Healthy Hamburger Helper Made With Venison & Veggies
Let’s talk about dinner. You know, the kind that fills everyone up, tastes amazing, and doesn’t leave you with a pile of dishes. That’s exactly what this Healthy Hamburger Helper Recipe does. It’s packed with extra veggies, lean venison, and simple ingredients, all cooked together in one pot. Yes, one pot!
Healthy Hamburger Helper with Venison & Veggies
Equipment
- 1 large soup pan (you make this in one pan, so make sure it is big enough)
- measuring cups and spoon
- meat chopper (not essential, but helpful)
Ingredients
- 4 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 cup grated or finely chopped carrots
- 1 cup chopped red pepper
- 2 zucchini (cut into bite sized pieces or a little larger)
- 3 cups baby spinach (roughly chopped & save until the end)
- 1 ½ lb. ground venison
- 2 tsp. sea salt
- 2 tsp. ground black pepper
- 2 tsp. garlic powder
- 2 tsp. chili powder
- 2 tsp. paprika
- 1 (6 oz.) can of tomato paste
- 3 tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 10 oz. of a small shaped pasta
- 3 cups beef broth (almost the whole container-add more if needed when the pasta starts absorbing it)
- 3/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- 1-2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat 4 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot over medium heat.
- Add in the chopped onion and carrots and cook for about 5 minutes. You want them to be softened.
- Add in the ground venison and cook until browned. Use the meat chopped or another utensil to break up the meat into small crumbles.
- Stir in the salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika.
- Stir in the tomato paste and Worcestershire Sauce. Cook for another 30 seconds. This gets the seasonings going.
- Add in the spinach and pasta.
- Pour in the broth and stir everything.
- Cover the pot and bring it up to a simmer over medium heat. You can go just a bit higher to speed up the process. You need to stir regularly to keep it from sticking on the bottom.
- Simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender and cooked. Don't forget to stir! Also, it's a simmer, not a boil. If you need to add a little more liquid, you can.
- Remove from heat and stir in the yogurt/sour cream and shredded cheese!
Why I Love Venison (Deer Burger)
My family has been cooking with venison my whole life. I love the taste, the fact that it is fresh and came straight from our land, and I know exactly who processed it. We do our own processing and I feel very blessed that I can say that.
This dish is inspired by the classic boxed version but made way better with whole foods. It’s creamy, cheesy, full of savory goodness, and best of all, the whole family will love this. So grab your ingredients, and let’s make this easy hamburger helper recipe.
Ingredients for This Yummy Classic Comfort Food:
- • 4 tablespoons olive oil
- • 1 large onion, chopped
- • 1 red bell pepper, chopped (or use green for a different flavor)
- • 1 cup grated or finely chopped carrots
- • 2 zucchini, cut into bite-sized pieces
- • 3 cups baby spinach, roughly chopped
- • 1½ pounds ground venison
- • 2 teaspoons sea salt
- • 2 teaspoons ground black pepper
- • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- • 2 teaspoons chili powder
- • 2 teaspoons paprika
- • 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste (not tomato sauce!)
- • 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- • 10 ounces small-shaped dry pasta (whole wheat pasta or chickpea pasta works great!)
- • 3 cups beef broth (use a high-quality one for the best flavor)
- • ¾ cup sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- • 1–2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions for Venison Hamburger Helper:
1. Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. I use a large soup pot.
2. Add the onion, red pepper, carrots, and zucchini. Saute for about 5 minutes until they start to soften.
3. Add the ground venison. Cook until browned, breaking it up into crumbles as it cooks.
4. Stir in salt, pepper, garlic powder, chili powder, and paprika.
5. Add tomato paste and Worcestershire sauce. Stir and let it cook for 30 seconds to bring out the flavors.
6. Toss in the spinach and pasta.
7. Pour in the beef broth. Stir well, cover the pot, and bring it to a simmer over medium heat.
• Stir regularly to prevent sticking.
• Do not boil—just a gentle simmer!
• If the pasta absorbs too much liquid, add a little more broth.
8. Let it simmer for about 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender. Stir often!
9. Remove from heat. Stir in the sour cream (or yogurt) and shredded cheese.
10. Serve immediately and enjoy!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Healthy Hamburger Helper:
• One-pot meal = fewer dishes
• Loaded with extra veggies
• Uses lean venison for a healthier option (you can use lean ground beef, lean ground turkey, or elk if you don’t have ground venison)
• Creamy, cheesy, and full of flavor
• A healthier take on the boxed classic
• Easy to store in an airtight container for leftovers
No Sides Needed – This is a Meal in Itself
I love a meal that doesn’t need anything extra. No side dishes, no extra steps, just one pot and done. This healthy homemade hamburger helper has everything – protein form the venison, veggies packed in every bite, creamy cheddar cheese, and hearty pasta.
If you really want to add something, maybe a side of crusty bread or a simple salad. This healthy hamburger helper with venison and veggies does stand on its own!
More Than Just a Meal – A Way of Life
Cooking with venison is more that just making a meal – it’s a tradition, a connection to the land, and something I’ve been raised to appreciate. From an early age, I was taught respect for the land and the animal. We never take more than we need, and we make sure to use everything we harvest.
When I pull a package of venison from the freezer, I know exactly where it came from. It’s either from my husband, one of my boys, or sometimes even a package from my dad or brother. There’s something special about that – about knowing that this food came straight from the woods to our table.
From the moment it’s brought in, to processing it ourselves, packaging it, and stocking the freezer – it’s all part of the process. It’s about providing for our family in the most natural way possible, with good, healthy food that we trust.
This meal is just one way that we honor that tradition, and every time I cook with venison, I’m reminded of just how important it is to us.
Time To Go Make It!
If you have any leftovers (rare in my house), just store them in an airtight container in the fridge. The flavors get even better the next day!
This healthy homemade hamburger helper is a simple, family-friendly meal with whole foods and big flavor. It’s easy, satisfying, and definitely a step up from the store-bought version. I love that it is a complete meal full of extra nutrients.
Let me know if you try it—I’d love to hear what you think!
Love,
Anna Sue
