Healthy Gourmet Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe using Mesa de Vida cooking sauce

Healthy, Everyday Gourmet Recipe: One-Pan Pasta Helper

The boxed "helper" ground beef and pasta kits are a meal many of us remember eating, whether it was as a child, or when you need a quick meal solution.

This is a healthier, homemade, far more delicious version, just about as easy to make (everyone usually has pasta, milk and broth on hand).

With Mesa de Vida cooking sauces, simple ingredients are transformed into an exciting, gourmet meal that brings culinary connection and adventure to the table!

Makes 4-6 servings. Total time about 30 minutes

Watch us make this on Instagram.

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Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground protein of your choice (beef, turkey, pork, chicken), or vegetarian ground crumble alternative
  • 2 cups finely diced vegetables onions, carrots, bell peppers, zucchini, eggplant and cabbage are good options; add extra garlic if you love garlic!
  • 1 bottle Mesa de Vida Cooking Sauce - Your choice of Creole, Latin, Mediterranean or Moroccan inspired flavors
  • 1 cup broth (chicken or vegetable, or bouillion prepared to package directions to equal one cup)
  • 1 cup milk
  • Salt to your health needs, or taste. We use approximately 1 tsp
  • 2 cups dry pasta in any small cut (ziti, penne, macaroni, shells, Cavatappi, rotini, etc. Our favorite is Brami pasta made with Italian semolina flour and lupini beans for extra fiber and nutrition)
  • Shredded or crumbled cheese, optional (Cheddar goes great with Creole and Latin inspired sauces, feta goes great with Mediterranean and Moroccan flavors, Monterey jack goes great with the Latin flavor)

Directions

  1. Preheat a large skillet or pot over medium high heat. When hot add oil (optional) or a splash of water, swirl to coat.
  2. Add the ground protein. Stir and crumble often, cook until golden brown.
  3. Add the vegetables. Stir and cook for about 3 minutes, until the vegetables start to soften.
  4. Add the Mesa de Vida cooking sauce and salt. Stir and cook for about 1 minute, or until most of the moisture from the meat and vegetables have evaporated. (This may take a bit longer when using vegetables that put off a lot of liquid such as eggplant and zucchini.)
  5. Add the broth and milk. Stir. Bring to a full boil.
  6. Add the pasta and cheese (*optional, or wait to add it at the finish). Stir. Lower the heat to low and cover with a lid.
  7. Cook on low for 15 minutes. Stir. Cover and let rest for 5 minutes.
  8. Serve and enjoy!
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