I get the appeal of Hamburger Helper. I really do. It’s quick, easy, and if you don’t mind tons of salt, it probably tastes good. (I say “probably” because I’ve never actually made it).
But I just can’t bring myself to buy it. So when my husband requested chili mac & cheese for dinner this week, I jumped at the chance to make a Hamburger Helper-like dish that was healthier and more delicious than the boxed stuff.
Did you know? When making this recipe, choose ground turkey breast, not just ground turkey. Just like beef, ground turkey has various levels of fat and calories. Regular ground turkey is actually not that much of a savings, health-wise, versus ground beef.
Creamy Taco Mac
I apologize for the photo-less post. This is an old recipe, created before I had a DSLR camera.
1 pound pasta (Use multigrain or whole wheat for even more healthy benefits)
1 pound ground turkey breast
1/2 onion, chopped
1 14.5-ounce canned diced tomatoes
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 tablespoon cumin
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2/3 cup light sour cream
6 ounces light cream cheese
1/4 cup cheddar cheese
Boil the pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Brown the turkey in a large skillet over medium-high heat. When nearly browned, add the onions and saute. Add the diced tomatoes and spices and simmer until pasta is done.
Combine the hot pasta, pasta water, sour cream, cream cheese, and cheddar in a large bowl. Stir to combine and melt the cheeses. Add the tomato mixture slowly, stirring to combine thoroughly. Season to taste.
