Growing up in the 80s and 90s, Hamburger helper had a regular rotation on the family dinner menu. It was a simple dinner starter, that lends itself well to working parents and sports schedules. Grab a box, a pound of beef, one pan and you were set.

It turns out, Hamburger Helper has been around since the 70s. Who knew?!? Well, other than people who were around in the 70s... It was created during a time when beef prices began to soar. With this box, families could stretch a pound of meat into dinner for the whole family. In addition, it was the first where you did not need a separate pan to boil the noodles. Simple almost always wins.

Today, I recommend adding some veggies to the mix, but this dish is mostly a nod to the dinnertime classic.

Start with grass-fed beef and some onions and peppers. Then, add some gluten free pasta, and a cheesy tomato sauce for a complete meal ready in 30 minutes.

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Ingredients in Homemade Gluten Free Hamburger Helper

• Ground Beef- For the highest quality and best flavor, I recommend grass-fed beef.
• Onion
• Bell Peppers
• Gluten Free Pasta
• Tomato Sauce
• Low-Sodium Beef Broth
• Shredded Cheese
• Garlic Powder
• Chili Powder

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Is Hamburger Helper bad for you?

This is a popular Google question. Really, it depends who you ask... The boxed variety is known to have a high amount of sodium and if eaten by itself, lacks vegetables. But, it's certainly better than a host of fried and/or fast food alternatives. By making it yourself, you control the quality and quantify of each ingredient. If you add some veggies, using the boxed mix once in awhile is fine.