Name: Lamburger Helper
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 20 min
Ingredients: 12 ounces cavatappi pasta (corkscrew); 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 yellow onion. diced; 1 lb ground lamb; 1 tsp kosher salt; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 1 15 ounce can tomato sauce; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 tsp dried basil; 1/2 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1/2 tsp black pepper; 1-2 cups beef broth; 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese; 1/2 cup asiago cheese; 3/4 cup heavy cream; 1/4 cup fresh parsley, optional

Lamburger helper is a grown-up spin on a childhood classic. I mean what’s not to love about a creamy cheesy packed pasta dish? The rich flavors of lamb and asiago cheese take this old childhood classic to next level deliciousness! Prepare your tastebuds…

This is a sponsored conversation written by me in partnership with the American Lamb board. All opinions expressed are my own.

Happy New Year friends!! I’m excited to share our first recipe of 2021 with you!! If you’re new here, welcome. My name is Shannon. I like food, a lot and I’m passionate about sharing our families favorite whole food recipes in hopes to bring the family back to the dinner table. I don’t count macros or calories but rather focus on filling our plates with nutrient dense whole foods. I hope you’ll stick around.

I grew up the only child of a single hard-working mama. As much as she tried to put whole foods on the dinner table every night, I could always count on tuna or hamburger helper once or twice a week. It came together easily and let’s face it, tasted pretty darn good to a kid… but I just knew I could do it better with REAL ingredients as an adult. I wanted to clean up an old classic with a healthier spin and I did just that! This may be our families new favorite weekday dinner!!

Let’s chat lamb

I love lamb. I was raised enjoying lamb for special occasion dinners and it brings back some of my most cherished memories of my childhood. Not only is lamb delicious and full of flavor, but it packs a pretty impressive nutritional punch! Lamb is an excellent source of B12, niacin, zinc and selenium. A 3-ounce serving of lamb provides 3 grams of monounsaturated fat. The “good” fat also found in avocados and olive oil. It’s a responsible choice you can feel good about enjoying.

Plus choosing American lamb means you are supporting local family farmers and ranchers. Did you know there are over 80,000 family-owned sheep farms and ranches in the US and lamb is produced in every state? Eating locally sourced ingredients is something I am becoming more and more passionate about, especially when it comes to our source of protein. Quality counts friends.

Where do you buy lamb?

If purchasing lamb is new for you, I highly recommend checking out the ALB website’s where to buy page. They can direct you to the nearest butcher or grocery store that sells lamb of great quality! When looking for lamb, look for lamb grown by the American farmers and ranchers. “They provide high quality, flavorful lamb in a way that sustains our industry, supports our communities, and preserves our land and resources for future generations.”

Lamburger helper ingredients

ground lamb
tomato sauce
tomato paste
bone broth
asiago cheese
cheddar cheese
heavy cream
diced onion
herbs and spices

This meal is pretty simple in flavor, making a great option for the kiddos but it also packs an impressive nutritional punch, making it a double win for adults. Plus, it comes together in under 30 minutes…

How to make Lamburger Helper

Bring a stock pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta according to package directions, drain and set aside.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add onion and sauté until translucent.
Add ground lamb, sprinkle with salt. Sauté, breaking up the lamb with a spatula, until the lamb is cooked through and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat.
Add tomato sauce, tomato paste, broth (starting with one cup) and remaining spices. Add cooked pasta.
Remove from heat and add heavy cream, asiago and cheddar cheeses and stir to combine. Slowly add more broth to reach your desired consistency. Sauce will thicken as ot stands.
Serve immediately and enjoy!

Hamburger helper substitutions

You can always substitute ground turkey or beef for the lamb if you prefer. The flavors will be similar. Or feel free to leave out the meat all together for a meatless meal.

If you are gluten-free you can use a brown rice or chickpea pasta.

For dairy-free you could substitute a vegan cheese and cream or leave it out completely. Still delicious!

I hope you enjoy our cleaned up hamburger helper!! I am always after a comfort meal during the winter months and this one hits the spot!! Make sure to tag me on Instagram if you make this meal and leave me a comment below if you liked it!!