Craving a hearty, cheesy lasagna but short on time and dishes? This Easy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna is your weeknight dinner dream! Skip the box mix and whip up a delicious, family-friendly meal in a single skillet. This recipe is packed with flavor, uses simple ingredients, and comes together in under 30 minutes.
With ground beef, savory sauce, and melty cheese, all cooked in one pot, this recipe is perfect for busy families and anyone who loves a comforting, fuss-free meal. Perfect for when you’re short on tine, this recipe delivers classic lasagna comfort food in a fraction of the time. So ditch the box and impress your family with this homemade twist on a classic comfort food.
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Why You’ll Want to Make Easy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna
- Nostalgia with a twist: Satisfy your craving for the classic Hamburger Helper taste with a homemade version that boasts fresher ingredients and richer flavor.
- One-pot wonder: Skip the layers and multiple dishes! This recipe consolidates everything into a single skillet, making cleanup a breeze.
- Weeknight friendly: Short on time? This lasagna comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknight meals.
- Better-for-you twist: You control the ingredients! Skip the preservatives and sodium often found in boxed mixes and customize this dish with healthier options.
Ingredients – Here’s What You’ll Need
- Dry Mafalda Pasta: This is a type of ribbon-shaped pasta. If you can’t find Mafalda pasta, Farfalle, or bow-tie pasta, is a good substitute.
- Ground Sirloin: Ground Sirloin is the leanest type of ground beef, with a lean point of 90% lean and 10% fat (90/10). You can use any type of ground beef you like or even ground turkey.
- Italian Six-Cheese Blend: I normally advocate for using freshly shredded cheese in recipes due to the anti-caking agents added to bagged cheese. However, in this recipe, those additives help thicken the finished sauce.
- Tomato Sauce: This is plain basic tomato sauce that comes in a can, not jarred pasta sauce such as Prego or Ragù. Sauce that comes in a jar is more of a finished product that you simply heat and serve.
- Herbs & Spices: Italian Seasoning Blend, Red Pepper Flakes, Paprika, Freshly Minced Garlic, Kosher Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper added to plain Tomato Sauce create the delicious sauce that’s the heart and soul of this dish.
- Low-Sodium Beef Broth: Provides a rich, beefy base without being overly salty. This allows the flavors of the ground beef, tomato sauce, and cheese to shine through, creating a more balanced and nuanced taste experience.
- Heavy Whipping Cream: Adds a silky, luxurious texture to Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna. It helps meld the cheesy, tomatoey, and meaty elements together, creating a more cohesive and well-rounded taste profile.
- Minced Onion: I consider this ingredient optional. You can omit the onion, and your Hamburger Helper Lasagna will still be delicious. I’m not a huge fan of onions, which is why I used only half a small onion in this recipe.
Steps to Make Easy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna
- Add the ground beef and minced onion, if you’re using onion, to a large skillet or pan with a lid set over medium-high heat. I used my 3 ½ qt. Le Creuset Signature Braiser, it’s one of my favorite pans to cook with. Cook the beef and onions, stirring occasionally, for about 7-10 minutes, until the meat is thoroughly browned.
- Drain the browned beef in a colander set in your sink, then return the meat to the pan. Add the minced garlic, stir it into the beef and onion mixture, and cook until the garlic becomes fragrant, about a minute.
- Then, add the Italian Seasoning Blend, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes, Kosher Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper. Stir the herbs and spices into the meat mixture until well combined.
- Next, add the Low-Sodium Beef Broth, Tomato Sauce, and Heavy Whipping Cream. Stir until all of the liquids are well combined. Then, bring the mixture to a low boil.
- Once the liquid is slightly boiling, add the dry Mafalda pasta and stir well so that the pasta is distributed evenly throughout the pan and fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a simmer and place the lid on the pan. Reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 10-15 minutes, stirring every five minutes, until the pasta is cooked al dente.
- Once the pasta is done, add 4 ounces of Shredded Six-Cheese Italian Blend Cheese. Then, stir until the cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Remove the pan from the heat and top with the remaining 4 ounces of cheese. Then, place the lid back on the pan for a few minutes until the cheese is melted.
- Top with a sprinkle of freshly minced parsley. Serve with a crisp salad and some crusty French bread. Enjoy!
Conquer your weeknight blues with this Easy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna! Skip the prep work and layer fatigue of traditional lasagna. This recipe throws everything into one skillet for a fuss-free and flavorful meal.
It’s perfect for busy weeknights, last-minute dinners, or feeding a crowd. This recipe is a flavor explosion – satisfying your nostalgia for classic Hamburger Helper while boasting a homemade touch. So ditch the box, grab your favorite skillet, and get ready for a comforting and crave-worthy twist on a classic!
Frequently Asked Questions
No! The beauty of this recipe is its one-pot simplicity. The uncooked pasta cooks right along with everything else in the pot.
While the classic Hamburger Helper uses a ruffled edge pasta like Mafalda, you can really use any type of short pasta you like. Farfalle, or bow-tie pasta, would be a good substitute. However, penne, rotini, or even elbow macaroni would all work well too.
Ground turkey, cubed chicken breasts, or Italian sausage would be great alternatives. Just keep in mind that they may not have the same richness as ground beef, so you might want to add a tablespoon of olive oil or butter to the pan when browning the meat.
Absolutely! Simply omit the ground beef, swap the beef broth for vegetable broth, and add your favorite chopped vegetables like mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach. For extra heartiness, you can also add lentils or crumbled tofu.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- Wine Not? For an extra layer of complexity, deglaze the pan with a splash of red wine after browning the beef. Let it simmer for a minute or two to scrape up any browned bits, then add the remaining ingredients.
- Creamy Dream: For an extra decadent touch, stir in a tablespoon or two of softened cream cheese along with the shredded cheese at the end.
- Hidden Veggie Power: Chopped veggies like spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or bell peppers are all great additions for extra flavor and nutrients. Just sauté them with the ground beef before adding the remaining ingredients.
- Leftover Magic: Leftover lasagna makes for fantastic quick lunches. Portion it out into individual containers for easy reheating. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
Other Great Lasagna Recipes
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Easy One-Pot Homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna
Equipment
- Large Skillet with Lid
Ingredients
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef
- ½ small Onion (optional), minced
- 1 tbs Garlic, freshly minced
- 1 tbs Italian Seasoning Blend
- 1 tsp Paprika
- ¼ tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- ½ tsp Kosher Salt
- ½ tsp Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- 2 c Low-Sodium Beef Broth
- 2 c Tomato Sauce
- ½ c Heavy Whipping Cream
- 8 oz Dry Mafalda Pasta, or another shape like Farfalle
- 8 oz Shredded Italian Six-Cheese Blend
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and minced onion, if you're using onion, to a large skillet or pan, with a lid, set over medium-high heat. Cook the beef, stirring occasionally, for about 7-10 minutes, until the meat is thoroughly browned.
- Drain the browned beef in a colander set in your sink, then return it to the pan. Add the minced garlic and stir it into the beef. Cook for about a minute until the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Then, add the Italian Seasoning Blend, Paprika, Red Pepper Flakes, Kosher Salt, and Freshly Ground Black Pepper. Stir the herbs and spices into the meat until well combined.
- Next, add the Low-Sodium Beef Broth, Tomato Sauce, and Heavy Whipping Cream. Stir until all of the liquids are well combined, and bring the mixture to a low boil.
- Once the liquid is slightly boiling, add the dry Mafalda pasta and stir well so that it is distributed evenly throughout the pan and fully submerged in the liquid. Bring the mixture to a simmer, place the lid on the pan, and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook for 15 minutes, stirring every five minutes, until the pasta is cooked al dente.
- Once the pasta is done, add 4 oz. Shredded Six-Cheese Italian Blend Cheese, then stir until all of the cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the sauce.
- Remove from the heat and top with the remaining 4 oz of cheese. Then, place the lid back on the pan for a few minutes, until the cheese has melted.
- Top with a sprinkle of freshly minced parsley. Serve with a crisp salad and some crusty French bread. Enjoy!
- Yield 6 servings.
Zoe says
Looks delicious.