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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Turkey Hamburger Helper comes together in 30 minutes.
- Start to finish, this recipe is made in one pot making it minimal effort.
- A great weeknight dinner idea that the whole family will love.
- Tastes better as time goes on, so it makes a great meal prep.
- Think of this hamburger helper as the tastier, healthier and creamier version of what you’d eat as a kid.
- This (not boxed) hamburger helper is naturally high in protein.
- If you loved this one, check out my Baked Pumpkin Pasta for another delicious idea.
Ingredients And Substitutions
These are the main ingredients and substitutions for Turkey Hamburger Helper. Scroll down to the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and instructions.
This Turkey Hamburger helper uses ground turkey, I like to use 93% lean, but you can use any that you’d prefer. And of course, you can swap the turkey for ground beef as well.
White onion will add a ton of flavor and depth to this dish.
You can use your favorite beef broth, bone broth or a broth concentrate like I did. I love concentrates because it provides a ton more flavor than your standard broth does.
Mushrooms and zucchini are a must for this recipe, the mushroom is what makes it authentic and the zucchini add a nice crunch favor while also adding in more veggies.
Worcestershire sauce has a punchy umami flavor and a deep savory taste.
Red wine vinegar adds a nice acidic.
Fresh garlic is a must, but if you do not have it on hand you can simply use a garlic powder instead.
Dried thyme is an aromatic herb that delivers a balanced blend of citrus and mint that adds a ton of flavor to this dish.
To keep this dish as authentic as possible, we will use wide egg noodles. However, you can easily swap this for your favorite pasta- i’d recommend shells or macaroni for best results. You may also use a chickpea or quinoa pasta to make this gluten-free.
Cottage cheese is my secret ingredient to not only making this dish higher in protein, but creating a creamy and delicious tasting sauce. You may however use greek yogurt or sour cream instead.
A touch of all purpose flour will allow the sauce to thicken up.
Lastly dijon mustard to add that unique tang.
How To Make
ONE: In a large pot, add in the ground turkey and sliced white onion and break apart into small pieces. I like to use my meat masher for this.
TWO: Next add in, water, broth concentrate, mushrooms, Worcestershire sauce, red wine vinegar, garlic, thyme, salt and pepper. Bring mixture to a boil and simmer covered for 5 minutes.
THREE: In the meantime, add cottage cheese, flour, dijon mustard and liquid from the pot to a blender and blend till creamy.
FOUR: When ready, add noodles, zucchini, and sauce to the pot. Mix well and cover once again for another 5-7 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stirring occasionally. Serve with chopped parsley.
Tips And Tricks
Using a meat masher quickly breaks up the ground turkey and combines with the white onion nicely.
Use a large 6qt pot or deep saucepan.
Store leftovers in containers and enjoy all week long.
How To Serve And Store
Serve this Turkey Hamburger Helper warm and topped with freshly chopped parsley. I love to keep fresh herbs in my fridge using an herb keeper.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy up to 4-5 days for best results. Reheat in the microwave in 60 second increments until heated fully. You can also reheat on the stovetop, stirring occasionally.
Taste And Texture
This healthier hamburger helper is savory and has a nice tang on the backend. It’s creamy and loaded with slight crunch from the zucchini and mushrooms. You can taste the dijon mustard which compliments this dish so nicely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this dairy free?
Yes, you can! I’d recommend swapping the cottage cheese for a dairy free sour cream instead.
What can I do to make this gluten free?
Use a gluten free pasta like chickpea or quinoa pasta.
Would I be able to add in other veggies?
Totally! Peas would taste great in this as well.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Green Goddess Pasta Sauce
- Pumpkin Pasta
- Roasted Red Bell Pepper Pasta
- Caprese Pasta Salad
- Italian Pasta Salad
If you make this Turkey Hamburger Helper, I would really appreciate a comment and rating down below, under the recipe card. Don’t forget to take a picture and tag me over on Instagram, Tiktok or Pinterest!
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