As a kid, I remember eating things like Hamburger Helper (or Tuna Helper, vibration) regularly. This MSG, hydrolyzed corn, protein packed one pan meal was an '80s staple. My friends and I would bemoan its existence for equally elaborate school lunches. Of course, they hadn't taught me own food rules to cure picky eaters at that point!
As the saying goes, “When you know better, do better.” I can honestly say that I have never bought a Hamburger Helper from the grocery store. That said, I can understand the appeal!
A meal that comes together in 20 minutes and only needs a pound of meat? Yes, please!
A ground beef stir-fry that's better than ever
Hamburger Helper certainly had one thing right…convenience! I'm sure the low price and simple preparation were some of the main reasons it gained so much popularity (the taste… not so much!). An easy roast beef makes the perfect weeknight dinner that even picky eaters can enjoy.
With a few simple and equally inexpensive real food ingredients, you can replace prepackaged one-skillet meals with more nutritious options. You can use gluten-free noodles or shirataki noodles, instead of the usual ones, but this recipe is a perfect way to get more vegetables into your diet. I always love creating new recipes and this one is now a favorite with the kids!
Return the vegetables to the noodles
I often use our spiralizer to thinly slice the zucchini for this recipe. If you don't have a spiralizer – get one! They do magic tricks to make kids want to make and eat vegetables.
Another benefit of this recipe is how easy and quick it is to prepare. My kids love it they can help prepare this recipe. And the older kids can now prepare this themselves without my help.
This easy stir-fry is a regular in our meal planning rotation. It's also one of my go-to dishes for busy nights when I don't have anything else ready to cook. I'll usually use beef for the ground meat, but you can also use ground turkey or ground chicken if that's what you have on hand.
Variations of fried minced meat
Zucchini is our favorite vegetable in this recipe, but you can use any vegetable you have on hand. Some that readers have used and liked are carrots, yellow squash, kohlrabi or sweet potatoes.
You can also mix it with a variety of spices for completely different tastes. Some of our favorites are:
- 2 teaspoons cumin and 1 teaspoon chili powder. Top with salsa, sour cream and cheese for a Tex-Mex flavor.
- Add some Italian seasoning and a can of diced tomatoes. If you like it spicy, try some red peppers with it. Top with Parmesan for an Italian taste.
- Use it curry powder instead of listed spices and add a little coconut milk for a deep and earthy scent.
- Try it toasted sesame oil instead of butter, add some extra garlic and top coconut amino acids (similar to soy sauce) for a taste similar to egg rolls.
- For an Asian version, add red peppers and broccoli florets. Top with some sesame seeds and some rice vinegar.
More good ideas
- Soft onions
- Fresh grated ginger
- Snap peas
- Sriracha or fried sauce
Now that our family eats some whole grains, we'll often have white rice stir-fries. My favorite is jasmine rice, but sometimes I'll make cauliflower rice (which is still a vegetable). I actually prefer it over brown rice (That is why).
So let me introduce our favorite beef and zucchini recipe…
Zucchini and ground beef recipe
An easy mince stir-fry with a pasta-like texture that kids love! Use a spiralizer to make the vegetables into fun noodles in this recipe.
- 2 yellow onions (thinly sliced)
- 4 medium zucchini (spiral)
- 3 TBSP butter (or olive oil)
- 1 £ lean ground beef
- 1 carnation garlic (chopped)
- 2 SPOON onion powder
- 1 SPOON adobo seasoning
- 1 SPOON basil
- toppings such as pasta sauce, Parmesan cheese and grated cheese, as desired
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Heat a large skillet or wok over medium-high heat.
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Melt the butter in the pan.
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Add the chopped onion and zucchini to the pan and fry until they begin to soften.
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Remove the vegetables from the pan and place them in a baking dish.
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Turn the oven to broil and place the baking dish under the broiler for about 7-10 minutes until the vegetables are crispy.
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While the vegetables are in the oven, fry the minced meat in the pan and add the spices.
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Add the onions and zucchini back to the pan, stir and serve.
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Garnish with any desired toppings and enjoy!
Nutrition facts
Zucchini and ground beef recipe
Amount per serving (1 serving)
Calories 294
Calories from fat 135
% Daily Value*
Fat 15 g23%
Saturated fat 8 g50%
Trans fat 1 g
Unsaturated fat 1 g
Monounsaturated fat 5 g
cholesterol 93 mg31%
Sodium 162 mg7%
potassium 1015 mg29%
Carbohydrates 13 g4%
Fiber 3 g13%
Sugar 7 gr8%
Protein 28 g56%
Vitamin A 657 IU13%
Vitamin C 40 mg48%
Calcium 68 mg7%
Iron 4 mg22%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Keep all leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. I also like to heat up any leftovers with some eggs the next morning for a breakfast mix!
Try these Asian Lettuce Wraps or these Korean Beef and Rice Bowls for lighter meals during the week.
What is your favorite stir-fry recipe? Share below!
