This gluten-free hamburger helper is an updated take on a nostalgic classic. It’s an easy one-pan dinner that’s perfect any night of the week.
The back to school grind has started at our house, which means plenty of adjustment for all of us. With new schedules, new teachers, new pick-up and drop-off times, we’re relying on QUICK, EASY, FAMILY-FRIENDLY dinners that we can whip up amid the after-school shuffle.
One-pot recipes, skillet meals, and sheet pan dinners are GREAT for busy weeknights! This gluten-free hamburger helper recipe is a great example. It’s made in one pan, doesn’t involve any fancy skills (just stirring!), and tastes delicious.
Making this homemade version means we get to rely on simple, nourishing ingredients that deliver BIG flavor without a lot of fuss.
Here’s all you need to get started on this easy pasta dinner…
Simple Ingredients To Start
Hamburger Helper doesn’t currently sell any gluten-free products, but this healthier hamburger helper is 100% gluten-free thanks to simple ingredients:
- Extra Lean Ground Beef. We recommend 93% lean ground beef (sometimes labeled 93/7 ground beef). It’s very lean, so there’s a higher percentage of protein and less fat to fuss with in the pan.
- Onion & Garlic. An onion starts our savory flavor base off strong. Then, we come in with some fresh garlic (which I prefer over garlic powder).
- Simple Seasonings. A blend of smoked paprika, chili powder, salt & pepper add great flavor!
- Tomato Paste helps thicken the sauce without adding any tomato chunks!
- A Little Hot Sauce. Don’t panic! We’re using some Frank’s RedHot (which we also use in our Buffalo Sauce recipe), but we’re starting SMALL. The goal isn’t to make this dish spicy, it’s to add flavor. The warmth from the peppers and the acidity of the vinegar in the hot sauce do just that!
- Beef Broth. When you can, I recommend beef bone broth for added protein. Several brands add up to 9 grams of protein per cup of broth!
- Gluten-Free Pasta. Our go to is Jovial brand brown rice gluten-free macaroni or mini shells.
- Cream or Milk. To add a touch of creaminess, we’ll add a splash of milk, half & half or cream. Obviously, cream will be thicker than milk, but you can use what works best for your needs.
- Sharp Cheddar Cheese. Some sharp or medium cheddar cheese adds more flavor than mild cheddar. When possible, use FRESHLY grated cheese, since pre-shredded cheese is often coated and doesn’t melt as easily.
- Some Fresh Herbs, Maybe. Lastly, if you’ve got them, some chives or even chopped parsley or cilantro can add another layer of flavor. I love the bright pop of green and fresh flavor that chives add–it’s a nice balance to the richness of the pasta.
How To Make Homemade Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper, Step By Step
As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.
- Brown The Beef. To start, heat oil in a large skillet with high sides (or a Dutch Oven) over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook 6-8 minutes, or until cooked through completely, stirring regularly to break the beef up into small pieces as you go. Drain any excess fat, if needed.
- Add Veggies. Next, add onion to the skillet and cook 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and tender.
- Build Flavor. Then, add garlic, salt, pepper, chili powder, tomato paste, and 1 Tablespoon hot sauce. Stir and cook 2-3 minutes, until well blended and evenly coated.
- Cook Pasta. Stir in 3 cups of broth, and bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Add gluten-free pasta and reduce the heat to medium. Cook uncovered, stirring every few minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. This takes me about 14-15 minutes. (If the liquid is evaporating too quickly, feel free to add a splash of broth or water to the pan, to allow the pasta to cook through.)
- Finish The Dish. Turn off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese, cream or milk, and 1 Tablespoon hot sauce, and stir until melted and well blended. If needed, feel free to stir in a little more water or broth. Taste and add additional salt, pepper, or hot sauce, to taste. Garnish with chives or parsley.
- Serve & Store. Let the pasta sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken, then serve warm in bowls. Store leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container 2-3 days. Pasta will continue to thicken quite a bit as it chills.
A Tip To Keep In Mind
Stoves vary in heat and intensity, and different kinds of gluten-free pasta cook differently, so you may need to adjust your heat or cook time slightly. If your liquid is evaporating too quickly, feel free to add more broth or water 1/4 cup at a time, as needed, to allow the pasta enough time to cook.
Make It A Meal! Here’s What To Serve On The Side
Okay, now that you’ve got a bowl of cheesy pasta (aka the ultimate comfort food!), let’s talk about side dishes! Since the pasta is on the more rich and hearty side, we love to keep things light with some of these easy side dishes for hamburger helper:
- Broccoli. Steamed broccoli or our air fryer broccoli can be a great option since it’s so hands-off. Skip the parmesan and finish it with a squeeze of lemon juice instead!
- Seasoned Green Beans. Or, go for a light green vegetable like perfectly seasoned green beans. They’re tender, delicious, and lovely next to this creamy pasta. (Not to mention, my favorite way to make green beans!)
- Our House Salad. This simple green salad is perfect next to pasta dishes like this one!
- The BEST Peas. You won’t believe how amazing frozen peas can taste when they’re seasoned this well! They’re an easy way to add some green to this meal.
- Veggies & Ranch. Keep things simple with some cut up fresh veggies (cucumber slices, carrot sticks, celery, etc.) and some good ol’ ranch dip! Fresh, crunchy veggies can be a great complement to this easy dinner.
- Gluten-Free Garlic Bread. If you’re a bread-with-your-pasta fan, you’ll flip for this golden brown garlic bread! This simple recipe is always a family favorite.
- Fresh Fruit. Use whatever’s in season, whether it’s apple slices, fresh grapes, a nice fruit salad, fresh watermelon, or some berries!
FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper
Choose The Right Pasta. We recommend Jovial brown rice pasta for this recipe. Small shapes like gluten-free mini shells and gluten-free elbow macaroni work best, since larger shapes (like spirals or bowties) can take longer to cook. High-protein pasta (like Banza or lentil pasta) can sometimes break apart with all the stirring. Thrive Market can be a great place to stock up! (Get 40% off your first order with my link!)
Try It With Chicken or Turkey. If you’re not a fan of ground beef, feel free to substitute another ground meat, like ground chicken or ground turkey here!
Try It With Bacon! For even more flavor, you can skip the olive oil and brown 2 diced slices of bacon in the pan before cooking the beef.
Grate Your Own Cheese! Pre-grated cheese is often powder coated (to prevent clumping), which can impact its ability to melt well. Since we’re going for super melty cheese, I recommend you grate it fresh for best results. While you’re at it, feel free to experiment with different cheeses!
More One-Pot Meals To Try
Recipe Card
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Description
A delicious whole food take on this classic comfort food dinner! Our gluten-free hamburger helper uses simple ingredients to deliver BIG flavor and all the cheesy goodness you crave, simply gluten-free!
- 1 teaspoon olive oil*
- 1 pound extra lean ground beef (we recommend 97% lean)
- 1 cup diced yellow onion (1 small onion or 1/2 a large onion)
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced
- 2 Tablespoons Frank’s RedHot hot sauce*
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (or more, to taste)
- 3–3 1/2 cups low-sodium beef bone broth
- 8 ounces gluten-free macaroni or shells*
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, half and half, or whole milk
- 2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese*
- 1 Tablespoon fresh chives or fresh parsley (optional)
- Brown The Beef. To start, heat oil in a large skillet with high sides (or a Dutch Oven) over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook 6-8 minutes, or until cooked through completely, stirring regularly to break the beef up into small pieces as you go. Drain any excess fat, if needed.
- Add Veggies. Next, add onion to the skillet and cook 5-7 minutes, or until the onion is translucent and tender.
- Build Flavor. Then, add garlic, salt, pepper, chili powder, tomato paste, and 1 Tablespoon hot sauce. Stir and cook 2-3 minutes, until well blended and evenly coated.
- Cook Pasta. Stir in 3 cups of broth, and bring the liquid to a boil over medium-high heat. Add gluten-free pasta and reduce the heat to medium. Cook uncovered, stirring every few minutes until the pasta is tender and most of the liquid has been absorbed. This takes me about 14-15 minutes. (If the liquid is evaporating too quickly, feel free to add a splash of broth or water to the pan, to allow the pasta to cook through.)
- Finish The Dish. Turn off the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese, cream or milk, and 1 more Tablespoon hot sauce (if desired), and stir until melted and well blended. If needed, feel free to stir in a little more water or broth. Taste and add additional salt, pepper, or hot sauce, to taste. Garnish with chives or parsley.
- Serve & Store. Let the pasta sit for 2-3 minutes to thicken, then serve warm in bowls. Store leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container 2-3 days. Pasta will continue to thicken quite a bit as it chills.
Notes
- Pasta. We highly recommend brown rice gluten-free pasta, like Jovial, since the texture holds up well. If you use bean-based pasta, you may find it crumbles in the sauce with all the stirring. Choose short pasta shapes, like elbow macaroni noodles or mini shells when possible. If you use larger shapes (like bowtie or rotini) it will likely take longer to cook.
- Cheddar. Whenever possible, use FRESHLY grated cheese, since pre-grated is often coated and doesn’t melt as easily.
- Hot Sauce. We recommend Frank’s Red Hot original hot sauce for this dish. The tang of the vinegar and warmth of the peppers are lovely in this dish. If you’re spice sensitive, feel free to omit it or start with 1 teaspoon at a time, until you reach a heat level that works for you.
- Try It With Bacon! For even more flavor, you can skip the olive oil and brown 2 diced slices of bacon in the pan before cooking the beef.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
