Chili Macaroni Casserole: Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Style Recipe

Since gluten free Hamburger Helper (actually named “Helper”) will no longer exist once all sold, I thought some of you may appreciate a gluten-free hamburger helper style recipe. As of the date of this recipe, I’ve read all over the internet that some of the old Helper may still be on shelves, but it is best to read the labels and be aware that the newer packages contain the statement, “May contain wheat”. Enjoy this homemade gluten free hamburger helper style recipe, just like you used to!

I skipped the use of corn and soy, which are in the packaged version.

The chili macaroni version of the gluten free hamburger helper also contained tomatoes. You can choose to make this dish with or without them. Meanwhile, you can now enjoy gluten-free hamburger helper without the artificial ingredients, artificial coloring, and MSG, as well! Enjoy!

Chili Macaroni Casserole: Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper Style Recipe

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Yield: Serves 4-5

Chili Macaroni Casserole: Gluten-Free Hamburger Helper Style Recipe

A nutritious, homemade gluten free hamburger helper-style recipe you'd be proud to serve your family.

Ingredients:

  • 1.25 pounds lean ground beef or bison (bison is hormone-free)
  • 1/2 cup chopped yellow onion
  • 4 cups (1 carton) hot low-sodium gluten-free beef or chicken broth (or sub half w/pureed gluten-free canned tomatoes or one-fourth tomato paste - Del Monte)
  • 2 cups gluten-free brown rice or rice & corn pasta (Trader Joe's, Tinkyada, Jovial, Orgran)
  • 1 Tablespoon potato starch (or cornstarch)
  • 1 - 3 Tablespoons chili powder (I use 1 1/2 T.)
  • 2 teaspoons sugar, evaporated cane juice or xylitol, agave syrup) (or pinch of stevia, to taste)
  • 3/4 teaspoon salt, (more, if not using cheese)
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika
  • 3 Tablespoons potato flour or brown rice flour
  • 1/2 cup cheese, shredded (I used Monterey Jack), optional

Instructions:

  1. Add ground beef and onion to a large skillet; cook until meat is no longer red and onion is tender. No need to drain off grease if using lean meat. If not, drain.
  2. Add hot broth and seasonings, stir; add pasta and stir. Bring to a boil. Cover and lower heat to low or simmer (or No. 2), stir occasionally, and under cook pasta, (about 10 minutes).
  3. Uncover and bring to a boil. Sprinkle potato flour on top and stir gently, as not to break the pasta.
  4. If using, add the cheese and stir. Once melted, serve. As an option, you can sprinkle the cheese on top when serving in a large serving bowl.
  5. Allow to sit 10 minutes, covered. This will allow the pasta to absorb more of the liquid and cook longer.

Tips

*If you'd like to add tomatoes, use canned whole or diced tomatoes and puree them in a food processor or blender and replace the same portion of broth. You should be able to reduce the sugar, as well.

3 Replies to “Chili Macaroni Casserole: Gluten Free Hamburger Helper Style Recipe”

  1. I made this tonight for myself and 3 non-gluten free people and we all loved it. It was so good! The only thing I did differently was I used diced tomatoes and did not puree them. What a great meal for a cold night!

    1. Desiree,

      Rice flour makes an excellent substitute for potato flour. I was short on time this evening when I made this recipe again, and didn’t want to go through the trouble of digging for my potato flour, which I don’t use much. So, I used white rice flour as it was the closest to grab. Because white rice flour tends to be gritty, I added 3 tablespoons of rice flour into the mix, substituting the 1 tablespoon of potato starch. Then at the end, instead of mixing in 3 tablespoons of potato flour, I added the 1 tablespoon of potato starch mixed with 1 tablespoon of water. Cooking the rice flour for a longer period softens the grains more.

      I hope this helps.

      Carla

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