Why This Cottage Cheese Hamburger Helper Recipe is Amazing

• High in Protein: Each serving boasts a substantial 29g of protein, making it a satisfying and nutritious meal.
• Incredibly Creamy Sauce: The blended cottage cheese adds a luxurious creaminess that coats every noodle. Plus, it’s a secret weapon for boosting the protein content!
• Guilt-Free Comfort Food: Indulge in the flavors you love without the guilt. This recipe is loaded with protein, vegetables, and amazing flavor. It’s the perfect way to warm up on a cold evening.

Key Ingredients for Protein Hamburger Helper

• Ground Beef: I prefer using 80/20 ground beef for its flavor and fat content, but feel free to use any ground beef you prefer. Leaner options will work just as well.
• Veggies & Spices: This recipe calls for carrots, white onion, peas, garlic cloves, and dried thyme. I like to mince the carrots and onion finely, ensuring they cook evenly and blend seamlessly into the sauce.
• Elbow Macaroni: Classic elbow macaroni is a must for authentic hamburger helper. However, you can substitute with any short pasta shape you enjoy, such as shells, penne, or rotini.
• Tomato Paste & Tomato Sauce: This dynamic duo provides the rich tomato flavor and desired thickness.
• Beef Broth: Beef broth adds a depth of savory flavor to the dish. While beef broth is recommended, you can also use chicken or vegetable broth as a substitute. Be sure to adjust the seasoning to taste if using other broths.
• Cottage Cheese & Shredded Cheddar Cheese: These two cheeses are the stars of the creamy sauce! The cottage cheese adds protein and a unique tanginess, while the cheddar cheese provides that classic cheesy flavor we all love.

Easy Ingredient Substitutions for Hamburger Helper

• Meat: While the traditional recipe calls for ground beef, you can easily substitute with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option. All variations taste fantastic!
• Vegetables: Feel free to customize the vegetable mix based on your preferences and what you have on hand. Minced bell peppers, celery, mushrooms, or zucchini are all excellent additions.
• Broth: As mentioned before, vegetable or chicken broth can be used in place of beef broth. Keep in mind that you may need to adjust the seasoning to compensate for the difference in flavor.

Serving Suggestions for Your Cottage Cheese Hamburger Helper

This Cottage Cheese Hamburger Helper is delicious on its own, topped with extra shredded cheese and fresh parsley. For an extra kick, try adding a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream and a drizzle of hot sauce. Get creative and make it your own!

Storage and Reheating Instructions

Store any leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Properly stored, this dish makes for a convenient and delicious meal throughout the week.

Reheating Instructions: To reheat, add the cottage cheese hamburger helper to a skillet along with a few tablespoons of beef broth. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. The sauce will re-thicken as it heats.

More High-Protein Pasta Recipes to Try

• Cottage Cheese Alfredo
• Cottage Cheese Pasta Salad
• Creamy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta Salad
• Whipped Cottage Cheese Mac and Cheese
• Ground Turkey Pasta

Cottage Cheese Hamburger Helper Recipe

My cottage cheese hamburger helper recipe is better than the boxed favorite you can get at the grocery store, and packed with protein (29g of protein to be exact!), veggies, and comfort food vibes.

Recipe by Emily Richter

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon avocado oil
• 1 small white onion, minced
• 1.5 cups carrots, minced
• 1 lb. ground beef
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 4 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 8 oz. elbow macaroni
• 15 oz. tomato sauce
• 3 cups beef broth
• 1 cup canned or frozen peas
• 1 cup cottage cheese
• 4 oz. shredded cheddar cheese

Instructions

1. Heat avocado oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add onion and carrot, cook until onions are translucent, about 4 minutes.
2. Add garlic, tomato paste, and thyme, cook for an additional minute. Add beef and partially cook.
3. Add noodles, tomato sauce, and broth to the pan. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir, cover, and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until noodles are al dente.
4. Remove from heat, stir in peas, cottage cheese, and cheddar. Place the lid back on and let sit for 3-5 minutes.
5. Remove lid and stir again. Serve with extra cheese sprinkled on top.

Tips and Notes

• Elbow macaroni noodles were used in this recipe. You could use any short noodle instead.
• If the noodles are still too hard after 15 minutes, add ½ cup of broth and simmer for 5 more minutes.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 532 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 44g
• Protein: 29g
• Fat: 27g
• Fiber: 5g
• Sugar: 9g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation only.

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