If you love to make easy one-pot meals, this upscale Gluten Free Hamburger Helper recipe is a winner. I gave it a delicious makeover with fresh ingredients. Ready in under 30 minutes, this recipe is perfect for busy weeknights! I also include a tasty dairy-free version!

Two bowls of Gluten Free Hamburger Helper on a wooden table.

This is a fancy gluten free hamburger helper recipe that I created for those busy weeknights. Hamburger Helper is a popular packaged food product you can buy in any grocery store. The original mix is not gluten free. My recipe is a healthier, gluten-free alternative to the popular boxed meal.

When I saw this Hamburger Helper recipe on the NYT Cooking site, I knew I needed to make a gluten free version that cooks in a lot less time. I loved how the recipe had some complex flavors. I did tweak the recipe quite a bit because I wanted this recipe to cook in under 30 minutes. The original recipe takes 25 minutes just to caramelize onions, which I am too lazy for.

My recipe is the best gluten free hamburger helper recipe online. I add in some extra flavor using wine and bacon, plus I offer lots of easy flavor variations. This recipe will serve a family of four with leftovers or a family of six.

This homemade gluten-free hamburger helper recipe has been modified to make it gluten-free by using gluten-free elbow macaroni and ensuring that all other ingredients are gluten-free. If you are looking for more recipe inspiration, I have tons of easy Gluten Free Dinner Recipes to try.

Why Are One Pot Meals Great?

  • One-pot meals are easy to prepare and require much less clean-up, making them a great option for busy families who don’t have much time to spend in the kitchen. If you love quick one-pot meals, try this Cajun Rice and Beans recipe.
  • One-pot meals can be made with various ingredients, including vegetables, grains, and protein sources, making the recipe versatile and easy to customize. I love tossing in veggies that are in the back of the fridge.
  • Cooking ingredients together in one pot allows the flavors to blend, which makes this recipe a delicious and flavorful meal.
  • One-pot meals are often made with affordable ingredients, making this a great budget meal.

If you love easy one-pot meals, try this Slow Cooker Mac and Cheese or this 30 Minute Gluten Free Beef Stroganoff.

I made this, but I make it dairy-free as well, and it is soooo good. I used Daiya cheeze sauce, vegan shreds, and plain almond milk.”

amanda d., blog comment

Allergen Information:

This homemade hamburger helper is gluten-free, egg-free, nut-free, soy-free, and oat-free.

Photos of the hamburger helper ingredients.

Ingredient Notes:

For the full list of ingredients and amounts, please go to the recipe card below.

  • Gluten Free Elbow Macaroni – Not every brand will hold up to cooking in a big pot, so I recommend the Jovial and Tinkyada brands of gluten free macaroni .
  • Ground Meat – I used 90% lean ground beef to make this recipe, but you can also use ground turkey, chicken, pork, and impossible meat. Any of these meat options will work well.
  • Bacon – Any bacon will work in this recipe. I used applewood smoked bacon.
  • Onion – I recommend yellow onions.
  • White Wine – I used an inexpensive white wine.
  • Beef Broth – Use regular or low sodium.
  • Heavy Cream – I do not recommend using half and half.
  • Cheddar Cheese – I used a Mexican blend of shredded cheese; you can use this or cheddar.
  • Ketchup – I used this in order to reduce the hot sauce in the original recipe. My kids are not into spicy. If you want yours to be spicy, you can use all the hot sauce.
  • Hot Sauce – I used Sriracha, but any gluten-free brand will work. See this list of gluten free Sriracha. If you don’t like spice, omit this ingredient.
  • Seasonings – I used garlic powder, sweet paprika, a bay leaf, salt, and pepper.

Substitutions:

  • You can use chicken broth in place of beef broth.
  • If you really don’t like spicey, omit the hot sauce ingredient.
  • You can use minced garlic in place of garlic powder.

You may also love this one-pot Gluten Free Cheeseburger Pasta recipe.

How to Make One-Pot Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper in 30 Minutes:

Photos of steps 1 and 2 making hamburger helper.

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Step 1: Sautรฉ Onions and Bacon. Add oil to a Dutch oven and add the diced onions, chopped bacon, salt, and pepper. Note: I keep my bacon in the freezer and just cut it from there. Use 4-5 slices. Cook the onions and bacon over medium heat for 5 minutes.

Step 2: Cook the Ground Beef. Add the ground beef and cook until the ground beef is mostly cooked. Use a wooden spatula to chop the meat as it cooks into bite-sized pieces.

Photos of steps 3 and 4 making hamburger helper.

Step 3: Add the white wine and stir. I tend to use inexpensive white wine for this recipe. There is no need to use expensive wine. Most white wine should be gluten free. You can read my article on gluten-free wine to learn more about gluten in wine.

Step 4: Add Liquids and Seasonings. Add the broth, heavy cream, hot sauce, ketchup, and seasonings. Cover and cook for 5 minutes.

๐Ÿ”‘ Sandi says: Some gluten free pasta is prone to getting mushy. I always recommend using either Jovial or Tinkyada elbow macaroni. It seems to hold up a lot better to cooking in sauces.

Adding the gluten free elbow macaroni to the pot.

Step 5: Now is the time for the pasta. Remove the lid and add the gluten free elbow macaroni to the pot. Stir so the macaroni is mixed in. Stirring the pasta will prevent it from sticking together and cooking in clumps. Boil for 5 minutes, then reduce the heat to medium-low.

Step 6: Stir after 5 minutes. Cook until the pasta is al dente. This will vary by brand, but I used Tinkyada gluten-free macaroni, which took about 9 minutes.

Cooked gluten free hamburger helper in a Dutch oven.

Step 7: Finish with Cheese! Add the shredded cheese and stir it into the hot pasta. The residual heat melts the cheese perfectly without overcooking the pasta. Serve this easy one-pot dinner hot.

Serve With:

Frequently Asked Questions:

Can you omit the wine?

You can omit the wine or reduce the amount. If you omit the wine, you may need to add more broth.

How do you store gluten free hamburger helper?

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will keep fresh for up to 4 days. To reheat this hamburger helper, place some of the hamburger helper in a pot on the stove. Reheat on medium-low heat with a splash of broth to prevent it from drying out.

Can you freeze Hamburger Helper?

I do not recommend freezing leftovers. Gluten free pasta does not hold up well to being frozen.

Can you make this hamburger helper recipe dairy-free?

Yes, this is an easy recipe to make dairy-free. Just use So Delicious Dairy-Free Heavy Cream and a dairy-free cheddar like the VioLife brand.

Can you make this recipe vegan?

You can use vegan ingredients to make this recipe. I haven’t tried it, but I will recommend my favorite vegan products that should work well. So Delicious brand makes a great heavy cream. I recommend Impossible Meat, Daiya, or VioLife dairy-free cheeses and vegetable broth. I am not familiar with vegan bacon brands, but a vegan brand can still add that smokey flavor.

Even my non-GF husband said this was delish! About to make it again ๐Ÿ’•

Jill E., Facebook comment
A closeup of the gluten free hamburger helper in a bowl.

More Gluten Free Dinner Ideas:

Love This Recipe?

If you made and enjoyed this recipe, I would be incredibly grateful if you could leave a comment below. This will help others know this recipe is delicious. Thank you!

Two bowls of Gluten Free Hamburger Helper on a wooden table.

30 Minute Gluten Free Hamburger Helper

Sandi Gaertner
This upscale homemade gluten free hamburger helper is a quick and easy family favorite. No boxed mixes or junky ingredients.
5 from 23 votes
an egg free allergen icon
gluten free allergy icon
nut free allergen icon
soy free allergy icon
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Gluten Free Dinner Recipes, Meal Recipes
Cuisine American
Servings 8 servings
Calories 574 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 14 ounces gluten free elbow macaroni
  • 1 pound ground beef * see notes
  • 5 strips bacon
  • ยฝ cup yellow onion diced
  • 2 tablespoons cooking oil
  • ยฝ cup white wine *see notes
  • ยพ cup heavy cream
  • 3 cups beef or chicken broth regular or low-sodium
  • โ…“ cup ketchup
  • 2 tablespoons hot sauce more if you like spicy.
  • 2 teaspoons paprika
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 ยฝ teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper
  • 1 cup cheddar or Mexican blend cheese

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Instructions
 

  • Add 2 tablespoons cooking oil to a Dutch oven and add the diced ยฝ cup yellow onion, 5 strips bacon, 1 teaspoon salt, and ยฝ teaspoon ground black pepper. Note: I keep my bacon in the freezer and just cut it from there. Use 4-5 slices. Cook over medium heat for 5 minutes.
  • Add the 1 pound ground beef (or ground meat) and cook until the ground beef is mostly cooked. Use a wooden spatula to chop the meat as it cooks into bite-sized pieces. Add the ยฝ cup white wine.
  • Add the 3 cups beef or chicken broth, ยพ cup heavy cream, 2 tablespoons hot sauce, โ…“ cup ketchup, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 bay leaf, and 1 ยฝ teaspoons garlic powder. Cover and cook for 5 minutes so the liquid gets hot.
  • Remove the lid and add the uncooked 14 ounces gluten free elbow macaroni to the pot. Stir so the macaroni is mixed in. Stirring the pasta will prevent it from sticking together and cooking in clumps. Boil 5 minutes then reduce the heat to medium low.
  • Stir after 5 minutes. Cook until the pasta is all dente. This will vary by brand but I used Tinkyada gluten free macaroni and it took about 9 minutes.
  • ย Add the 1 cup cheddar or Mexican blend cheese and stir it into the hot pasta. The residual heat melts the cheese perfectly without overcooking the pasta. Serve hot.

Notes

  1. I recommend Jovial and Tinkyada brands of gluten free elbow macaroni. They seem to hold up the best to cooking in sauces like this recipe requires.
  2. You can use any ground meat, including vegan meats, in this recipe.
  3. You can use vegan ingredients to make this recipe. I havenโ€™t tried it, but I will recommend my favorite vegan products that should work well. So Delicious brand makes a great heavy cream. I recommend Impossible Meat, Daiya, or VioLife dairy-free cheeses and vegetable broth. I am not familiar with vegan bacon brands, but a vegan brand can still add that smokey flavor.
  4. The white wine adds incredible flavor, but it can be omitted. Add additional broth if you omit it. I tend to use inexpensive white wine for this recipe. There is no need to use expensive wine. Most white wine should be gluten free. You can read my article onย gluten-free wine to learn more about gluten in wine.
  5. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. I don’t recommend freezing this recipe because the pasta gets mushy.

SPECIAL NOTE

Please know that every gluten free flour blend has a different starch to grain ratio. If you use a blend I didn’t test, my rule of thumb is to add more flour if your dough or batter is wet and add more liquid if the dough or batter is too dry!

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 574kcalCarbohydrates: 42gProtein: 21gFat: 35gSaturated Fat: 15gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 13gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 1059mgPotassium: 339mgFiber: 1gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 779IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 139mgIron: 2mg
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Nutrition Disclaimer

Nutritional information is an estimate provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the actual nutritional information with the products and brands you are using with your preferred nutritional calculator.

5 from 23 votes (6 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




40 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Itโ€™s really quite good and nothing like the old box version. Itโ€™s in my rotation for this week in fact. I very seldom use heavy cream in anything but whip cream or desserts so I sub 1/2 & 1/2 as I always have that on hand for my coffee. ๐Ÿค—

    1. Hi Tammy, I am so glad you loved this dinner recipe. It is also great to hear that half and half worked well. Thank you for sharing that in case any readers on have that on hand!