Comfort food is one of those things that’s good for the soul. Maybe it takes you back to being a kid at your grandmother’s house or maybe it’s just how you warm up after a cold day. If you want to indulge in classic comfort food but need to keep things gluten free, this easy and delicious gluten-free hamburger helper recipe is exactly that! I remember LOVING this dish as a kid, and I love that I can make it gluten-free for my family now.
It’s a one-pot wonder packed with fresh ingredients and amazing flavors that will satisfy your taste buds without sacrificing your dietary needs. Plus, it’ll be on the table in just 30 minutes!
Keep reading to discover the ingredients, substitutions, and step by step instructions for this delicious dinner or use the ‘jump to recipe’ button to go straight to the printable recipe card.
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The gluten-free guide below is based on personal experience and research. Always be sure to discuss any medical changes with your doctor for your personal medical needs. Additionally, this post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. My full disclosure isn’t that interesting, but you can find it here.
🌿Nutritional Benefits
Hamburger Helper offers a convenient way to prepare a quick, satisfying and nutritious meal at home. Some of the nutritional highlights include:
- High in Protein: Whether you follow the traditional recipe and use ground beef, or make it with a vegetarian option, this dish is a good source of protein.
- Highly Customizable: One of the best things about hamburger helper is how easily the recipe can be modified to suit your unique dietary preferences. Whether you’re gluten free, vegan, dairy free, vegetarian or a combination, this recipe can work for you.
- Bell peppers are a great source of several vitamins and minerals including vitamin A, vitamin C, potassium, folate and more.
You can also pair this dish with a vegetable side like Roasted Veggies for an even more balanced meal.
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🥘Ingredients for Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper
There is a good chance you already have most of these ingredients at home. For anything you don’t have Amazon or your local grocery store will definitely have you covered. If you like ordering online, check out Thrive Market.
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- Ground beef
- Diced Onion
- Diced Bell Peppers
- Beef Broth (any kind of broth will work)
- Milk (whole milk is best)
- Gluten-free pasta (I recommend Jovial)
- Tomato sauce (there are so many great GF brands, find my picks here)
- Minced Garlic
- Paprika
- Oregano
- Parsley flakes
- Salt
- Pepper
- Cheddar cheese (I prefer mild)
See recipe card for quantities and keep reading for ingredient substitutions and variations.
🍳 Instructions for homemade gluten free hamburger helper
Making hamburger helper from scratch is so quick and easy you’ll never go back to a boxed mix. Follow these simple instructions and you’ll have a delicious and nutritious meal on the table in no time!
Step 1: In a large pan, add the ground beef and diced vegetables. Cook until browned and then add the minced garlic, salt, pepper, paprika, oregano, and parsley. Mix until well combined.
Step 2. In the same pan, add beef broth, tomato sauce, and milk. Stir to combine.
Step 3: Add the pasta and bring to a boil. Once it has reached a boil, turn the heat down to simmer and cover with a lid. Simmer for 12-15 minutes stirring occasionally to avoid sticking.
Depending on the type of pasta you use, you may need to add more water while cooking. If your dish starts to dry out, add ¼ - ½ cup of water as needed.
Step 4: Remove from heat and allow the pasta to cool slightly before adding the cheese. Cover the dish with the lid to melt the cheese.
Hint: Many gluten free pastas tend to be very starchy. Depending on the brand you use, you may need to add additional broth or water while cooking to thin it.
📖Substitutions and Variations
This gluten free hamburger helper recipe is super adaptable and can be easily modified to suit dietary needs or personal taste. Here are some of my favorite variations.
💪 Higher protein: To increase the amount of protein, use lentil or chickpea pasta.
🌾 Vegetarian: Use plant based meat and vegetable broth instead of beef broth
🥛 Dairy Free: Use unsweetened plant based milk and vegan cheese (note: sauce will be thinner and will have a different consistency, some vegan cheeses will clump)
🧂 Low Sodium: Reduce the amount of sodium by using low-sodium beef broth & tomato sauce, and omitting the salt
🌶️ Make it spicy: add ½ to 1 teaspoon of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce
🥕 Extra veggies: Add more diced vegetables such as carrots or zucchini. You could even add more sauce such as this Neapolitan Sauce to up the veggie count!
🍵 Substitute premade broth with 2 cups water + bouillon
🔪Equipment
All you need to make gluten free hamburger helper is a few of the most basic kitchen tools.
- Large Pan with Lid. The lid is an important part of this recipe, so be sure to choose a pot that has a matching lid.
- Knife & Cutting Board. Your favorite chopping knife will do the trick.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons. I love using an adjustable measuring spoon for faster measuring and less dishes to clean.
🍽️Storage
Hamburger helper stores really well! You can keep it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-5 days.
You can freeze it but it will definitely change the texture of the pasta so it is not recommended.
⭐Top tip
Be sure to take the pot off the heat and allow the dish to stop boiling before adding the cheese. Stirring in the cheese off of the heat prevents it from becoming grainy and keeps it smooth.
💛Did you love this gluten free cheeseburger macaroni recipe?
Save it to your Pinterest recipe board for easy access and share it on social media for your gluten free foodie friends.
More Gluten-Free Dinner Recipes
Looking for other easy gluten-free recipes for dinner? Try these:
Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper
Equipment
- 1 Large Pan with Lid
- 1 Knife & Cutting Board
- 1 set of measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- ½ diced onion
- ½ cup diced peppers
- 2 cups beef broth
- 2 cups whole milk
- 16 oz gluten-free pasta 3 cups (I recommend Jovial)
- 8 oz can of tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon parsley flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 cups mild cheddar cheese shredded
Instructions
- In a large skillet, brown the ground beef and chopped onion and peppers over medium heat until the meat is fully cooked and the onions are soft and translucent.
- Once the beef is browned, add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
- Season the mixture with salt, pepper, oregano, paprika, and parsley, stirring well to combine.
- Pour in the beef broth, tomato sauce, and milk, then add the gluten-free pasta. Stir everything together to ensure the pasta is evenly distributed.
- Increase the heat to bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cover the skillet with a lid and let it cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom. (Note: Different gluten-free pastas will absorb more or less liquid. If the dish begins to dry out, add ¼-1/2 cup of water as needed.)
- Once the pasta is tender and cooked through, remove the skillet from the heat. Let it cool slightly, then stir in the cheddar cheese until it’s fully melted and incorporated.
- Cover the skillet again and let it sit off the heat for a few minutes to allow the cheese to melt completely and the flavors to meld together.
Notes
- ingredient and equipment suggestions & substitutions,
- tips for modifying the recipe, and
- frequently asked questions
Kristy
When do you add the oregano and diced peppers?
Sharon McCaskill
GREAT question, can't believe I left that out. The peppers are added with the onions and the oregano with the other spices. I updated the recipe and post accordingly!