This Gluten Free Hamburger Helper features savory ground beef, gluten-free pasta, and a rich, creamy sauce that’s full of flavor! The ultimate comfort food, this ‘healthier’ hamburger helper is also dairy-free and AIP-friendly, and sure to be a new family fave!
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Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Recipe
This hamburger helper recipe was highly requested by readers! While I didn’t grow up eating the boxed version, many of you did, and wanted a dairy-free, gluten-free twist on this nostalgic favorite.
I created this homemade version as a hearty one-pot meal that’s just as cozy and comforting as you remember. Juicy ground beef is perfectly seasoned with savory herbs and cooked with gluten-free pasta in a super flavorful, rich sauce made from nourishing bone broth, tomato sauce, and creamy full-fat coconut milk. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s become one of my go-to recipes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner!
Perfect for busy weeknights, this dish is customizable and kid-friendly. Whether or not you follow a gluten and dairy-free diet, you’ll love how satisfying and delicious it is!
Looking for more dairy and gluten-free pasta dishes? Try my Spaghetti and Meatsauce, One Pan Chicken and Orzo, Pasta Carbonara, or this Chicken Piccata.
Ingredients
See the recipe card below for ingredient quantities.
- olive oil
- onion
- ground beef
- salt – you’ll only need a little bit and can adjust to taste depending on how much salt is in your bone broth and tomato sauce. I added a little bit of salt at the end since I use a sodium-free bone broth.
- dried oregano
- dried parsley
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- black pepper
- tomato sauce
- coconut milk – I recommend full-fat canned coconut milk. The high fat content creates the creamy texture.
- bone broth – You can use any type of gluten-free bone broth; I used beef bone broth.
- apple cider vinegar – this optional ingredient adds a ‘cheesy’ tang without dairy or nutritional yeast.
- gluten-free elbow pasta – elbow or macaroni pasta is traditionally used in hamburger helper recipes, so I used a gluten-free version here. I like the Jovial Foods brand for both grain-free and gluten-free pasta.
- fresh parsley – for garnishing, optional
Ingredient Substitutions
- You can use avocado oil instead of olive oil.
- Swap the protein and try this recipe with ground chicken or ground turkey.
- If you don’t have tomato sauce you can use about 1/3 cup tomato paste.
- For a nightshade-free option, use nomato sauce instead of tomato sauce.
- Instead of bone broth you can use beef, chicken, or vegetable broth or stock, or even water.
- You can use other short pastas like shells, rotini, etc.
- AIP Modifications: For both Core and Modified AIP use nomato sauce instead of tomato sauce and ensure your bone broth and coconut milk use compliant ingredients and are additive-free. For Core AIP, omit the black pepper and use a grain-free, Core AIP-compliant pasta like cassava pasta. Modified AIP allows brown rice pasta.
How To Make Gluten Free Hamburger Helper
Step 1. Cook the Ground Beef
In a skillet over medium high heat, cook the ground beef in oil with onions and dried seasonings until browned. Stir to break up the meat while cooking.
Step 2. Add Liquids
Add the tomato sauce, coconut milk, bone broth, and apple cider vinegar (optional), and bring to a boil.
Step 3. Add Gluten Free Pasta
Stir in gluten-free pasta and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid.
Step 4. Garnish and Serve
Garnish with fresh parsley. Serve warm and enjoy.
Tips & Tricks
Cooking the Pasta
Follow the package instructions for the gluten-free pasta’s cooking time as it may vary. Stir often to prevent the pasta from sticking. Ensure you don’t overcook it as gluten-free pasta can become mushy easily.
Since the pasta is cooking in the sauce, monitor the liquid levels. You want the sauce to reduce but still leave enough for the pasta to absorb. If the sauce thickens more than you’d like or the liquid reduces before the pasta is fully cooked, add more bone broth or water.
Alternatively, you could cook the pasta separately until al dente, then toss and combine with the sauce and ground beef once the liquids have reduced. However, note the pasta won’t absorb as much flavor as it’s not cooked in the mixture.
Sauce Consistency
To thicken the sauce, make a slurry by mixing 1 TBSP tapioca or arrowroot starch and 2 TBSP water. Stir the slurry into the sauce while cooking the pasta.
As noted above, add more liquid as needed to maintain a creamy texture without the sauce becoming too starchy or drying out.
Add Heat
Include some red pepper flakes or paprika in the seasoning mix or to individual portions if you’d like a bit of heat.
Add Vegetables
I often add some hidden veggies to amp up the nutrition by grating a carrot and zucchini into the sauce. Feel free to add some chopped fresh vegetables like spinach, mushrooms, broccoli, carrots, bell peppers etc. when cooking the meat to keep it an easy one-pan meal, or cook them separately and serve on the side.
Add Cheese
If you’d like, pour some of my Dairy Free Cheese Sauce on top and broil for 2-3 minutes in the oven for extra cheesiness! Or, grate some dairy-free cheese on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you’re not adding vegetables to the dish directly, pair this dish with some greens or vegetables for a well rounded meal. Try it with my Crispy Brussels Sprouts, Smashed Broccoli, or Warm Kale Salad with Grapes.
Storage & Reheating Instructions
- Fridge: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: I don’t recommend freezing this dish as the gluten-free pasta will get quite mushy once thawed.
- Reheating: Warm up leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop, stirring until warmed through.
As the creator of an online dairy-free and gluten-free baking school, I understand how challenging it is to find dairy and gluten-free dishes that taste as delicious as their conventional counterparts. I think you’ll love my Dairy and Gluten Free Hamburger Helper because it’s super flavorful and delivers all the nostalgic comfort of the original boxed version! If you do, I would appreciate it if you would give the recipe a rating and review. Be sure to snap a picture of the finished product and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @healmedelicious and using the hashtag #healmedelicious.
Print
Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Recipe (Dairy Free)
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 3–4 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This Gluten Free Hamburger Helper features savory ground beef, gluten-free pasta, and a rich, creamy sauce that’s full of flavor! The ultimate comfort food, this ‘healthier’ hamburger helper is also dairy-free and AIP-friendly, and sure to be a new family fave!
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 tsp sea salt (plus more to taste)
- 2 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup full fat coconut mik
- 2 cups bone broth
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar (optional)
- 8 oz grain free or gluten free elbow pasta
- fresh parsley, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pot over medium/high heat, heat olive oil.
- Add onion, ground beef, oregano, parsley, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Cook, stirring to break up the meat, until mostly browned, approximately 7-8 minutes.
- Drain any excess fat then add the tomato sauce, coconut milk, bone broth, and apple cider vinegar (if using) and bring to a boil.
- Add in pasta and reduce heat slightly. Allow pot to simmer, stirring pasta often until cooked through and sauce reduces*, approximately 12 minutes.**
- Add salt to taste.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
*Add more bone broth or a slurry with tapioca or arrowroot starch if necessary to achieve desired consistency.
**Cooking times may vary depending on the type of gluten-free pasta you use, so follow package instructions and taste test during cooking.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Mains
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Is the pasta cooked before adding it?
Hi Barbara, no it’s not. The step by step instructions are included in the recipe card at the bottom of the blog post. Hope you enjoy!