Healthy Hamburger Helper

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Healthy hamburger helper is pasta sauce made from creamy garlicky butternut squash tossed with seasoned ground beef. This 10 ingredient healthy version of our beloved childhood Hamburger Helper is perfect for pasta lovers everywhere!

Servings: people

Prep Time: 10

Cook Time: 20

Total Time: 30

Ingredients

for the butternut squash pasta sauce

1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup water, reserved after boiling squash
salt and pepper, to taste

for the hamburger helper pasta

1 tbsp olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 onion, chopped
2 tbsp ketchup
salt and pepper, to taste
3 cups beef broth
8 oz whole wheat elbow pasta
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
chopped chives, optional, to garnish

Instructions

for the butternut squash pasta sauce

Peel and cube the butternut squash. Place into a large pot and add enough water to cover it. Cook over medium heat until soft, about 10-15 minutes. Reserve 1 cup of cooking water for the sauce.
Into a blender, add slightly cooled butternut squash, reserved water, minced garlic and season with salt and pepper. Blend for 20 seconds, scrape the sides of the blender, and blend again until smooth.

for the hamburger helper pasta

Place 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef along with the chopped onion, salt and pepper. Cook the ground beef, breaking it up with your spoon until browned, 6-8 minutes.
Stir in the ketchup and beef broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to boil.
Add in the pasta and reduce the heat to medium. Let it cook uncovered until most of the liquid has been absorbed, about 12-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes.
Turn of the heat; stir in the butternut squash sauce and shredded cheddar cheese.
Garnish with chopped chives if desired.