Keto Hamburger Helper

by KetoFocus.com

Hamburger helper was one of my favorite meals as a kid, and I get why my mom loved it - it was so easy. Now, I make a homemade version that's high in protein, low in carbs, and just as simple as the boxed kind, without the mystery ingredients.

Hamburger Helper was like an elevated mac and cheese for me as a kid. Now that I am a busy working mom, I understand why we had it so often for dinner. It’s quick, easy, and a guaranteed hit at the dinner table. Of course, now I wouldn’t feed my family the boxed version with all its artificial ingredients, so I created a homemade, high-protein, low-carb alternative that’s just as simple to make. This one-pot casserole delivers the same comforting flavors without the questionable ingredients and doesn’t take much longer to make than the boxed kind. 

A wooden spoon scooping out a serving of low carb hamburger helper.

What’s makes this casserole keto?

  • Real ingredients – Instead of a processed seasoning packet, this low carb hamburger helper casserole gets its rich, savory flavor from real ingredients like sharp cheddar cheese, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Cornstarch is used to thicken it but you could use arrowroot powder instead if you have a corn allergy.
  • Keto pasta – To keep it low carb, I used lupini pasta, which is packed with fiber and protein, making it a great alternative to traditional noodles.

Keto Hamburger Helper Recipe Video

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Keto Hamburger Helper Ingredients

  • 1 lb lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup hot water
  • 2 cups milk of choice
  • 1 1/2 cups lupini pasta
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

Keto Hamburger Helper Directions

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Pasta substitutions

You want to make this recipe, but can’t find lupini noodles? Here’s some suggestions on substitutes you can use instead:

  • Hearts of palm noodles – I would get either the spaghetti noodles or the lasagna sheets and cut tup the lasagna into smaller noodle shapes. Hearts of palm are low carb and gluten free.
  • Shirataki noodles – Not my first or second choice for keto noodles because of the rubbery texture, but they do make ziti shaped pasta that you could use for this keto recipe and they are gluten-free.
  • Egg wraps – You can make your own or purchase the ones at the grocery store by the brand Egglife. They come as a wrap, but you can easily cut them into small noodles. They taste very similar to noodles when prepared in a sauce.
  • Cauliflower rice – When all else fails.

Storage information

Store leftover keto hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm it on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of broth, water, or milk of choice if needed to loosen up the sauce.

Keto Hamburger Helper: FAQS

I am sensitive to cornstarch. What can I use in it's place?

Use arrowroot powder in place of cornstarch. Try 1 tablespoon of arrowroot powder. If that doesn't thicken enough, use 1 1/2 tablespoons.

Can I use nut milk in this recipe?

You can use any type of milk in this ground beef skillet recipe - cow's milk, nut milk or seed milk.

Nutritional information & Macros

Nutrition Information

Keto Hamburger Helper

Servings: 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories 473
Fat 24.3g
Protein 47.6g
Total Carbs 19.1g
Net Carbs 5.7g

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2 Comments

  1. This turned out really good. I used unsweetened almond milk and the sauce thickened nicely. The lupini pasta has a great bite to it too. Definitely going to add this to my weekly low carb dinner rotation.

  2. I used oat milk instead of almond milk and it still turned out really creamy. The lupini pasta really held its texture.

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