup Water (or reserved pasta water)
  • 1 teaspoon Salt
  • 1 teaspoon Oregano
  • ½ teaspoon Onion Powder
  • ½ teaspoon Garlic Powder
  • ¼ teaspoon Pepper

Instructions

  1. Fill a large pot of water. Bring to boil. Once boiling, season generously with salt. Add 1 pound pasta and cook according to package directions.
  2. Reserve 1 cup water then drain the pasta and pour the cooked pasta into a 9 X 13 baking dish.
  3. Meanwhile, dice 1 onion and the 3 pods of garlic and set aside.
  4. In a large skillet, heat 2 Tablespoons olive oil and cook the onion until soft, about 3-5 minutes.
  5. Add 1 pound ground meat. Cook and crumble until brown. Once cooked through add 3 pods of diced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
  6. Next pour in the 24 ounces of pasta sauce and add the reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
  7. Season with 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon oregano, ½ teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, and ¼ teaspoon papper. Stir until combined, cover and cook on low for about 15-20 minutes.
  8. Remove the skillet from heat and add the sauce to the dish with the pasta, stir to combine. Garnish with fresh basil and enjoy.
  9. Optional: If you would like to add a cheese topping, sprinkle non-dairy cheese shreds on top of the hamburger helper. Bake in the oven at 350°F until melted, about 5-10 minutes.

Find it online: https://mylifeafterdairy.com/moms-homemade-hamburger-helper/