Copycat Hamburger Helper

4.0

(54)

53 Reviews

In this easy ground beef skillet supper, very finely chopping onion, mushrooms and carrots in the food processor is not only fast, it also makes the vegetables hard to detect for choosy eaters. Serve alongside a green salad for a satisfying weeknight dinner.

Hilary Meyer

Updated on June 27, 2024

Reviewed by Dietitian

Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Tested by

EatingWell Test Kitchen

A dark blue plate with a serving of the copycat hamburger helper recipe — Photo:
Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food Stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop Stylist: Gabriel Greco

Active Time:

40 mins

Total Time:

40 mins

Servings:

Nutrition Profile:

Diabetes-Friendly Healthy Pregnancy Low-Sodium Low-Fat Heart-Healthy Low-Calorie

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Ingredients

3 cloves garlic, crushed and peeled
2 medium carrots, cut into 2-inch pieces
10 ounces white mushrooms, large ones halved
1 large onion, cut into 2-inch pieces
1 pound 90%-lean ground beef
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground pepper
3 3/4 cups unsalted beef broth, divided
8 ounces whole-wheat elbow noodles
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or chives for garnish (optional)

Directions

Fit a food processor with the steel blade attachment. With the motor running, drop garlic through the feed tube and process until minced. Add carrots and mushrooms; process until finely chopped. Turn the processor off; add onion and pulse until roughly chopped.

Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
Cook beef and tomato paste in a large straight-sided skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat, breaking up the beef with a wooden spoon, until no longer pink, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in the chopped vegetables, thyme, salt and pepper; cook, stirring often, until the vegetables start to soften and the mushrooms release their juices, 5 to 7 minutes.

Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
Stir in 3½ cups broth, noodles and Worcestershire; bring to a boil. Cover, reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Whisk flour with the remaining ¼ cup broth in a small bowl until smooth; stir into the hamburger mixture. Stir in sour cream. Simmer, stirring often, until the sauce is thickened, about 2 minutes. Serve sprinkled with parsley (or chives), if desired.

Photography: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Addelyn Evans, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

Recipe Updates

Based on earlier review and comments of this recipe, we've retested and made the following adjustments (and updated the nutritional analysis accordingly):

Added tomato paste (to boost flavor).

Replaced water with beef broth (to boost flavor).

Changed to full-fat sour cream (to help carry the flavor more).

Nutrition Information

Serving Size: 1 1/3 cups

Calories 358, Fat 12g, Saturated Fat 5g, Cholesterol 60mg, Carbohydrates 39g, Total sugars 6g, Added sugars 0g, Protein 25g, Fiber 5g, Sodium 512mg, Potassium 727mg

Originally appeared: EatingWell Magazine, September/October 2007

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

204	Calories
3g	Fat
38g	Carbs
9g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 6
Serving Size 1 1/3 cups
Calories 204
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 38g	14%
Dietary Fiber 5g	16%
Total Sugars 5g
Protein 9g	18%
Total Fat 3g	4%
Saturated Fat 2g	9%
Cholesterol 10mg	3%
Vitamin A 3498IU	70%
Vitamin C 5mg	6%
Folate 33mcg	8%
Sodium 534mg	23%
Calcium 68mg	5%
Iron 3mg	14%
Magnesium 45mg	11%
Potassium 416mg	9%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.