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High Protein Hamburger Helper Recipe

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4.3 from 27 reviews

A nutritious and high-protein take on a classic comfort food, this High Protein Hamburger Helper combines lean ground beef, organic pasta, fresh shredded vegetables, and a creamy cottage cheese sauce for a flavorful and hearty meal perfect for weeknights.

  • Total Time: 40 minutes
  • Yield: 6 servings

Ingredients

Meat and Dairy

  • 1 lb 93/7 ground beef
  • 1 cup fat free cottage cheese (8 fl oz)
  • 1 cup Fairlife Skim Ultra Filtered Milk (8 fl oz)
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (90 grams)

Vegetables

  • 1 medium carrot, cleaned and shredded (75 grams)
  • 1 medium zucchini, trimmed and shredded (180 grams)
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped (110 grams)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (12 grams)

Pantry Items

  • 10 oz Wegmans Italian Classics Organic Pipette Rigate Pasta (284 grams)
  • 8 oz Hunt’s Tomato Sauce, Basil, Garlic & Oregano (217 grams)
  • 2 1/4 cups low sodium beef broth (18 fl oz)
  • 2 tsp olive oil, divided
  • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3/4 tsp oregano
  • 3/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Sauté Vegetables: Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmering, add the shredded zucchini and carrot, chopped onion, and minced garlic. Sauté until the vegetables are tender, then transfer them to a bowl.
  2. Prepare Sauce: Add the tomato sauce and fat free cottage cheese to the bowl with cooked vegetables. Use an immersion blender to blend the mixture until smooth. Alternatively, this can be done in a food processor or regular blender. Set this sauce aside.
  3. Cook Ground Beef: Add the remaining 1 tsp olive oil to the same skillet or pot and heat over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the ground beef, season with salt and pepper, and cook while breaking it apart until fully browned. Stir in smoked paprika, oregano, ground mustard, and red pepper flakes to season the beef.
  4. Combine Ingredients: Pour the blended vegetable and cottage cheese sauce into the cooked beef along with the skim milk and low sodium beef broth. Stir to combine thoroughly.
  5. Add Pasta and Simmer: Add the pipette rigate pasta to the skillet, stirring well to ensure the noodles are covered with liquid. Cover the skillet and bring the mixture to a gentle boil. Let it cook for 8-11 minutes or until the pasta reaches a very al dente texture. Remove from heat, noting that the pasta will continue cooking in the sauce.
  6. Finish and Serve: Stir in the shredded sharp cheddar cheese until it melts into the sauce. Serve the hearty hamburger helper warm, enjoying the rich flavors and balanced protein content.

Notes

  • Using lean ground beef (93/7) keeps the dish high in protein but lower in fat.
  • Blending the vegetables with cottage cheese creates a creamy, nutritious sauce adding moisture and flavor without heavy cream.
  • You can adjust the spice levels by reducing or omitting red pepper flakes if you prefer less heat.
  • For a vegetarian version, substitute ground beef with plant-based crumbles and use vegetable broth instead of beef broth.
  • Letting the pasta cook covered ensures even cooking and helps it absorb the flavorful sauce.
  • Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop or microwave.
  • Author: ELLA
  • Prep Time: 15 minutes
  • Cook Time: 25 minutes
  • Category: Main Course
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Low Fat

Find it online: https://ellarecipe.com/high-protein-hamburger-helper-recipe/