Now that kids are heading back to school (or maybe yours are already in school), dinner times can get a little bit hectic. Between pick up, after school activities, and homework, the last thing on your mind needs to be “what am I going to cook for dinner”? I am all about easy dinners, like my white chicken chili or an easy taco bake. This homemade hamburger helper is no different. Don’t worry I’ve got your back!
Today I want to share an easy peasy meal solution. Plus I filled this with veggies to make it even more hearty. If your kids are anything like mine, then sometimes getting them to eat veggies can be a struggle. This recipe disguises them a bit, which will hopefully help you sneak some into their diet. Plus it’s quick to make, and you probably have all the ingredients on hand!
Like I said, this meal is super easy to make.  Plus it’s a one pot meal, which mean less clean up for you!
For the chopped veggies I went with carrots and celery, but you could use peas, corn, zucchini… really whatever you have on hand. I also love cheese, so usually go a little heavy on that. If you aren’t quite a big cheese lover as me, you could put a little less.
- 1 lb ground beef (or turkey)
- 1 small onion
- 3/4 cup chopped veggies
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 8 oz tomato sauce
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 1/4 cups milk
- 2 cups macaroni
- 2-3 cup cheese
- Brown the ground beef.
- After it has been browned, add the chopped veggies. I actually threw my vegetables into my food processor to make them extra small (and therefore extra hard to pick out).
- Add all of the spices and stir them in.
- Next add the tomato sauce, beef broth, milk, and macaroni. Stir and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer for 10-15 minutes with a cover slightly vented, or until macaroni is tender.
- Add the cheese, stir in, and allow to melt before serving.
See wasn’t that so simple! And it was so tasty, we barely had any leftovers!
