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.
My husband’s comment was OMG this is delicious!! So glad I tried it…he had a stroke this past spring and is limited in what he eats and this is a welcome addition to our food rotation. Thanks so much!
The crunchy taco hamburger is the only one I ever buy because it’s my boys favorite. So glad to find a healthier version to try. I know that this will become a standby at my house. I will be tripling this recipe as I am cooking for 8 of us.
This looks so good! Question: my son doesn’t like rice (what?!?) so was going to have on the side. Will the meat mixture need any of the chicken broth or can I leave it out since I won’t include rice in it? Thank you!
You should be fine to leave it out! :)
Love having something that reminds me of childhood without it being processed!!
I’m new to your blog. Do you give nutritional info (calories, grams carbs/sugar, etc)?
Made this tonight and loved it, especially how easy everything came together in one skillet!
Love this recipe. We went vegan a few years ago and my bf missed the crunchy taco HH. I found your recipe and easily made it vegan with boca crumbles, not-chicken broth, and vegan queso from Nora cooks instead of cheese. My bf likes it more than the original and our 4-year old loves it. So good! Thank you!
I was looking for a homemade version of the crunchy taco hamburger helper (which was our favorite.) This recipe is delicious! The whole family liked it including my pickiest eater. A while back I made a recipe that I thought would be similar but it was lacking flavor. This one has good flavor and I used your homemade taco seasoning too. (I multiplied it by 6 and put the extra in a jar.) Thanks for sharing.
I made this tonight for the first time after you reposted it this week. My picky 5-year-old asked for seconds! It was so easy to pull together and tasted so good. My rice ended up a tad underdone, so next time I’ll add a little more broth to cook it since all the liquid was gone after 20 minutes. Some of the other suggestions for adding in things sounds good so next time I think I’ll add corn and black beans as well. Thank you so much for making easy and healthy meals for this mom who can’t cook very well! Usually I get an upturned nose and so glad that isn’t the case with this. Have a great week!
Added some black beans and orange peppers… Have a GF sensitive daughter… The kids and adults devoured it! Awesome idea. Thanks!
I made a double recipe of this last week, and my family devoured it! We all put our own spin on it – guac, sour cream, lettuce, chips, cheese on top, etc. Making again tonight (another double batch) and, at the request of my 11 year old, serving with tortillas so he can use the “taco rice” (as we all called it) as burrito filler. Thanks for a great, easy, practical recipe!
I loved the crunchy taco boxed meal however, I always substitute with boiling my chicken first then preparing the hamburger helper around the chicken and adding a can of black beans and some corn. Do you think it would still be possible to make this with chicken and not hamburger?
Sure!
This turned out great – thanks for the recipe! My kids loved it especially. The only thing I’ll do differently next time is check on the rice while it is cooking and add more broth or water as needed (mine got dry – I should have kept an eye on it!).
I love reading your blog – thanks for the hard work you put into it!
Thank you so much for the kind words, Kari! I’m so glad your family loved the dish! :)