Break up with the box! Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper squashes the craving for something hearty and satisfying in a much healthier way than store-bought hamburger helper. This quick and easy one-pan, 30 minute meal is made from a handful of everyday ingredients and is a true family favorite.
“I’ve been making this recipe for a few years now. My whole family loves it! It’s simple, straight forward ingredients I always have on hand, and delicious. Definitely a recipe that should be added to your rotation.”
If you’ve had a busy week and didn’t made it to the grocery store, my Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper is an easy ground beef dinner recipe made with ingredients I can almost guarantee you already have on hand.
Made in 1 pan, ready in 30 minutes, plus the recipe calls for just 7 ingredients (compared to the boxed version’s 27 – yes, I counted), my family inhales this “taco rice” for dinner every single time I make it!
Watch How to Make It
Healthier Homemade Hamburger Helper
One of my favorite things to do is remake processed, packaged foods to make them healthier at home.
Today Homemade Crunchy Taco Hamburger Helper is joining the ranks. Heck it may even be the new captain.
All aboard!
Pin this now to find it later
Pin ItOk, that was cheesier than this delicious dish which features ground beef seasoned with homemade taco seasoning that’s simmered with long grain white rice and chicken broth until tender.
Freshly shredded cheddar cheese is stirred in at the end then the whole dish is topped with taco-inspired extras like salsa, avocado, green onions, and crushed tortilla chips.
If your family likes quick, easy and satisfying meals – and tacos, of course! – they will gobble this one up.
How to Make this Recipe
Step 1: Brown the ground beef.
Start by browning ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat with chopped shallot or onion. Drain away any excess fat in a colander then return the beef to the skillet.
Step 2: Season with taco seasoning.
Next sprinkle in taco seasoning. I recommend my single packet recipe, or 2 Tablespoons of my large batch taco seasoning. A store-bought taco seasoning packet is fine too.
Recipe Note
Whichever seasoning you use, do not add the water that’s called for in the seasoning recipe or on the packet.
Step 3: Add the liquid.
Next add your favorite salsa plus chicken broth then turn the heat up to high and bring the liquid to a simmer.
Step 4: Add the rice then simmer.
Once simmering, stir in long-grain white rice then place a lid on top, turn the heat down to low, and cook until the rice is tender and all the liquid is nearly absorbed, about 15 minutes.
Step 5: Stir in shredded cheese then serve.
Remove the skillet from the heat then stir in freshly shredded sharp cheddar cheese until smooth and melted. Place a lid on top then let the rice continue to steam and soften for 5 minutes.
When time is up, scoop the homemade taco hamburger helper onto plates then add your toppings and dig in.
Just think of how much better you’ll feel serving this hearty meal to your family knowing it didn’t come from a preservative-filled box. Plus it’s so easy – like I said, 30 minutes from start to finish. Enjoy!
More One Pan Dinner Recipes You’ll Love
- One Pot Chicken and Rice
- Beef and Veggie Enchilada Skillet
- One Pot Gnocchi Chicken Pot Pie
- American Goulash
- Italian Rice Ball Skillet
- Cheesy Chicken Burrito Skillet
- Creamy Summer Veggie Gnocchi Skillet
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 1 large shallot or 1/2 small onion, chopped
- 1 recipe homemade taco seasoning
- 1/2 cup salsa
- 1-3/4 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup long grain white rice, Lundberg recommended
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
- Toppings: tortilla chips, salsa, sliced avocado, chopped green onions
Directions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and shallot or onion then brown the beef until cooked through. Drain in a colander then return the mixture to the skillet. Add the taco seasoning, salsa, and chicken broth then stir to combine and bring the mixture to a simmer.
- Once simmering, add the rice, stir to combine, place a lid on top of the skillet, then turn the heat to low – the liquid should barely be bubbling. Simmer for 15-20 minutes or until the rice is tender then remove the skillet from the heat, sprinkle the cheese on top, and stir until smooth and melted. Place the lid back on top then let sit for 5 minutes before serving with toppings.
Notes
- For the taco seasoning: use my single packet recipe, 2 Tablespoons of my large batch homemade taco seasoning, or a store-bought taco seasoning packet.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This is a great, easy recipe. I was wondering if you had nutritional info? It’s definitely healthier than the boxed version, but I am trying to watch what I eat, and its hard to do it by each ingredient lol. I make it with two cups of brown 10 minute rice. I add an additional 1 1/4 cup chicken broth, 3/4 water and 1/4 cube of chicken bouillon cube, 1/4 extra salsa, and maybe an extra 3 tbsp. taco seasoning since I double the rice. I let it cook around 18 minutes. My family and I love it! Thanks for the recipe!
My family loves this – it is in regular in our weekly meal plans!! Thank you!
This was easy and yummy! I used brown rice and 2 cups of chicken broth. My picky 3 year old grandson loved it!
I’m making this right now. I made it probably within the first week of you posting and it has been a family favorite. I make it about 1 time a week every week as it is my 6 year old daughter’s favorite and it heats well to go in her thermos for school lunch. I add a can of corn and a can of black beans to bulk it up a little bit. But this recipe is for sure a family favorite!
Oh I’m so glad to hear it, and love the healthy additions, too!
Hi Kristin, it’s been a while since I’ve been on your page, but I came back specifically looking for your taco seasoning recipe (which I’ve made a few times before and LOVE!!) and can’t find it. The link within this recipe no longer works – could you please point me to the taco seasoning recipe? Thanks!
All fixed up for you, Megan! :)
Thanks so much! I’m going to make the crunchy taco helper recipe again this week too – sooo yummy! :)
I’m trying this out tonight! Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. I ate tons of Hamburger Helper when I was in college…except that I couldn’t afford meat, so I really just had “Helper”. I bet this will be much, much better than what I ate in college.
I loved the fact it says 30 minutes and it was just that. You can do so much more with this recipe. Add black beans and corn yummo! This will be going on my recipe board for a another meal.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve made this yummy, crunchy dinner! I was recently diagnosed with Celiacs too but I was loving this quick dish long before my actual diagnosis. Husband and kid approved for sure. This recipe is my go-to for when I’m standing here at t-minus 30 till dinner and feeling clueless and tired. And since I take leftovers for lunch, I get to enjoy this for 2 or 3 days! Whoop!
try adding Doritos at the end i think this is great
I love eating hh crunchy taco but I love the recipe you have the box is just not enough for three ppl everyone always wants secondsand thirds! But this is NOT MEXICAN food believe me im a real mexican lol it just gets a bit annoying reading all the comments just like taco bell isisnt either:-D
I made this for my boys tonight and they all loved it. Super simple which makes this tired mommy happy. Thank you!
Made this tonight. SUPER easy and quick to prepare, and we all liked it! :)
We made this last night and loved it–my boyfriend said he liked it better than regular tacos!! I don’t know if I’ve ever even had the actual Hamburger Helper taco version or not, but yours is a recipe we’ll keep on making over and over again :) Thanks!