Hamburger Helper Lasagna (One Pot Recipe)
Homemade Hamburger Helper lasagna is an easy one pot dinner that elevates the nostalgic classic quickly and easily. This homemade take on the boxed favorite combines ground meat, tender pasta, creamy tomato sauce, and plenty of cheesy goodness in a comforting meal that’s quick enough for a busy weeknight and delicious enough to have everyone coming back for seconds.
There are some dinners that just bring you right back to the good old days when life was simple.
All there was to worry about was waking up early enough on Saturday morning to watch cartoons and being inside in time for dinner.
And I was never even a second later if Hamburger Helper lasagna was on the menu that night.
Nowadays, life is busier and has so many more worries.
But this homemade Hamburger Helper lasagna keeps dinner feeling simple and satisfying.
It has all the comforting flavors you remember from the boxed classic but it’s homemade from pantry staples so you can truly control the flavor and ingredients.
Its perfect when I need something the kids will actually eat without a lot of negotiating, especially on those busy nights when there’s barely enough time to get dinner on the table.
Best of all, everything comes together in one pot, so you don’t have to worry about boiling pasta separately or ending the night with a mountain of dishes in the sink.
Ingredients
To make this you’ll need:
- Ground sausage– I love using ground sausage for extra flavor but you can use ground beef instead or a 50/50 mix of beef and pork.
- Onion– A small yellow onion, peeled and diced.
- Seasonings– Salt, pepper, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes
- Garlic– Minced
- Beef broth– You can also use stock. This adds so much richness to the sauce.
- Marinara sauce– You can use homemade marinara if you have some leftover or your favorite store-bought kind.
- Heavy cream– For rich, velvety creaminess for the sauce.
- Noodles– Use egg noodles for this over standard pasta noodles so it’s more authentic to the Hamburger Helper meal.
- Cheese– Shredded mozzarella. You can also use shredded Italian cheese blend or shredded provolone if you prefer or that’s what you have on hand.
How to Make
This homemade Hamburger Helper lasagna is so easy to make!
Just cook and crumble the meat and onion in a Dutch oven, or other heavy bottomed pot, set over medium heat until completely the meat is browned.
Strain off the grease and then return the meat to the pot.
Stir the seasonings, garlic, broth, marinara sauce, heavy cream, and pasta to the pot to evenly combine everything.
Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium low heat.
Once it comes to a simmer, put a lid on the pot and let it cook for 10 -15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
As soon as the pasta is tender and absorbs most of the liquid, remove the pot from heat and sprinkle the cheese evenly out overtop.
Put the lid back on the pot so the residual heat can melt the cheese.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storing Leftovers
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warmed through.
Tips and Tricks
- Make sure your pot or Dutch oven is large enough since you are cooking everything together.
- If you use ground beef, use a leaner ground beef so you don’t have to drain as much fat off.
- Don’t add the cheese until the very end. If you add it earlier it gets stirred into the sauce and doesn’t give you that classic lasagna style top.
- Feel free to customize this! Stir in some veggies like bell peppers, spinach or mushrooms or even add dollops of ricotta cheese with the cheese topping. Whatever your family likes!
Other One Pot Dinner Ideas
Homemade Hamburger Helper lasagna is an easy, comforting one pot wonder for getting the family happily fed on busy nights.
Make it and enjoy!
Looking for other one pot dinner ideas?
Try these:
- Pizza Pasta
- Cheeseburger Casserole
- Jambalaya Pasta
- Creamy Chicken & Vegetable Pasta
- Skillet Ravioli Lasagna
- Balsamic Chicken With Veggies
- Taco Spaghetti
- Cajun Chicken Alfredo
If you’ve tried this HOMEMADE HAMBURGER HELPER LASAGNA, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Hamburger Helper Lasagna (One Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground sausage can substitute ground beef, or use a 50/50 mix
- 1 small yellow onion peeled & diced
- salt & pepper to taste
- 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tbsp minced garlic
- 2 1/2 - 3 cups beef broth
- 3 cups marinara sauce
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 12 oz pkg egg noodles
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Add the meat and onion to a Dutch oven, or other heavy bottomed pot, set over medium heat. Cook & crumble until completely browned. Strain off the grease then return the meat to the pot.1 lb ground sausage, 1 small yellow onion
- Add the seasonings, garlic, broth, marinara, cream, and pasta to the pot. Stir everything together until evenly combined.salt & pepper, 1/2 tbsp Italian seasoning, 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tbsp minced garlic, 2 1/2 - 3 cups beef broth, 3 cups marinara sauce, 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream, 1 12 oz pkg egg noodles
- Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium low heat. Cover and cook for 10 -15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta's tender and a lot of the liquid's been absorbed.
- Remove the pot from heat and sprinkle the cheese evenly out overtop. Cover and let rest, just until melted.1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- Make sure your pot or Dutch oven is large enough since you are cooking everything together.
- If you use ground beef, use a leaner ground beef so you don't have to drain as much fat off.
- Don't add the cheese until the very end. If you add it earlier it gets stirred into the sauce and doesn't give you that classic lasagna style top.
- Feel free to customize this! Stir in some veggies like bell peppers, spinach or mushrooms or even add dollops of ricotta cheese with the cheese topping. Whatever your family likes!
Nutrition
