A healthier, homemade version of Hamburger Helper made completely in the slow cooker -- yes, even the pasta! (And no, it's not mushy and overcooked!) Packed with sneaky veggies.
1½cupslow sodium beef broth(plus additional if needed)
1½cupsmilk(any kind)
1½cupstomato pasta sauce
1bell pepper(diced) I used red
2clovesgarlic(minced)
1½teaspoonsalt
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
¼teaspoonred pepper flakesor more, if you like it spicy!
3cupsdry uncooked macaroni(350-380 grams)
½cupshredded cheese
Instructions
In a medium skillet, cook ground beef and onion until beef is browned and onion is translucent. Add to a 4-6 quart slow cooker.
Add in broth, milk, pasta sauce, bell pepper, garlic, salt, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes and stir. Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 3-4 hours. (*The cook time here is really flexible -- you want to cook the red pepper and get it hot enough to cook the pasta, so you can cook anywhere from 3 to 8 hours on low).
About 15 minutes before serving, turn the slow cooker to high and stir in macaroni. Check at 15 minutes, and add 5-10 extra minutes to the cook time as needed until the pasta is al dente. If the pasta is not cooked and most of the liquid is absorbed, add ½-1 cup additional broth or milk as needed.
Stir in cheese (covering for 2-3 minutes if necessary to melt the cheese), taste and serve.
Video
Notes
*Nutrition information is estimated and will vary depending on exact serving size, types and brands of products used.
Ingredients and Substitutions:
Ground beef: use lean ground beef or drain the fat before adding to the slow cooker. You can also swap this with any ground meat, even ground Italian sausage.
Onion and pepper: these are the vegetables we use and they add lots of flavor. You can omit one or both, or stir in others like shredded carrot, zucchini, or finely chopped spinach.
Seasonings: feel free to adjust the seasonings to your tastes. If you like a bit of kick, add 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes or a bit of hot sauce.
Milk: any milk will do here! You can substitute with half and half or cream, but I find that the cooking liquid gets to be quite a big thicker and doesn't cook the pasta as well, so I prefer to use milk for just a bit of creaminess.
Tomato pasta sauce: and seasoned tomato sauce will work, i.e., a marinara or similar. Something with flavor!
Macaroni: this recipe will work with other types of pasta but be sure that the weight and cook time is the same.