Healthy Hamburger Helper (No Pasta!)
This healthy hamburger helper is the one-pan, under 30-minute meal that your family will love time and again! Watch the video below to see how I make it in my kitchen.
Servings: 4 servings
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ medium yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 (15-ounce) cans butter beans drained and rinsed
- ¾ cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese
- finely chopped parsley for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Brown the beef and onion. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring frequently and breaking up the meat with your spatula, until the meat is browned.
- Season the beef. Add the minced garlic, tomato paste, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Stir for another minute.
- Add the broth and beans. Add the beef broth, stir together, and bring to a simmer. Then stir in the butter beans.
- Make it cheesy. Remove the skillet from the heat, add the cheese, and stir until melted. Sprinkle with chopped parsley before serving.
Video
Notes
- I prefer to use 93% lean ground beef, so that I don't have to drain off any excess grease.
- The butter beans release natural starches as they cook, creating a creamy, thick, and silky consistency without the need for added milk, flour, or cornstarch. If you'd like a thicker sauce, you can always mash some of the beans directly in the sauce and add even more beef broth to make it extra saucy! Conversely, because the beans do release more starch the more they're stirred, if you'd like an end result that looks more like the photos above, don't over-stir it.
- Storage tips: Refrigerate in an airtight container for 3 to 4 days, or freeze for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
Calories: 668kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 44g | Fat: 33g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1001mg | Potassium: 1621mg | Fiber: 16g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 555IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 270mg | Iron: 8mg