This homemade hamburger helper with green chilies is spicy and delicious! Just as easy as the boxed stuff, but it’s healthier and I swear it tastes better, too. This Cheesy Mac is a great family friendly meal that you can make as spicy as you like.
Can I make this cheesy Hamburger Helper in the Instant Pot?
Absolutely! I love that the Instant Pot makes this a true one pot meal–just sauté and toss everything in. I can start the Instant Pot and walk away–it doesn’t need to be tended to while I’m cooking like the stove does. Here are the Instant Pot directions for this homemade hamburger helper recipe:
- Brown the ground beef in the Instant Pot using the sauté function.
- Add the onions, green chilis, paprika, and garlic powder. Give it a quick stir.
- Next, pour in the pasta, broth, and tomato sauce. Make sure all the pasta is below the liquid so it all gets cooked evenly.
- Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure using the manual setting (or pressure cook setting) for 3 minutes. Release the pressure using the quick release method. This means that you’ll open that sealing valve as soon as your recipe is done cooking and the steam will come out.
- Remove the lid and turn the Instant Pot off. Mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese until the cheese is melted.
- Garnish and serve.
The nutrition facts are calculated without the dairy products because it’s how we prefer to make it. I wanted to give you the option of the creamy version!
Do you have more healthy recipes like this for me to try?
Is this spicy Hamburger Helper 21 Day Fix friendly?
It sure is! Here are the Portion Fix / 21 Day Fix counts. The counts have been calculated for you with the optional Greek yogurt and cheese.
Entire Recipe (I’m giving you this information in case you want to change some ingredients–it makes it easier for you to re-calculate the containers):
- 5 red containers
- 3 green containers
- 6 yellow containers
- 4 blue containers
Serves 6, Per 1 cup serving: 3/4 red container, 1/2 green container, 1 yellow container, 2/3 blue container
To reduce the spice in this hamburger helper recipe, use green peppers instead of green chilies, or find mild green chilies to use. Green chilies can get super spicy–make sure to test this delicious recipe before giving it to the kids!
Can I make this Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe dairy free?
I’ll be honest and tell you that I don’t care for dairy, so I often make this without adding the greek yogurt! Skipping the greek yogurt makes this delicious dish dairy free. Containers were calculated with Greek yogurt and cheese included. Nutrition at the bottom is calculated without Greek yogurt and cheese.
Is this a 21 Day Fix Crock Pot meal?
I seriously love how the slow cooker can work all day just to make you dinner. It’s perfect for those with little kids running around too! Here are the crock pot directions for this healthy hamburger helper recipe.
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on the stove.
- Transfer the cooked ground beef to your slow cooker.
- Add all the remain ingredients to the slow cooker except the Greek Yogurt and cheese.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours, low heat for 4-5 hours, or until the pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese. You can leave these out if you want, it’s how we usually make it and the nutritional information is calculated without the dairy!
- Garnish and serve.
Can I make healthy Hamburger Helper on the stovetop?
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on the stove.
- Stir in the onions, green chilies, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Next pour in the macaroni, beef broth, and tomato sauce into the skillet. Make sure all the pasta is below the liquid.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium low.
- Allow the pasta to cook for 10-15 minutes until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally as needed.
- Remove the lid and mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese. Mix until the cheese is all melted. The yogurt and cheese is optional, this recipe is delicious either way! We calculated the nutritional information without it, it’s how we prefer to make it!
- Garnish and serve.
Do you have Weight Watchers Points for this healthy Hamburger Helper?
Yes! Each 1 cup serving using 99% fat free ground turkey and fat free plain greek yogurt low fat cheese is 3 Blue Plan Points per serving. If you remove the dairy from this recipe (which is actually how I prefer it!), it counts as 2 Blue Plan Points per serving.
Printable Healthy Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe:
Healthy Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef lean
- 1 cup green chilis fresh/diced
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1 cup beef broth low sodium
- 2 cups whole wheat pasta I used elbows
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 cup tomato sauce
Optional: Plain Greek yogurt (3/4 cup)
Optional: Cheddar cheese (1 1/3 cup)
Instructions
Instant Pot:
- Brown the ground beef in the Instant Pot using the sauté function.
- Add the onions, green chilis, paprika, and garlic powder. Give it a quick stir.
- Next pour in the macaroni, beef broth, and tomato sauce. Make sure all the pasta is below the liquid.
- Close the lid and turn the pressure valve to sealing. Cook on high pressure using the manual setting for 3 minutes. Release the pressure using the quick release method.
- Remove the lid and turn the Instant Pot off. Mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese until the cheese is melted. Garnish and serve.
Stove Top:
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on the stove.
- Stir in the onions, green chilies, paprika, and garlic powder.
- Next pour in the macaroni, beef broth, and tomato sauce into the skillet. Make sure all the pasta is below the liquid.
- Bring the liquid to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to medium low.
- Allow the pasta to cook for 10-15 minutes until the pasta is tender. Stir occasionally as needed.
- Remove the lid and mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese. Mix until the cheese is all melted. Garnish and serve.
Slow Cooker:
- Brown the ground beef in a large skillet on the stove.
- Transfer the cooked ground beef to your slow cooker.
- Add all the remain ingredients to the slow cooker except the Greek Yogurt and cheese.
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high heat for 2-3 hours, low heat for 4-5 hours, or until the pasta is tender.
- Remove the lid and mix in the Greek yogurt and cheese. Garnish and serve.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Julia says
Your tips were so helpful! Thanks for the delicious recipe, my family loved it!!
Jenn says
LOVE IT! Total cozy comfort food! I could curl up with a bowl of this at least once a week – thanks!
Dawn says
I love how simple this is! Hamburger Helper is rare in our house, but I must admit that sometimes it is made. I usually have some in the cabinets for just in case the day gets too insane and I am not prepared. This does sound like it is just as easy as going through the boxed and without all the added preservatives!
I do not have an Instant Pot, tho it will probably very soon be my newest addition (I probably don’t NEED it but well you know lol), but I have the Ninja Auto IQ which is a multi cooker. I can probably adapt the recipe to that.
Thank you :)
Danette Warner says
In the last 2 comments it said you changed the recipe to 1 c pasta and 1 c broth. The recipie reflects neither change. So is the recipe correct 1cup each or 2cups. and does it change the ww points if it does change? Thanks.
Becca says
I’ve updated the recipe and current counts are accurate :)
Jerry ann McCarron says
The recipe calls for lean ground beef but in the points you are using ground turkey.
What are points using the ground beef?
Becca says
Yes, I calculated this with ground turkey for WW counts. Ground beef (90% lean) is 24 points per pound.
Leslie says
Loved it! Even picky husband liked it!
Monica says
So good. A family favorite that I feel good about serving!
Nat says
How would I adjust for an 8 quart instant pot? Thank you.
Becca says
Just add a bit more water–maybe 1/2 cup–to the bottom of the pot :)