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!
Subscribe to Get: Top 10 Reader Favorite Recipes
The Top 10 Most Popular Recipes (PDF) on Simple Nourished Living + Weekly Support Emails with Tips & Easy Healthy Recipes Not Found Anywhere Else!
Barb Talbert
I am on the old point system. How can I compare old points with new freestyle points?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Barb, You can't really compare old points with new but I do provide the nutritional information from which you can calculate the old points. Hope this helps. - Martha
Colleen
None of your recipes show the grams of sugar? Are there none?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Colleen,
I don't include grams of sugar in my nutritional information, just calories, carbs, protein, fat, fiber, and WW points. ~Martha
Jessy
If I make it with ground turkey does that lower the points?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Jessy, It depends on the kind of ground turkey you use. If you use ground turkey breast it will lower the points because it is a zero points food. You should be able to check your WW App for the exact number to deduct. I would think 2-3 points. Hope this helps. - Martha
Christine Ward
I only have 2 in my household so I won't be dividing it onto 6 plates. Do you have an approximate serving size for each portion?
Judy Lawler
Generous cup
Christine
Sorry, I just saw the serving size in the Nutrition Facts box. I just needed to scroll down a little further!! I'm blaming it on old age!! haha
Debby Sumwalt
Hello Martha-made this casserole for supper tonight. It came together so easy-I was able to get your low fat lemon bars in the oven while the casserole simmered. Loved that the whole recipe came together in one pan! That made for easy cleanup. We look forward to eating the leftovers. Thank you
Judy Threadgill
I wish it included Freestyle Points when using ground turkey. I'm so lazy I didn't want to compute it on my own.
Sharon
Could I make this I. A crock pot? Has anyone tried to?
Jan O'Steen
Loved it!
Cheri
I do Simply Filling. I could just substitute the elbow Pasta for Whole Wheat and then walahhh !!
Jordan
Do you add in the elbow macaroni dry, or does it have to be cooked first? If you add it in dry, does it cook all the way without being boiled first?
Martha McKinnon
Hi Jordan, you add it dry. It cooks through when you cook as the recipe instructs. Hope this helps. - Martha
Zoe
Hi. Looks amazing. Do you have the sodium count?
Thanks. Zoe
Jeannette
This was a delicious meal and, as suggested, served with a salad. Since I cook for one, I was able to put one cup servings into dishes and freeze for meals later. Thank you for all of your recipes.
Martha McKinnon
Thanks for taking the time to let us know Jeannette!
Margaret Wade Baunach
It was great!
Wendie
Made this tonight. I am on Noom and this seemed like a good use of ground beef and a little indulgence for me. Used tomato sauce instead of diced tomatoes (husband won’t eat). My only thing I’ll do next time is cut back on the smoked paprika. Wasn’t a huge fan of the overpowering aroma or taste. Good, otherwise, and very easy!
Mari
This was one of those lifesaver, I am not prepared dinners. So glad I found it! I added sautéed green peppers and onions, and subbed homemade chicken bone broth and unfortunately full fat cheddar because it's what I had in freezer. I added some Luigis Revenge Italian seasoning which took it to another level, and served with zucchini slices made in my air fryer. This was a hit for us, and will certainly make again. Thank you!
Kari
Made this and it was so good- very cheesy and tasty! Will be great for left overs!!
Maryanne Vermillion
This is a favorite 10 star meal in our house. It's on the rotation and my picky eater husband loves it!!
marlys
I made this tonight and I liked it. I added the zucchini, onions and bell pepper.
Debbie W
This was so easy and delicious! My husband went back for seconds (and thirds)!My very picky daughter even loved it! Definitely a keeper for those hectic work nights.
AMY MURRELLE
This is easy to make and tastes great. It's even better the next day.