Healthy Homemade Hamburger Helper Recipe

I am not ashamed to say that as a child, I loved Hamburger Helper. I loved it so much that I specifically requested it at a sleepover, a story my family friend has never let me forget. Apparently, I told her that my mother makes this wonderful dish that I thought everyone would love for dinner — the illustrious Hamburger Helper. So when we were presented with the challenge of making a healthy grain recipe, my very first thought was to make my own healthy and frankly, upgraded, version of Hamburger Helper.

My first hurdle was the name. Everyone I told had the same (shocking, to me) reaction of semi-disgust and disbelief. But I persevered and I’m glad I did. I used ground turkey, whole-wheat fusilli, grated Parmesan, a touch of heavy cream and butter, and garlic to put together a completely tasty, creamy, satisfying dish. Think of it this way: It’s almost like a turkey Bolognese replacing the tomato stew-like base with creamy cheesy goodness. (Jury’s still out on a new name.)

The saltiness of the Parmesan and the slight sweetness of chopped tomatoes worked so nicely alongside the lightness of the lean ground turkey and the creaminess of the whole thing made it feel slightly indulgent while still being healthy. That my boyfriend got up from the table and went for seconds should be testimony enough.