Description
This Crockpot Hamburger Helper is a hearty and comforting one-pot meal featuring ground beef, tender pasta, and a cheesy sauce enriched with grated zucchini for added nutrition. Easy to prepare and perfect for busy weeknights, it combines simple pantry ingredients in a slow cooker for a delicious and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds ground beef
- 1 yellow onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon salted butter
- 1 tablespoon ketchup
- Sea salt and black pepper, to taste
- 2 cups broth (beef or chicken)
- 1 pound short cut pasta (such as elbow macaroni)
- 1 zucchini, grated (about 1 cup grated)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
- Fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Crockpot Base: Set your crockpot to high heat. Place the raw ground beef, chopped onion, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, salted butter, and ketchup into the crockpot. Season with sea salt and black pepper to taste. Stir everything together well, breaking up the meat into small pieces as you mix. Pour the broth evenly over the ingredients. Cover the crockpot and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours or on high for 1 to 2 hours until the beef is fully cooked and flavors have melded.
- Add Pasta and Vegetables: During the last 15 minutes of cooking, increase the crockpot heat to high. Stir in the short cut pasta, grated zucchini, and whole milk. Return the lid and cook on high until the pasta is tender, typically about 15 to 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Finish with Cheese: Once the pasta is soft, add the shredded cheddar cheese to the crockpot. Stir until the cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the mixture, creating a creamy, cheesy sauce.
- Serve: Divide the casserole into bowls and garnish each serving with fresh parsley. Serve hot and enjoy your comforting homemade hamburger helper!
Notes
- For a lower-fat version, substitute ground turkey or lean ground beef and use reduced-fat cheese and milk.
- If you don’t have short cut pasta, small pasta shapes like elbow macaroni, shells, or rotini work well.
- To make it gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and ensure your broth is gluten-free.
- The grated zucchini adds moisture and nutrition — feel free to add other vegetables like grated carrot or finely chopped bell peppers.
- You can prep everything the night before and refrigerate in the crockpot insert for quicker meal assembly the next day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: Crockpot Hamburger Helper, slow cooker ground beef pasta, cheesy beef pasta, easy crockpot dinner, comforting pasta casserole
