There is nothing I love more than my homemade hamburger helper, especially made in the crock pot with gluten free ingredients.
You know it, and boy do you LOVE IT, it’s my HAMBURGER MAC AND CHEESE!! This is basically just a homemade hamburger helper, but we make it in the crock pot with gluten free ingredients!!
It is basically, you know, a Mac and cheese burger recipe. There is so much protein. Plus, it is rich, creamy and insanely delicious. Bowls, forks and pots will be licked CLEAN when enjoying this recipe! Worth EVERY point. (Oh, and try stopping at just one serving!)
It is not your typical chicken and Mac and cheese, it is crock pot hamburger helper! It combines all the flavors you love about a hamburger, like ketchup, with a creamy Mac and cheese sauce. Could you think of a better combo.
If I could pick the first dish of mine for anyone to make, it would be this one. I have tons of favorite recipes of mine, sweet and sour chicken, sweet asian taco meat or a bloomin onion (click the links for those recipes), but homemade crock pot hamburger helper, is the ultimate recipe.
FAQs-
Can you make this recipe with a crock pot? You can make hamburger helper on the stovetop or in the instant pot.
Do I need to use gluten free ingredients. The main gluten free ingredient here is the pasta; however, you can substitute that for regular pasta. If you are gluten free, please double check that you grabbed gluten free versions of the ingredients.
Essential Ingredients
First things first is a crock pot or slow cooker of course. I use the original crock pot brand and I love using the liners for easy clean up; however, you do not have to.
- Elbow pasta
- Garlic, minced
- Ground chicken breast
- Onion, diced
- Allie Carte homemade tomato
- Chicken broth, fat-free
- Sugar free ketchup
- ⅓ less fat cream cheese
- reduced fat, 2% milk cheddar cheese shredded
Elbow Pasta
Do I need to use gluten free ingredients. The main gluten free ingredient here is the pasta; however, you can substitute that for regular pasta. If you are gluten free, please double check that you grabbed gluten free versions of the ingredients.
I love using elbow pasta, because it reminds me of Mac and cheese; however, you can use a different shape.
We will not be cooking the pasta for the hamburger helper in the crock pot. This will be made towards the end of the cooking process.
Garlic and Onion
You can buy pre-minced garlic; however, I love mincing my own with this mini food processor. You can also use that for the onion, depending on how big you like the pieces.
Ground Chicken Breast
I use ground chicken breast because it is essentially fat free. That is my preference, I love chicken and Mac and cheese together. This is a healthy hamburger helper recipe after all. However, you are more than welcome to use a different percentage of chicken. You can also substitute ground turkey or ground beef.
Tomato Sauce
I make my own tomato sauce most of the time; however, if I am lazy, I will just buy a can or jar of some plain sauce.
Broth
This is to keeps things moist and creamy. I use fat-free chicken broth; however, you can substitute a different broth. Remember, if you are gluten free, be sure to double check the ingredients you are using in this hamburger helper recipe.
Ketchup
I use sugar free ketchup most of the time. Sometimes I buy some off of Amazon but I also get it in the stores.
Cream Cheese and Shredded Cheese
I use a lower fat kind for each of these cheeses; however, you can substitute for whatever you like.
How to Make Crock Pot Hamburger Helper
Step 1: Cook Meat
Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle with a little oil or grease with cooking spray. Add the diced onion and cook until it is turning translucent, about three minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
Place the ground chicken into the pan and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked. Then, remove from heat.
step 2: add ingredients to crock pot
In the crock pot, add the cooked chicken and remaining ingredients for the hamburger helper (except the pasta). Give it a little mix. Then, place the lid on the crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
Step 3: Add cooked pasta and stir together
About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain well. Then, add to the crock pot and toss everything to coat and combine.
Mac and Cheese Recipes
If you love hamburger Mac and cheese, try out some more of my favorite Mac and cheese recipes:
- Queso Mac and Cheese
- Bacon Burger Mac and Cheese
- Pizza Mac and Cheese
- Classic Mac and Cheese
- Easy Broccoli Mac and Cheese
Hamburger Recipes
My love for a hamburger does not stop with this crock pot homemade helper recipe:
- Bacon Smash Cheeseburgers
- Cheeseburger Bombs
- Worcestershire Onion Burgers
- French Onion Burger
- Korean Ground Beef
Crock Pot Recipes
Of course, we cannot leave out my favorite crock pot recipes:
Different Ways to Cook Hamburger Helper
If you do not have a crock pot, try these homemade hamburger helper recipes:
Don't forget to leave a FIVE STAR review when you love this recipe!
Crock Pot Hamburger Helper
There is nothing I love more than my homemade hamburger helper, especially made in the crock pot with gluten free ingredients.
Crock Pot Hamburger Helper
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 cloves minced garlic
- ⅛ cup white onion diced
- 16 ounces ground chicken breast
- 2 tablespoons garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- ½ tablespoon seasoned salt
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 5 tablespoons tomato sauce
- 4 tablespoons chicken broth low sodium
- 2 tablespoons sugar free ketchup
- 2 ounces ⅓ less fat cream cheese
- ½ cup fat-free shredded cheddar cheese
- 6 ounces elbow pasta dry
Instructions
- Heat a pan over medium-high heat. Drizzle with a little oil or grease with cooking spray. Add the diced onion and cook until it is turning translucent, about three minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Place the ground chicken into the pan and start breaking it up. Sprinkle on the seasonings and continue to breakup while cooking. Continue to break up and mix in the seasonings until the chicken is fully cooked. Then, remove from heat.
- In the crock pot, add the cooked chicken and remaining ingredients for the hamburger helper (except the pasta). Give it a little mix. Then, place the lid on the crock pot. Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours.
- About 15 minutes before you are ready to eat. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Drain well. Then, add to the crock pot and toss everything to coat and combine.
Nutrition
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