Lightened-Up Hamburger Curry (Pakistani Kima Recipe)

This lightened-up version of hamburger curry (Pakistani Kima) is a family favorite that I first discovered years ago in my well-worn copy of the More-With-Less Cookbook (affiliate link). Made with simple pantry ingredients, ground beef (or turkey), potatoes, peas, and warm curry spices, it comes together in one pot for an easy weeknight dinner.

Best of all, it’s mild enough that even folks who “don’t like curry” end up loving it—my sister swears she could eat it every single day!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• WW and Family-Friendly: A satisfying, lower-point version of classic Pakistani Kima that works for WeightWatchers and still pleases the whole table.
• One-Pot Dinner: Everything cooks together, making cleanup quick and easy.
• Simple Budget-Friendly Ingredients: Uses ground beef (or turkey), potatoes, and frozen peas—pantry and freezer staples.
• Customizable: Adjust the spice level, swap in sweet potatoes or cauliflower, or make it vegetarian with lentils or plant-based crumbles.
• Great for Leftovers: Flavors deepen as it sits, making it perfect for meal prep or freezing in portions for later.

Ingredients and Substitutions

• Nonstick cooking spray – a lighter, more WW friendly alternative to the suggested butter.
• Chopped onion – I opted for yellow onion in this recipe, however white, sweet, or red should work as well.
• Minced garlic – either fresh or from a jar. I used 1/2-teaspoon granulated garlic instead since this is all I had on hand.
• Lean ground beef – To keep the calories, fat and WW Points low choose the leanest beef possible. Ground turkey or vegetarian crumbles would also work.
• Curry powder – a fragrant blend of spices that typically includes turmeric (giving it a golden color), along with spices like coriander, cumin, fenugreek, and chili peppers. It can have a mild to moderately spicy heat level, depending on the amount of chili powder. (I used a combination of curry powder and garam masala (affiliate link) which tends to be more aromatic and less earthy, with a rich warmth and slight sweetness from spices like cinnamon and cardamom.)
• Salt – an essential in cooking because it does much more than just make food “salty.” It helps to brighten, intensify and balance flavors.
• Canned diced tomatoes – I often opt for the petite diced tomatoes in recipes when I can get them.
• Diced potatoes – I used white potatoes, but any potato should work in this recipe, even sweet potatoes.
• Frozen peas and/or green beans – adds nourishing flavor, texture and color to this curry. Substitute whatever vegetables you have on hand or prefer.

How Many Calories and WW Points in this Easy Hamburger Curry (Pakistani Kima)?

According to my calculations, each serving has:

• Calories: 185
• WW Points: To see your WW Points for this recipe, track it in the WW App!
  (You must be logged into WW on a smartphone or tablet.)
• Old Points: 5 PointsPlus

To keep the calories and WW Points low, I skipped the recommended 3 tablespoons of butter and opted for extra lean ground beef.

How to Make Hamburger Curry, Step-by-Step

Step 1: Gather and Prep all your ingredients

Step 2: Cook the meat, onions and garlic

Coat a large, deep skillet or Dutch oven with nonstick cooking spray. Add the meat, onion, and garlic. Cook, stirring and breaking up the meat, until it is no longer pink. 

Step 3: Simmer until done

Add everything else to the pot and simmer, covered until the potatoes are done.

Cooking Notes, Additions and Substitutions

• For the lowest points opt for 95% lean ground beef. You could also use ground turkey or veggie crumbles if you prefer.
• Adjust the seasonings to suit your tastes. I used a combination of mild sweet curry powder and garam masala (affiliate link). Additional chiles, more curry powder, ground turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, etc. would all be nice.
• Be sure to dice your potatoes small so they cook in the allotted time. I used white potatoes but sweet potatoes would be good too.
• Add more vegetables to increase the volume for minimal calories. Green beans, cauliflower, zucchini, corn, carrots, mixed vegetables would all work. 

What Should I Serve with Hamburger Curry?

Serve over steamed rice or cauliflower rice to keep your carbs and Weight Watchers Points to a minimum. 

Top with toasted coconut if desired.

Ways to Use Leftovers

• Portion out for future quick and easy meals.
• Use to top a baked potato or sweet potato.
• Thin with vegetable or beef broth to make a quick and easy Hamburger Curry Soup

If you’ve made this Easy Low Calorie Ground Beef Curry please give the recipe a star rating below and leave a comment letting me know how you liked it. And stay in touch on Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for the latest updates.

Recipe source: Adapted from the More-With-Less Cookbook (affiliate link)

More Easy Ground Beef Recipes for WW

• Easy American Hamburger Goulash – A family favorite from childhood.
• Slow Cooker Hamburger Stew – A simple savory comfort food favorite.
• Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole – All the flavors of Mexican Enchiladas with a lot less effort.
• Slow Cooker Tamale Pie – An easy alternative to tamales made in the crockpot.

Discover More WW-Friendly Recipes

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