This homemade Hamburger Helper Lasagna is a quick, budget-friendly, one-pot dinner that’s ready with just 15 minutes of prep! Packed with real, wholesome ingredients, it’s a healthier twist on the classic comfort food—perfect for busy weeknights.
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Did you grow up eating Hamburger Helper? I saw it at friends’ houses but my mom wasn’t a fan of boxed or canned foods. Instead I learned how to make similar meals from scratch—healthier, fresher and just as easy. That’s what this recipe is: a better-for-you, homemade version of Hamburger Helper Lasagna that’s full of flavor and weeknight friendly.
This recipe checks all the boxes for a quick, wholesome meal: creamy pasta, hearty beef and melty cheese all cooked in one pot with 15 minutes of prep. Plus it’s budget friendly using simple pantry ingredients you probably already have. But the best part? Even the pickiest eaters will clean their plates—this is that good!
If you need a dinner that’s comforting, delicious and stress free, this Hamburger Helper Lasagna is a must try. Ditch the box and give your family a meal they’ll love and you’ll feel good about serving!
Lasagna Hamburger Helper Recipe Ingredients
- Oil: Use a quality olive oil to saute the onions and cook the ground beef.
- Onion: Yellow onion enhances the natural flavor of the beef. Grate if you have picky eaters who spy out even the smallest piece of onion!
- Ground beef: Grab a pound of ground beef. I used my go-to favorite – 90/10, lean grass-fed beef.
- Tomato paste: Adds fresh, robust tomato flavor with tomato paste.
- Garlic: Use fresh garlic, not garlic powder, for the best flavor.
- Seasonings: Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and, of course, kosher salt and black pepper.
- Crushed tomatoes: I love the Pomi brand when a recipe calls for crushed tomatoes.
- Beef Broth: Thin the sauce using beef broth. A quality beef broth, not condensed beef broth, goes a long way in this recipe.
- Pasta: For the perfect texture, use uncooked mini lasagna-shaped pasta and avoid “no-boil” or “oven-ready” noodles. Mafalda pasta is perfect!
- Cheese:Load the dish with classic Italian cheeses like shredded mozzarella, parmesan, and whole milk ricotta. For the best flavor and melt, always shred or grate your cheese from a block.
Get the full recipe in the recipe card below.
How to Make Homemade Lasagna Hamburger Helper
Step 1 | Saute onions and brown beef
Heat a couple of tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet (a deep skillet works best) over medium-high heat. Cook the diced onions for about three to five minutes, stirring occasionally until soft and translucent.
Next, cook beef for three to five minutes breaking it up until it is crumbled and browned. Sprinkle on the salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning, and pour the tomato paste over the ingredients, cooking for just a few minutes while mixing well.
Step 2 | Add tomatoes and cook noodles
Then, toss in the crushed tomatoes, beef broth, and noodles. Once the ingredients are brought to a boil, reduce the temperature to low heat and cover the pan. Gently simmer the dish for 18 to 20 minutes or until the pasta is tender– ideally al dente. Stir the recipe every few minutes to avoid sticking to the pan.
Step 3 | Add cheeses and finish
Now, sprinkle in half of the shredded parmesan and mozzarella cheese to cook uncovered for a couple of minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat and spoon the ricotta cheese into the tomato sauce mix, pressing it gently into the mixture.
Finally, add the rest of the mozzarella and parmesan cheese and cover the dish to melt the cheese for about five minutes. Uncover the pan, garnish, serve, and enjoy your delicious dinner!
The fewer dishes, the better! Some of my favorite recipes are those that create a meal to serve the whole family but use only one pan.
Try more of my easy weeknight dinner recipes, like this popular Philly Cheesesteak Sliders, this French Onion Chicken Skillet Recipe, or One Pan Tuscan Chicken and this yummy Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole.
Variations & Substitutions
- Replace the fresh garlic with one heaping teaspoon of garlic powder.
- Swap the ground beef for Italian sausage, ground pork, ground turkey, ground chicken, or a blend of your favorites – Don’t forget to drain the excess fat from the fattier meats!
- Go vegetarian, adding more vegetables, like mushroom, zucchini, spinach, bell peppers, or a combination.
- If you can’t find mini lasagna noodles, use regular ones broken into 1 ½ or 2-inch pieces, bow-tie pasta, or egg noodles.
- Replace the crushed tomatoes with a store-bought marinara sauce. You may need to add additional liquid to the recipe.
- Make your own Italian seasoning blend combine – basil, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, thyme, and red pepper flakes.
- A traditional lasagna recipe uses ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, but you can use your preferred cheeses, like cheddar cheese or colby jack. Cottage cheese can be used as a substitute for ricotta.
- Beef broth may be substituted with chicken stock or chicken broth if desired.
Recommended Tools
- I love my Staub extra deep skillet with lid for these meals!
Hamburger Helper Lasagna Recipe Tips
- Grate Fresh Cheese: Freshly grated cheese melts better and adds richer flavor than pre-shredded.
- Brown Beef Well: Fully brown the ground beef for deeper, savory flavor and if very greasy, drain the extra fat before proceeding with the recipe.
- Don’t Overcook Pasta: Cook pasta al dente to avoid a mushy dish, as it will cook more in the sauce.
- Season as You Go: Taste and adjust seasoning throughout cooking for balanced flavor.
- Let It Rest: Let the dish sit a few minutes before serving to enhance flavors.
- As the recipe cooks: remember to stir and occasionally scrap the bottom of the pan to ensure the ingredients are not sticking to the hot skillet.
- Cheese: Pre-shredded cheeses will work for this recipe, but they usually produce a less creamy texture and do not melt as quickly as freshly shredded cheese.
- Onion: If you have picky eaters who refuse to eat onion, I suggest grating it instead of omitting it entirely. They won’t know the difference, and you can enjoy the lovely flavor onion adds to the ground beef.
Our Favorite Sides
While this is easily a meal, serve it with a crisp Italian Chopped Salad, or these easy Romaine Wedge Salad or my stovetop french style green beans.
For Dessert
End this delicious meal on a sweeter note with light and crisp Italian Pizzelle Cookies, silky and sweet Cream Puff Cake recipe, or this Tiramisu with custard and mascarpone – Yum!
How to Store Lasagna Hamburger Helper
Refrigerate – Save leftover lasagna by storing it in an airtight container for up to four days. Remember first to allow it to cool to room temperature before storing.
How to Freeze – For longer storage, freeze this easy ground beef pasta recipe in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag for up to two months.
Reheating – Reheat the meal from frozen by allowing it to thaw in the fridge overnight. Then, microwave it or warm it in a skillet, slowly adding small amounts of water.
Frequently Asked Questions
Nope – Add the uncooked pasta from the package and cook the whole thing in one pot.
Easily make this tasty homemade hamburger helper recipe in advance, cool completely, then freeze or refrigerate in an airtight container to reheat later!
Your favorite childhood recipe, the boxed Hamburger Helper, is high in sodium and contains other additives to preserve the ingredients. This homemade recipe is a much healthier alternative and tastes better too!
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Equipment
- STAUB Everything Pan with Glass Lid
- Olive Wooden Spoon set
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 1 pound lean ground beef I used grass-fed 90/10
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cloves garlic minced, may replace with 1 teaspoon garlic powder if needed
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes or more if you like more heat
- 28 ounce crushed tomatoes I like organic
- 2 ½ cups beef broth not condensed beef broth (too salty)
- 12 ounces uncooked mini lasagna-shaped pasta avoid “no-boil” or “oven-ready”
- 1 cup Mozzarella cheese shredded
- ½ cup parmesan cheese grated
- ½ cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- Optional garnishes: chopped fresh basil or chopped fresh Italian parsley
Instructions
- Heat two tablespoons of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the onions and cook, stirring occasionally, until soft and translucent, about 3-5 minutes.1 small yellow onion
- Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 3-5 minutes.1 pound lean ground beef
- Add salt, pepper, tomato paste, garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for about one minute.1 teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper, 1 tablespoon tomato paste, 2 cloves garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Stir in crushed tomato, beef broth, and mini lasagna noodles. Bring to a boil.28 ounce crushed tomatoes, 2 ½ cups beef broth, 12 ounces uncooked mini lasagna-shaped pasta
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for about 18-20 minutes until noodles are tender. Stir mixture every 5 minutes to prevent sticking.
- Stir in half the mozzarella (½ cup) and parmesan cheese (¼ cup). Cook uncovered for 1-2 minutes.
- Take the skillet off the heat. Spoon dollops of ricotta cheese (½ cup) onto the sauce. Gently press each dollop into the sauce mixture. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella (½ cup) and parmesan cheese (¼ cup), cover, and allow to sit for an additional 5 minutes until the cheese has melted.
- Uncover and garnish with chopped basil or parsley if using.Optional garnishes: chopped fresh basil
Notes
Storage Tips
Hamburger Helper Lasagna can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days or frozen for up to 2 months. Ensure the lasagna cools completely before freezing. To reheat, allow to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat in the microwave or slowly in a skillet adding additional liquid as needed. Do I need to pre-cook the lasagna noodles? | No. That’s the beauty of this one-pot meal. The dry pasta cooks in the sauce itself and will absorb all the liquid.Substitutions and Variations
- Meat: Substitute one pound of your preferred meat – Italian sausage, ground pork, ground turkey, or a blend. Make sure to drain excess fat if using fattier meat to prevent the dish from becoming overly greasy. Or go vegetarian, replacing the meat with your favorite chopped vegetables. Mushroom, zucchini, spinach, or a combination of these would be delicious.
- Pasta: If mini lasagna noodles are unavailable, regular lasagna noodles (broken into 1 ½ or 2-inch pieces), bow tie, or egg noodles are suitable. Avoid the “no-boil” or “oven-ready” noodles.
- Sauce: A 24 oz store-bought jarred sauce can replace crushed tomatoes if needed. You may need to add liquid to your skillet while the pasta cooks. Best to add ½ cup at a time.
- Cheeses: Traditional lasagna uses a mix of ricotta, mozzarella, and parmesan, but feel free to use your preferred cheeses. Preshredded cheeses work, but note that they may result in a less creamy texture. Cottage cheese can be used as a substitute for ricotta.
Nutrition
Angela
This was so good and so much better than the hamburger helper I remember! Definitely a new favorite dinner option!
Thanks so glad you liked it!!
Gianne
The flavors melded beautifully, and the convenience of cooking everything in one pot made cleanup a breeze. This dish is definitely going to be a staple in my household for quick, delicious dinners.
Live me a one pot meal!!
Ned
I love me a one pot meal and to make things even better, it was able to use my cast iron skillet for this recipe. Thank you for this yumminess!
That’s so perfect!!!
Nathan
This looks like a fantastic recipe to feed a crowd for dinner! I haven’t had hamburger helper in years, but just by looking at the recipe I can tell this blows the store bought kind out of the water. Can’t wait to try it out for myself!
Thanks so much!!
Laura Ashley Johnson
My family immediately gave this a 10/10!! Thank you!
So glad to hear that!! Mom win!