WW Recipe of the Day: One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
Today I'm sharing a recipe for skinny cheeseburger pasta, aka homemade hamburger helper, a one pot skillet meal that's sure to please the entire family. It did mine.
How Many Calories and WW Points in this Pasta Skillet?
According to my calculations each generous 1-cup serving has 350 calories and:
7 *SmartPoints (Green plan)
7 *SmartPoints (Blue plan)
7 *SmartPoints (Purple plan)
9 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
To see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site, Click here!
Recipe Notes
As soon as I discovered the recipe for an easy cheesy homemade hamburger helper in a Slimming World magazine I knew I wanted to try it.
The only change I made was to substitute granulated roasted garlic for fresh, since I didn't have any on hand.
I also adjusted the serving size from 4 to 6 to lower the calories and Weight Watchers Freestyle SmartPoints. With a side salad alongside, this cheeseburger pasta made for a satisfying dinner.
Recipe Additions and Variations
No ground beef?
Substitute ground turkey or chicken or chicken/turkey sausage
Vegetarian?
Substitute ground beef with vegetarian crumbles, cooked lentils or beans and vegetable broth (affiliate link) for the chicken broth.
No smoked paprika?
Substitute regular sweet paprika or mild chile powder or skip it altogether.
Spicier?
Replace the can of diced tomatoes with a can of zesty fire-roasted ones with diced chiles.
More veg?
Add chopped zucchini, cauliflower or corn in step 2 of the recipe instructions. Or add chopped onions and/or bell peppers to the ground beef in step 1.
No elbow pasta?
Use whatever small cut of pasta you prefer and have on hand, such as shells, fusilli or penne.
How to Make Skinny Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet Recipe – Step-by-Step
Step 1: Gather Your Ingredients and Utensils
Ingredients:
- Cooking spray
- 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces dry elbow macaroni
- 6 ounces shredded low-fat cheddar cheese (1-½cups)
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
Utensils:
- chef's knife (affiliate link)
- cutting board (affiliate link)
- large skillet (affiliate link)
- wooden spoon (affiliate link)
Step 2: Brown Ground Beef and Add Spices
Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link) with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat until hot. Add the beef and cook, breaking into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon, until browned, 5 to 7 minutes.
Stir in the garlic powder and smoked paprika and cook for 30 seconds or so.
Step 3: Add the Broth, Tomatoes and Macaroni
Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, macaroni, and ½ teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the macaroni is tender and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the Cheese
Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the cheese until well blended and melted.
Step 5: Serve warm from the skillet
Divide mixture evenly among six plates or bowls. Sprinkle with scallions. Enjoy alone or with a green salad!
Are You Ready To Firmly Plant Yourself
On The Path To Lasting Weight Loss Success?
If you enjoy this cheeseburger pasta skillet, be sure to check out my other Weight Watchers friendly recipes including: Mom's Hamburger Macaroni Goulash, Skinny Southwestern Goulash, Crock Pot Healthy Hamburger Stew, 3-Ingredient Sloppy Joes, Easy Taco Cauliflower Rice Skillet, Crock Pot Tomato Beef Macaroni Soup and Lightened-Up Skillet Lasagna
If you've made this protein-packed One-Pot Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet, 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.
Skinny One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 pound 95% lean ground beef
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 8 ounces elbow macaroni
- 6 ounces (1-½ cups) shredded low-fat cheddar cheese
- 2 scallions, thinly sliced
Instructions
- Lightly coat a large nonstick skillet (affiliate link) with cooking spray and set over medium-high heat until hot.
- Add the beef and cook, breaking into smaller pieces with a wooden spoon (affiliate link), until browned, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the garlic powder and smoked paprika and cook for 30 seconds or so.
- Add the chicken broth, tomatoes, macaroni, and ½ teaspoon salt and bring to a simmer. Cook, stirring often, until the macaroni is tender and the sauce has thickened, 10 to 15 minutes.
- Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the cheese until well blended and melted.
- Divide mixture evenly among six plates or bowls. Sprinkle with scallions.
Equipment
Recipe Notes
Substitute regular sweet paprika or mild chile powder or skip it altogether. Spicier? Replace the can of diced tomatoes with a can of zesty fire-roasted ones with diced chiles. More veg? Add chopped zucchini, cauliflower or corn in step 2 of the recipe instructions. Or add chopped onions and/or bell peppers to the ground beef in step 1. No elbow pasta? Use whatever small cut of pasta you prefer and have on hand, such as shells, fusilli or penne. Serving size: 1 cup Click here to see your WW PersonalPoints for this recipe and track it in the WW app or site. 7 *SmartPoints (Green plan) 7 *SmartPoints (Blue plan) 7 *SmartPoints (Purple plan) 9 *PointsPlus (Old plan)
Serving Suggestion: Large side salad tossed with low-fat Italian dressing
Source: adapted from Slimming World Magazine (affiliate link)
*Points® calculated by WW. *PointsPlus® and SmartPoints® calculated by Simple Nourished Living; Not endorsed by Weight Watchers International, Inc. All recipe ingredients except optional items included in determining nutritional estimates. SmartPoints® values calculated WITHOUT each plan's ZeroPoint Foods (Green plan, Blue plan, Purple plan) using the WW Recipe Builder.
More Easy, Healthy WW Friendly Recipe
- Cheeseburger Casserole (SkinnyTaste)
- Slow Cooker Italian Sloppy Joes (Simple-Nourished-Living)
- Turkey Sloppy Joe Pasta (EmilyBites)
- Sloppy Jane Stir Fry (HungryGirl)
Weight Watchers 2019 Freestyle Updates
Martha is the founder and main content writer for Simple-Nourished-Living.
A longtime lifetime WW at goal, she is committed to balancing her love of food and desire to stay slim while savoring life and helping others do the same.
She is the author of the Smart Start 28-Day Weight Loss Challenge.
A huge fan of the slow cooker and confessed cookbook addict, when she's not experimenting in the kitchen, you're likely to find Martha on her yoga mat.
This post contains affiliate links to products I like. When you buy something through one of my Amazon links or other (affiliate links), I receive a small commission that helps support this site. Thank you for your purchase!
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Kathy E.
Definitely a make again recipe for us! I prepared this in the Instant Pot and will do it this way again. I added chopped veggies: onions, zucchini, and green pepper. I also used whole wheat elbow macaroni and added one small can of tomato sauce.
Sarah Riniker
THE FLAVOR IS SCRUMPTIOUS! A MUST MAKE!
Debbie
This was so easy and best of all DELICIOUS. All my husband could do was say yum this is so good. I’m sending on to my daughters in law for my grandkids. Seriously, quick and easy and for me I have those ingredients in my kitchen all of the time. Try it, your whole family will love it.
Julia Craft
For 1 cup servings this made way more than documented. I think mine made around 10 servings at 1 cup each. I did add some corn and and onion and bell pepper to it but I don't think it would add that many more servings. I'm trying to track this for my WW and I'm confused at how many points it is since mine made so much more.
Lee L
Thank you for suggesting substitutions and other items to consider. Our house has one gluten free member and one vegetarian-- this recipe was completely doable in our house to meet everyone's needs and tastebuds!
jacquelyn fritzke
What would the points be using ground turkey?
Janea Pilgrim
Fast, easy and incredibly delicious!
Even my ultra picky husband liked it!!
Amanda
Hi Martha this was a delicious recipe but maybe you can go back and be a little more specific with the macaroni I actually cooked it first then realized afterwards that it had to be dry, so I just did the rest seperatly and added the cooked macaroni after, not you're fault I should have read it better. Thanks
Andrea
It’s a major hit with my family!!
Karen
Since discovering this recipe on your site a few months ago, this one has become part of a regular rotation. I make it at least once a week and it's my husband's favorite! He will sometimes ask "Can we have cheeseburger macaroni for dinner tonight?"
I've had to improvise a few times as I've run out of certain items, and each variation has also been good. I've had to substitute Rotel a few times because I was out of regular diced tomatoes, and it adds a lovely, spicy southwestern flavor. I've also added some chipotle-flavored Tabasco while it simmers and it also adds something new and different. I love how versatile the recipe is, and still so delicious each time!
Linda
My family loved this!
Angie
Can we say YUM YUM YUMMY???!!!
I did use fire roasted tomatoes. I like spice. So very easy to make. Thx for sharing.
Martha McKinnon
Love the idea of fire roasted tomatoes for an extra hit of flavor! Thanks for sharing! ~Martha
Karen K.
I’ve made this dish several times and we love it! It’s hard to keep it at a one cup serving! I confess, I do eat a heaping cup but since I bulk it up with chopped onions, a bell pepper and 8 oz of mushrooms, I think it’s ok. So good. I’ve used both ground turkey breast and beef and to be honest, the beef has more flavor. The turkey is fine though, if you want to limit your red meat. I also use whole grain pasta. And did I mention how easy? So simple and using my Dutch oven is the perfect vessel. Thank you Martha!
Linda Tejera
HI Martha! We absolutely love this recipe! It has become a staple at our house! Thanks so much!
Betty
AWESOME, AWESOME ?. I MAKE THIS ALL THE TIME.
I CHANGE THE MEAT NOW AND THEN. sometimes Italian sausage and some
Italian spices.sometimes chicken. Thanks
Lori Pichotta
Can't wait to try this one!
Martha, I have the hardest time finding reduced fat cheese. I know you live in a different part of the country than I do, I am in the Bay Area, California, but maybe your readers have ideas for me?
I can usually find pre-shredded mild cheddar, or sliced mild cheddar in the low fat at Safeway, but not much else. Can you recommend somewhere? Thank you! I love getting your recipes!
Lori Pichotta
Looks like another winner! Can't wait to try this one!
Martha, I have the hardest time finding reduced fat cheese. I know you live in a different part of the country than I do, I am in the Bay Area, California, but maybe your readers have ideas for me?
I can usually find pre-shredded mild cheddar, or sliced mild cheddar in the low fat at Safeway, but not much else. Can you recommend somewhere? Thank you! I love getting your recipes!
Martha McKinnon
Hi Lori,
I've seen a few options at Trader Joes. ~Martha
Kassandra
I love this one pot meal! So easy and the flavor is on point. I was out of shredded cheese and substituted 4oz Velveeta. It actually makes it super creamy and delicious. Definitely a new family favorite
Kelly
This is a family favorite for us! Made it as directed, no changes!
Martha McKinnon
Thanks for letting us know Kelly! ~Martha
Sherry
This was absolutely delicious and easy to make. Thank you.
Martha McKinnon
Hi Sherry,
So glad you liked it! ~Martha