How to Make Homemade Hamburger Helper

Jan
3

As an avid cook, this is almost embarrassing, but my kids love Hamburger Helper. I don’t love Hamburger Helper. It tastes like cardboard and the ingredients list on the side of the box is enough to make you run away screaming. Who knows what that stuff is. A lot of preservatives, for one thing. There’s just nothing fresh about it. And it’s not as if you’re going through a drive-through window and picking up dinner. You still have to cook it. What makes Hamburger Helper so popular is how quick you can get it on the table and the standardization of the directions in every variety along with the cutting open of packets and throwing it in the pot. It requires little thinking, which is often what you need at the end of a long day when you’re tired and everyone is hungry.

But! I (and you) can still give the kids what they want and put a quick home-cooked meal on the table at the same time. Make your own helper! You can even make it in advance so it’s all pre-measured and ready to toss in the pot on busy nights. Just like store-bought helper, your homemade helper comes with standardized directions and “packets” to throw in the pot. Very little thinking required–but in this case, it’s much more fresh and you can feel a whole lot better about feeding it to your family.

Using actual packages of Hamburger Helper and cookbook comparisons for the types of varieties offered along with my own cooking common sense and experience, I’ve broken down some of the most popular Hamburger Helper varieties. I’m showcasing Chili Cheese here–see below for the demystification of a number of other popular flavors.

Hamburger Helper Basics: When creating your own helpers, keep in mind that most packages of Hamburger Helper include about 1 1/2 cups of pasta plus a packet of sauce seasonings, sometimes dried tomatoes, and sometimes a packet of dried cheese, depending on the variety. If there’s anything more disgusting than dried cheese, I don’t know what it is. Some varieties use rice or dried sliced potatoes instead of pasta. Whatever you’re using for the starch base in the dish–1 1/2 cups is a good rule of thumb when making homemade helpers (except for rice, which I think works better using only 1 cup). After browning and draining the ground beef (one pound), in the same skillet you add water and milk (usually about 3 cups total), seasonings, and simmer (usually about 12-20 minutes). Add cheese near the end for some varieties.

What you need to have onhand to create homemade helpers: Ground beef, various herbs and seasonings and other basic pantry items (such as sugar, salt, and corn starch), pasta, rice, potatoes, canned tomatoes, and cheese. (You can buy large bags of pre-shredded cheeses to shortcut this step, or buy blocks of cheese and pre-shred it yourself.) Some varieties also call for Fritos or nacho chips, and most call for milk because it makes a creamier sauce. (Out of fresh milk sometimes? Keep dry milk in your pantry.) I always keep a large box of dry milk in my pantry so that I’m never out of milk.

You can also freeze milk, but you can keep far more milk onhand if you make dry milk a basic pantry item. It works just fine for baking and cooking, and is even pretty good for drinking. (For drinking, dry milk tastes better if you reconstitute it then refrigerate it overnight before using. For baking and cooking, it doesn’t matter. Just reconstitute what you need and use immediately.)

The chili cheese variety (a “pasta and cheesy sauce mix”) includes elbow macaroni, chili powder, paprika, salt, garlic, corn starch, sugar, and dried cheese along with other fun stuff like preservatives and FOUR types of food colorings.

In homemade helper, you cut out the dried cheese, preservatives, and food colorings combined with the seasonings in the store-bought sauce packet. That’s the store-bought Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper packet dumped out in the white bowl in this picture:

To the store-bought helper, you add a pound of ground beef, water, and milk. It goes on the dinner table in 30 minutes.

Here’s your Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper–pre-measured pasta and your own sauce packet.

You add a pound of ground beef, water, milk, and (real!) cheese. It hits the dinner table in 30 minutes, just like the store-bought version, only better.

I’m replicating store-bought Hamburger Helper in homemade form so I’m including the sugar and salt here. (Why do you think kids like this stuff?!) You can use the sugar and salt as measured here (or in reduced measures) in your own helpers, or leave it out entirely, as per your own preferences.

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How to make Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper:

1 pound ground beef
1 cup hot water
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
1 tablespoon corn starch
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Brown ground beef in a large skillet; drain.

Add hot water….

….milk….

….pasta….

….and your homemade sauce packet (corn starch, chili powder, garlic powder, salt, sugar, and paprika).

Bring to a boil.

Cover and simmer on low about 12 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.

In the last few minutes of cook time, stir in the cheese; cover the pot again for the final few minutes of cook time.

When the pasta is tender and the cheese is melted, turn off heat and uncover. Let mixture stand, uncovered, about five minutes. It will continue to thicken as it stands.

You can make your Homemade Hamburger Helper in advance by pre-measuring the pasta. Place in a sandwich-size baggie. Snack-size baggies are perfect for the sauce mix. The measured pasta can be used in a number of Hamburger Helper varieties. Just label the sauce mix so you’ll know what you’re picking up then grab whichever bag of pasta you need. For the cheese, you can pre-measure your shredded cheese, or just measure it as you need it.

Here’s how to put together several popular varieties and your standardized directions. Have a big family (or just big eaters)? Double or triple the recipe and use a big pot! Note: These are not amazingly inventive gourmet meals. But they are homemade lifesavers for busy days.

Step One: Brown and drain one pound of ground beef.
Step Two: Add 3 cups of liquid (water and/or milk) along with your 1 1/2 cups of pasta, sliced potatoes*, or rice (use only 1 cup of rice), the sauce packet, and sometimes tomatoes. Simmer covered. The simmer time will be approximately 12-20 minutes for most varieties. If cheese is used, stir it in during the last few minutes of cook time and put the cover back on the pot.
Step Three: Turn off heat and uncover. (Some varieties have cheese tossed on as a topping at the end instead of or in addition to being mixed in.) Let stand to thicken at least 5 minutes before serving.

*When using potatoes, slice the potatoes very thinly, like very thin potato chips. (If you find that difficult or annoying, you could finely dice the potatoes instead.) Add cook time if necessary, till the potatoes are tender. Some varieties use shredded potatoes. To save time on busy nights, you can slice, dice, or shred potatoes in advance in pre-measured quantities and freeze. Then all you have to do is take out your bag of potatoes and drop them in the skillet. (To freeze potatoes–slice, dice, or shred then blanch for about two minutes in boiling water. Drain and cool then freeze. You can also dehydrate sliced or shredded potatoes for homemade helpers.) Note: There’s a good suggestion in the comments about keeping store-bought frozen potatoes onhand as a shortcut for homemade helpers!

A number of varieties require tomatoes. (Store-bought Hamburger Helper uses dried tomatoes.) Use canned stewed or diced tomatoes for homemade helper, reducing the hot water by 1/4 cup because you’re also adding some liquid along with the tomatoes. (I use my own home-canned tomatoes.)

Feeling frisky? Use add-ins anytime you feel like taking an extra few seconds. A cup of pinto or red beans works great in chili mac, for example. Chopped peppers also work well in many varieties, as do all sorts of other vegetables. As a rule of thumb, use one cup for your add-in (if using multiple add-ins, combine them to add up to one cup). You can use more than a cup, of course, though keep in mind that you may overwhelm the dish if you use too much. When using add-ins like mushrooms, onions, peppers, etc, either saute them first separately or put them in as you brown the ground beef to saute them. Like heat? Add some ground cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper flakes to any variety for a spicier version.

In the case of stroganoff, an add-in of 1 cup of sliced fresh mushrooms is suggested. You can make stroganoff without mushrooms, but it’s just not the same. Store-bought Hamburger Helper uses dried mushrooms in their stroganoffs. If you can get your hands on some dried mushrooms, add a teaspoon (to the sauce packet) in place of the sliced, fresh mushrooms. But really. Use the fresh. It’ll only take a few minutes to prepare them, not adding much to your effort. You can even buy pre-sliced mushrooms if you prefer.

Once you get the hang of the basic principles, you can make any kind of helper you want! As you try any of these for the first time, choose an evening when you have time and add the sauce ingredients (except for the corn starch) sparingly. Taste test while you’re cooking to adjust the seasonings to your own preferences. These measurements are suggestions to get you started. Once you know how you like it, make up your own sauce packets for future use.

Chili Mac: Using 1 pound ground beef, 2 1/4 cups hot water and 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, and 1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar or jack cheese, shredded, near the end.

Lasagna: Using 1 pound ground beef, 2 1/4 cups hot water and 1/2 cup milk, 1 1/2 cups either lasagna broken into small pieces or small egg noodles, and 1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1 tablespoon mixed Italian herbs, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded, near the end, then sprinkle the top with parmesan cheese during the 5-minute standing period.

Cheesy Beef Taco: Using 1 pound ground beef, 2 1/4 cups hot water and 1/2 cup milk, 1 cup rice, and 1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, near the end, then top with another 1/2 cup cheddar plus 1 cup of Fritos during the 5-minute standing period.

Beef Stroganoff: Using 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup hot water and 2 cups milk (if you have sour cream, replace 1/2 cup of the milk with sour cream), and 1 1/2 cups small egg noodles, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with an add-in of 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms.

Potato Stroganoff: Using 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup hot water and 2 cups milk (if you have sour cream, replace 1/2 cup of the milk with sour cream), and 1 1/2 cups very thinly sliced or diced potatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 2 teaspoons garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon parsley, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon pepper with an add-in of 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms.

Salisbury: Using 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup hot water and 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups small egg noodles, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1 tablespoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Cheesy Italian Shells: Using 1 pound ground beef, 3/4 cup hot water and 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups small pasta shells, and 1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 1 tablespoon mixed Italian herbs, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1 cup cheddar, shredded, near the end.

Cheesy Jambalaya: Using 1 pound ground beef, 3/4 cup hot water and 2 cups milk, 1 cup rice, and 1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 2 teaspoons chili powder, 1 teaspoon basil, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, near the end.

(Added 01/15/10) I’ve had several requests for Cheeseburger Macaroni. The way I figure out how to do these is by studying the side of the box then experimenting on my own. Paprika is the “secret” ingredient to get the flavor right with this one, and heavier on the milk than water for a creamy texture.

Cheeseburger Macaroni: Using 1 pound ground beef, 1 cup hot water and 2 cups milk, 1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni, prepare a sauce packet including 1 tablespoon corn starch, 2 teaspoons paprika, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon sugar. Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, near the end. (You can toss a 1/2 cup cheddar on top at the end, too, if you want. We’re going for cheesy here!)

Homemade Lasagna Hamburger Helper.

(One of our favorites around here.)

Notice how similar the recipes are? Hamburger Helper is like a template. (This is how Betty Crocker churns out a zillion varieties.) You plug in more or less milk to control the creaminess, a certain type of pasta (or rice or potatoes), sometimes tomatoes, certain herbs/seasonings, and more or less (or no) cheese. You can make a homemade helper for any variety of Hamburger Helper that appeals to you–invent your own! Put labelled sauce packets for your family’s favorite “helpers” away in your pantry for busy days (add a little 3×5 card with directions for the water, milk, cheese, etc, per variety) and you’ll never go hungry again. (Cue the Gone with the Wind music.) When you’re tired, everybody’s hungry, and you need dinner that won’t make you think hard, grab your sauce packet and your bag of pasta (or rice or potatoes) with your little cheater 3×5 card and you’re set.

Real dinner. Real easy. Really in 30 minutes!

*Keep homemade cornbread mix and homemade biscuit mix onhand and have fresh bread fast, too.

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119 Responses
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1-3
1:33
am

This looks super for busy work days followed by evening activities like dog training. Thanks Suzanne! I always crave green salad when I eat something like hotdish.

Anne -
1-3
1:37
am

AND HOME MADE IS SO MUCH BETTER…IT REALLY HAS GOOD TASTE!

Julie Harward -
1-3
2:04
am

My husband still loves hamburger helper, makes me cringe, but reading your recipe versions makes me say OK, what flavor will
I cook from scratch.
Thanks for the recipes!
~~HUGS~~

Blessings -
1-3
2:26
am

I love, I mean l-o-v-e, you! I have thought about this many times, but never undertook the task. (I have no idea how you found time). We like Hamburger Helper too, especially potato stroganoff, but once I read the ingredients, I’ve never bought it again. This will be such a help. I can think of three people to send it to without even batting an eye. What a gift! Thank you lovely farm woman!

Kathy -
1-3
2:41
am

I love the idea of homemade Hamburger Helper! I want to make some seasoning and macaroni pkts ahead and give some to my daughter,she’s got a 1 1/2 y.o. and is expecting….this would help her so much. Thanks for sharing.

Leah -
1-3
2:58
am

My love of cooking real food and my love of hamburger helper have always been in conflict, until now. Thank you. I hope someday I’m an experienced enough cook to just figure these things out like you do. I can’t wait to try these. Homemade Hamburger Potato Stroganoff, here I come!

Lacey -
1-3
3:34
am

Thanks again for yet another great resource! It would be very easy to turn these recipes into something not only quick and easy, but low-fat and high-fiber, too; use lean ground beef or ground turkey, reduced-fat cheese, use whole wheat (or Smart Taste) pasta, add extra veggies, etc….

Also – for those not interested in blanching and freezing shredded potatoes, there are frozen shredded potatoes with no added chemical surprises in your grocer’s freezer. Sure they’ll cost way more than regular potatoes, but if time is money they might be worth it to you…

Daria -
1-3
5:31
am

Brilliant! My only substitution would be a can of tomato soup instead of diced tomatoes. My kids don’t like the “feel” of diced tomatoes. Don’t ask me (shrugging shoulders). Even with canned soup it still has to be healthier than whats in those packets, doesn’t it?

debbie -
1-3
5:34
am

Leah, what a great idea for a “baby’s coming” gift, a basket full of Suzanne’s home made, pre-made, mixes!

debbie -
1-3
5:41
am

Uggh. Hamburger Helper has got to be one of the nastiest things ever created. I can’t believe how my kids will choose to eat that over homemade goodness. I just refuse to buy anymore.

JoLinda -
1-3
6:35
am

Oh, my 9 y/o is going to kiss your feet for today’s post. I am too, since I am too old to digest the box stuff.

Snapper -
1-3
6:39
am

I hated Hamburger Helper when it first came out and I have not bought it since, but I am thinking that my husband would probably like it.

I might give your version a try.

Kathleen in Michigan -
1-3
6:57
am

We salute you, anyone that has ever read what is inside those boxes of the “helper” products, YUK. I would eat our dog’s food.
These recipes are wonderful, and who doesent like to have recipes for comfort food that can be put together in a short amount of time
how about how about we call these recipes– “Suzanne’s Saucy snd Savory Skillet Suppers”!!. —I like it!
It is 2 degrees here this morning and going to be very cold today, I think one of these will be nice for supper tonight. Thank you.

JO

JOJO -
1-3
6:58
am

You rock! I am with you on the cardboard taste. Can’t stand it myself but I know 2 little boys and one big boy who are going to be so surprised when they get hamburger helper again. Our little secret though. Thanks Suzanne.

Elaine -
1-3
7:03
am

Yay, yay, yay!!! SO just LOVES hamburger helper! And I cringe every time it’s put on the table. I’ve always made my version of homemade hamburger helper, but it’s always the same, stroganoff, and it makes WAY more than we need by the time I get done adding this and that.

Thank you, Suzanne!

CindyP -
1-3
7:07
am

What GREAT ideas and now I’m starved… but the best idea is to keep the dry milk on hand. As a kid, that’s all we ever had to drink and i hated the stuff so it wouldn’t occur to me to buy it, but for use in things like this – PERFECT! I’m putting it on my grocery list right now…. really… I live alone and have enough food in this house to feed four people for a year in case of the end of the world which is probably comin’ any minute now … and yet I have no dry milk. How did this HAPPEN?> heheheheheheh

Mia -
1-3
7:23
am

Aren’t you clever?! As a vegetarian, I don’t even look at that stuff in the grocery (though it can be made with veggie hamburger crumbles). But I have fond memories of Hamburger Helper nights as a child! Your version sounds quite tasty and a good deal healthier.

Johanna -
1-3
7:27
am

Suzanne you are a genius. I will be printing this out and putting it in my recipe files. Besides it being healthier its cheaper too!!

Happy Sunday to you!!!!

Patricia Herman -
1-3
7:29
am

I make this too and the kids love it – and I get to feed them good real food instead of all the nasty stuff that’s in the regular Hamburger Helper.

Thanks for breaking down the recipes for all the flavors! They’ll really come in handy!

Wendy -
1-3
7:45
am

I love real Beef Stroganoff…but to make the original with the high end cuts, wine, etc. is time consuming, but delious..etc..
So I always made very quickly for the kids hamburger stroganoff…very easy from scratch…
also…made SOS for my husband when he would get lonely for the foods from Air Force days….you soldiers will remember that…LOL
We never did like the taste of the hamburger helper stroganoff…but will try your version…thanks..
I saute mushrooms,(buy extra when on sale), measure and freeze to grab for recipes and they thaw with a stir in the dish…

B. Ruth -
1-3
7:49
am

Have been reading your site for over a year. I want to take a moment to say Thank You! I love your frugal mindset and money saving ideas. My husband and I are trying to have a baby and when we succeed I plan to quit my job. We bothteach so already live on a minimal budget. When we go to one salary it is going to be HARD but the tricks I am learning from you arealready helping us to shave dollars off our grocery bill each month and every little bit helps. I am setting aside all that savings and am looking forward to the day I can say I am a stay at home mom! Thanks for helping!

Julie -
1-3
7:53
am

PS
I add unsalted beef bouillion granules to my hamburger stroganoff…just to beef up the flavor somewhat…I guess you could add it to the mix? What do you think?

B. Ruth -
1-3
7:59
am

Now this post is a true gift! And Daria is thinking what I was thinking….make it all even healthier and diabetic friendly by using the whole wheat pasta, lean beef or turkey and low fat cheese. I can’t wait to try one of these…tonight! And the whole wheat, low fat, lean meat way.
Seriously, Suzanne…I know you are terribly busy with all you do for us here everyday but you should consider writing a cookbook. You have tremendous recipes (I’ve tried many of them!) and with your talent for writing and photography joined with your culinary talents, I can see an extremely marketable book. I would buy it in a heartbeat for a good deal of money and I bet a lot of these women who read this blog would also.
Right now, my next project is a baby shower for my daughter…she has a 12 yr old, a 2 yr old and is expecting our new little girl in late February or early March. Any thoughts on that? I’ve never done a shower before.
Have a beautiful day and thank you again for the homemade helpers.

Carol Langille -
1-3
8:02
am

Wow, you are amazing. I too stopped using hamburger helper because I didn’t know what all that random stuff was in the ingredients. This looks much better! Yay!

Tovah -
1-3
8:15
am

I also love this. I make my own hamburger helper with beef broth, canned veggies and pasta and cheese. But I love this idea of the homemade seasoning packets. I also buy box’s of hamburger helper when I can get it for .50cents a box. Its a quick easy meal. But not very healthy. I like your homemade kind. And you can get more servings out of a box of pasta this way. Or from a bag of potaotes for that matter. There for healthy and cheep!!! Love love this. THanks for going though the trouble of figuring out the seasonings for this. lol.

Diane -
1-3
8:17
am

Had a thought of using the dried milk. Do you think it would it work ok to just add the amount of dried milk to the pack needed for that recipe? 2 c of milk would be 2/3 c dried milk….just put that right in the baggie, then just use all hot water?

CindyP -
1-3
8:36
am

Yes, that would work, Cindy!

Suzanne McMinn -
1-3
8:38
am

Yes, you could add beef cubes to the mix if you want to! You can anything you like, just taste test as you do it the first time and once you figure out what works for you, then you can make up all your packets that way.

Suzanne McMinn -
1-3
8:39
am

Suzanne, great idea about the dried milk. I am not a milk drinker, but when you need it, you need it. I’ve wasted more milk in my lifetime… well I digress. Yes, you can freeze skim milk, but not whole milk. Fat doesn’t freeze at the same rate as water and the milk fat separates if you freeze the fully leaded stuff.

Thanks for the suggestion. I’m adding dried milk to my grocery list today!

Susan

Susan at Charm of the Carolines -
1-3
8:39
am

Good luck with the baby, Julie!!!

Suzanne McMinn -
1-3
8:47
am

This is probably just the recipe for the library cookbook in the makings…I’ll be sure and credit you too!

katherine -
1-3
8:58
am

You are my hero!!!!!..I love you !!!!

Patty -
1-3
8:58
am

My goodness you are so clever! I am printing this out right now. My kids will love this. Thanks so much.

Lisa Twombly -
1-3
9:05
am

I haven’t eaten Hamburger Helper in probably 20 years or more and for the same reason you don’t like them Suzanne. After reading your recipes today I’m going to try a few and if Hubby likes them I’m going to make a few packages to keep in the pantry for those ‘rushed’ days. Great idea Suzanne…thanks!!

Chic -
1-3
9:11
am

Thank you for this…I too love Hamberger Helper but won’t make it because of the ingrediants…this sounds much better….going to make it tonight..

aint for city gals -
1-3
9:36
am

I have thought of this so many times. I rotate shifts, and coming home at 6pm and needing to get supper on the table fast isn’t something I look forward to. Many times I’ll stop to pick up burgers or pizza, but I truly prefer home-cooked food. This is a wonderful idea. I honestly don’t know where you found the time, with the holidays and all, to do the detective work involved in deconstructing these meals. Thank you so very much.

Valerie -
1-3
9:52
am

You are totally awesome! Thank you so much for these recipes!

KentuckyFarmGirl -
1-3
10:00
am

Thank you! Just last night my husband was asking for HH Lasagna! I haven’t bought this forever for the reasons you mentioned. Guess what I’m pulling together for tonight. One of the things I did to get my kids to eat the canned tomatoes so that we could have the flavor in our soup – casserole was to put them in the blender. Thanks again for doing this for us !!!

Lisa -
1-3
10:03
am

I think this is so AWESOME!! My Hubby and I enjoy Hamburger Helper on occasion because it is so easy but we hate all the extra stuff put in it. Blick! I am printing this out and putting in my recipe binder for sure. Thank you so much for putting this together. :-)

Sarah -
1-3
10:05
am

Love the Hamburger Helper ideas. I keep dried milk on hand and use it for cooking all the time. The kids call it my cooking milk. lol. The kids don’t like to drink it but when it is needed for cooking, it leaves us way more regular milk for the kids to drink.

Connie Trippett -
1-3
10:12
am

This is PERFECT for dinner tonight! I am really trying to drastically cut down our eating out/grocery budget this month and am trying to find things I already have in my pantry/fridge to cook without going to the store. Just the thought of that store bought Hamburger Helper makes me gag – I haven’t eaten it in years! Nasty stuff. This homemade version sounds soooo much more appealing.

I think we’ll have the lasagna version tonight, lol. Thanks, Suzanne!

Tabitha -
1-3
10:12
am

What a great idea. I will make up packets to keep in our travel trailer especially when on the road and we stop for a quick bite to eat. This is healthier than fast food or making sandwiches. When do you find time to sleep? We truly appreciate all the time you spend among the myriad of chores on the farm creating these wonderful helpers for us. Long may you blog!

Euni

Euni Moore -
1-3
10:13
am

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Liz in Wis -
1-3
10:23
am

What a neat idea! As much as I hate the idea of making meals from a box, it sure does come in handy when I’m either in a hurry or brain-dead in the meals- idea department. My guys like RIce-A-Roni which I snazz up with lots of veggie extras. Could you work on your version of this? It doesn’t use milk in the sauce so it is a bit different. IF you could whip that up in your “laboratory” I would be very happy!

NorthCountryGirl -
1-3
10:24
am

Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing your wonderful ideas.

Carol

Carol -
1-3
10:58
am

A homemade quickie…the best kind.

auntbear -
1-3
11:06
am

Thank you soo much, these look yummny and easy. You ae awesome!

wheezay -
1-3
11:46
am

Great idea. I’m going to try the powedered-milk-in-the-packet first. Don’t limit to just HH flavors: add crumbled bacon, grilled peppers, brocolli, chili cheese fritos, anything else handy. Happy New Year Suz.

Billy -
1-3
11:58
am

Gosh, I’ve been making this for years and never had a name for it.

I just brown a pound of hamburger with a chopped onion and atablespoon of chopped garlic, drain, add 1 1/2 cup macaroni, 1 cup half and half, 1 cup milk, 1 can tomato soup, 1 can mushroom soup, simmer until done. Incororate velvetta or cheddar cheese until melted.

I like to bake mine for a bit to get the crispy edges.

mary kellogg -
1-3
12:11
pm

Suzanne…

This is SUCH a help to my family and me…you have no idea!!! I have 4 boys ages 14, 12, 9 and 6 and ALL in various activities in the evenings(football, baseball, practices, etc…!)…sometimes just finding SOMETHING to eat in a hurry is nearly impossible…this is going to help immensly (sp?)!!!

Again…thank YOU for sharing your tips, hints and homemaking talents!!!

Sandi
Blue Springs, MO

Sandi Sullivan -
1-3
12:44
pm

How long does powdered milk last?

Patricia Herman -
1-3
1:08
pm

Thanks so much for posting these DIY Hamburger Helpers!! We have 40+ pounds of ground venison and 100+ pounds of ground beef in the freezer… I have been worrying about how to use it all and not get completely bored! This will be a great addition to my recipes!

Casie -
1-3
1:09
pm

I’ve thought about doing this so many times and just haven’t taken the time. Now you’ve presented it so beautifully here I’ll give it a try. Thanks so much, Suzanne, for your ingenuity.
I make a recipe very similar to Mary K’s (just above) and add about 4 torn up slices of American Cheese (the single slice type cheese). I know it’s not as good as “real” cheese, but if you’re in a hurry it works great and tastes good.
It’s so snowy, windy and frigid here in upstate NY today that church was cancelled! Now that doesn’t happen very often. It’s a good day to stay inside and do “warm” things (like cooking)

kerri -
1-3
1:39
pm

Wow. Seriously, wow. I haven’t touched Hamburger Helper in near 20 years when I convinced DH that the ingredients were unidentifiable (WAY too salty!), hence nasty!

Am sure thinking this will be a welcome addition to the pantry for the tired college kid and her BF when they come in from a long school day … they always seem to have classes right across lunch hour or need something to eat after night classes. Sometimes what I’ve fixed isn’t appealing enough for the comfort food need and HH is much the comfort food in one quick fix!

Ruth - north CA -
1-3
2:01
pm

You are such an inspiration, Suzanne!!

Now you’ve got me inspired to do this and have it in my pantry for those busy nights.

This is one reason why I love you. (and no, I don’t mean that in a weird way )

Jo -
1-3
2:06
pm

I love hamburger helper!! my fav is cheeseburger macaroni. I think I could make it leaving out the chili powder in the chili mac recipe. Will definitely try it out! Although I use ground turkey instead of ground beef in everything.

Jamie -
1-3
2:19
pm

You’re incredible! There just are no words…

Jenny S. -
1-3
2:26
pm

Thank you for another excellent idea! These are typical ingredients in my house and I’m always looking for new ideas. Seems we get in a rut…I’m just not creative enough to dream up my own ideas, but love trying everyone elses.

merng -
1-3
3:01
pm

WOW, Hamburger Helper…..I LIVED on that stuff when I first moved out from my parent’s house. Then when I had kids and started reading labels, I knew I couldn’t feed my kids that stuff – I don’t even know what 1/2 that stuff is!

Thank you so much for providing a homemade recipe for HH. I get to jog down memory lane, but in a grown up healthy way. I put it on the menu for this week.

Lynette -
1-3
3:09
pm

Something that I saw on television—buy 15% or 20% fat hamburger. Crumble and cook as you usually do. Drain as much grease as you can and then dump the pan full of drained, cooked hamburger into a colander. Rinse under HOT tap water for 2 or 3 minutes, shaking and “tossing” it in the colander so all the hamburger gets a good rinse.

Doing this rinses away a lot of grease and will reduce the fat content from 15% to about 7% and 20% to about 10%.

15% and 20% hamburger is about $1 less per pound than the leaner 7% or 10% hamburger.

Diabetic education class also said that you can half the salt content on “solid” canned vegetables (i.e.-corn, peas, beans) by emptying can into colander and rinsing for 3 minutes.

Vanessa

princessvanessa -
1-3
4:00
pm

It would never occur to me to make home made hamburger helper! How inventive! We have goulash occassionally–1 lb. hamburger, elbow macaroni, tomato sauce or crushed tomatoes or whatever and season it. It goes over pretty well.

Dawn -
1-3
4:07
pm

This is great! Haven’t had HH for years either. Tried to convince myself it was a homecooked meal, but knew it was no good. Checked the pantry already and will be making some tonight. Something I like to do is make precooked ground beef, divide it up into 1 or 1 1/2 lb. packages and freeze. Great to put together a pizza or spaghetti, etc. and will make these recipes even quicker. I buy the big package of ground beef and brown up a few pounds with onions for recipes and press out hamburgers in ziplock sandwich bags to put in the freezer. Good to throw in when we go horsecamping. These recipes would be easy to make over the fire as well. Thanks Suzanne for the great ideas.

MMT -
1-3
4:30
pm

My son loves hamburger helper. I’ve been meaning to do this same thing for a long time. Thanks!

Christine -
1-3
5:07
pm

I’m almost embarrassed to admit that Hamburger Helper is one of my favourite in-a-hurry-but-starving meals. I KNOW I’m going to get a headache from it … obviously reacting to some of the preservatives … but it just tastes so darned good when time is short and I’m hungry! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU, Suzanne! I’m going to make up a batch of these this week so I can enjoy without the headache.

By the way, another huge THANK YOU for your Condensed Cream Soup Mix! This has become a well-used staple in my kitchen.

Looking forward to what comes out of your lab … er … kitchen next!

Lola-Dawn -
1-3
5:47
pm

Yum! We’ll definitely be giving this a try!

Beth aka oneoldgoat

Beth Brown -
1-3
5:55
pm

Awesome post, thank you. We like HH stroganoff, but it’s a bit bland tasting anymore. I don’t like too many of the HHs because they are not that tasty. We had one that was with potatoes and cheese, and oh my it was the nastiest thing I ever tried to eat. The kids wouldn’t eat it and we had to throw it away, what a waste!

I’m going to make Grandmother bread this week for the first time, I am excited! I have made bread before, but it was in my aunt’s bread maker that she never used.

Jessica -
1-3
6:29
pm

Since my kids have grown up I’ve stopped trying to imitate these box dinners (which they loved as kids but have grown up with real taste buds – thank Gad!) I did the same thing with Rice A Roni – saute rice and broken pasta in lots of butter, when the pasta is browned I added homemade chicken broth, a cube of bouillon, some garlic & onion powder, simmer – Rice a Roni! Much better than box and still a family favorite!

Robin Medici -
1-3
6:38
pm

wow ! this looks great. I cant wait to try to make some

lisa b -
1-3
7:19
pm

Thank you!!!! I ashamedly love Hamburger Helper, but I haven’t had any of it since I started cooking and baking. I will be bookmarking this post and using the recipe ideas over and over again. Thank you again!

Memoria -
1-3
7:25
pm

Hmmmm with some home canned hamburger crumbles …. darn near instant meal!

Dede

wvhomecanner -
1-3
7:45
pm

muy, muym I LOVE you.
I have a kid that would live on HH if I would buy it!

I have a recipe for different flavored Rice-a-Roni type mixes. Let me know if you’re interested.

Darlene in North Georgia -
1-3
8:26
pm

Yes, once I learned about make your own hamburger helper, I never bought a box again. So simple. I also buy ground beef in bulk and brown it and put it in the freezer in about 1 lb amounts, give or take. Then it really is instant dinner. The kids loved it.

Kacey -
1-3
10:07
pm

Patricia, I don’t know how long powdered milk lasts, but I can tell you that at times in the past when I wasn’t baking as much, I’ve let a box sit around for a year and it was still good. I buy huge boxes of it now and it doesn’t sit around long!

Suzanne McMinn -
1-3
10:28
pm

Yay! I am so excited to try this! I’m with you. What the heck is that in hamburger helper?

Andi -
1-3
10:33
pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you, so much for this post!!!!!! My daughter and I have been on a make everything from scratch instead of making instant anything. I can not tell you thank you enough!!! You are the best!! I can’t wait to try them all. I have even found a recipe for miracle whip salad dressing and for homemade corn dogs instead of the frozen store bought kind.
Kelly

kelly -
1-3
11:18
pm

Yours look so much better! I have eaten hamburger helper before and to me they all taste like the same flavor of cardboard no less! Gross! I do make what we call a Perkins Special which is our take on hamburger helper. Think i will try your versions! Sounds good. Oh, and I never buy fresh milk only powdered. We just don’t use much and waste to much otherwise.

Michelle p -
1-4
1:20
am

Love the blog. Just wanted to add a quick tip about the box of dry milk that I have been doing with my family for awhile now. I keep a box of dry milk always and I mix up and use the dry milk in all my recipies that call for milk. I leave the gallon of ‘real’ milk for cereal and drinking. It cuts down on how much we spend on buying ‘real’ milk and there really is no difference in taste in cooking with dry milk or ‘real’ milk. I’m all about saving money so I thought I’d pass this tip along to you and your readers. Keep blogging and I’ll keep reading.

Jessica -
1-4
4:42
am

I second many of the posters above, please write a cookbook! I would buy it and get a bunch for gifts to other people. Thanks for sharing your wonderful ideas with us!

Laurie in Wisconsin -
1-4
7:13
am

Suzanne, I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU I LOVE YOU!!!! This will be so wonderful! My husband likes Hamburger Helper, but he has high blood pressure and I refuse to give him that much salt. This is just what I needed! PLEASE write a cookbook! I will buy several copies. In fact, I’ll make my list right now of people I want to buy them for.

Really, truly, I don’t know what I’d do without you.

Katy -
1-4
10:26
am

You have absolutely nooooooooo idea how much my Hubby loves Hamburger Helper and how much I hate it. I made it under duress for him a couple of times a year…. but now,…. he can have it all the time. I just took some burger out of the freezer for tacos… but now I’m going to try the HH. THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Suzanne, I don’t think you will ever know how much you are appreciated. This is the best site I have ever stumbled across. Love ya!!

Julieanna -
1-4
10:45
am

I love you Suzanne. This post made my day. My family loves HH too, but it is so unhealthy. I love this idea. I am also loving the dry milk idea and the rice a roni recipes. Suzanne, I would love for you to write a cookbook also but not if it would take you away from this website too much or make you all high-faluting. I am content to copy and paste your recipes into my recipe file. Thanks

tabbimama -
1-4
10:52
am

LOL, tabbimama! I don’t wanna go high-falutin’!

Suzanne McMinn -
1-4
11:15
am

My husband has been requesting Hamburger Helper for a couple of weeks now (I’m trying not to take it personally), and I can’t bring myself to buy it. I think he just wants something easy to make for the kids on nights when I’m not home. The funny thing is, I don’t think the kids will actually *eat* HH. Maybe I’ll try this and see if it satisfies his craving.

UlrikeDG -
1-4
11:32
am

My partner might have celiac, so we are trying to keep a gluton free home. The boxed mixes include lots of additives she cannot have. I can use quinoa or veggie elbows in many of these, and I am sure it will be just as good.

Thanks

Kathie -
1-4
1:49
pm

Thank you for easy to prepare and make ahead recipes. Like a lot of women, I work long hours outside the home and I appreciate any help I can get! Keep up the good work and stay warm – its freezing here in TN, I can only imagine how cold it must be in Roane County.

mittened paw -
1-4
4:41
pm

Suzanne!! You are awesome!!! My family loves HH, too but I refuse to buy the prepackaged crap. They will be so happy…

Dessa -
1-4
11:54
pm

Suzanne! You are such a resource for recipes, laughs and comfort.
My husband was laid off mid-December and I have been on a tear to figure out how we can eat easily and inexpensively as possible while we figure out what is next for us. I am NOT a cook by any means and I need easy and tasty meals to make that are affordable. I came to your blog tonight and VIOLA! You have given me a valuable resource. Thank you so much. I will be gathering supplies to stock my pantry for the above recipes. I will substitute ground turkey (as I don’t care to eat beef) but I feel that I have found recipes that I will use for years to come (not just during this tough time).

Laney -
1-6
9:44
pm

Oh my gosh! I detest hamburger helper, but my grown kids live on that stuff. urg. I’m sending this to them so they can make something that doesn’t taste like cardboard. thank you!
(found your site on “stumble”..happy happy joy joy!)

DJ -
1-7
5:24
pm

I buy my hamburger in bulk. When I come home from the grocery store, I cook up a bunch of it & freeze it into 2 cup portions, which would be about the equivalent of a pound of hamburger. With my frozen hamburger, these meals would be ready in probably 15 minutes! Gotta love those fast meals when the kids are starving!

Julie Johnson -
1-7
6:52
pm

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I HATE buying the boxed stuff and had thought about this idea but you perfected it for us all. Yet another reason that I LOVE your blog!

Michelle -
1-9
8:41
pm

Had it for dinner last night and my kids proclaimed it better than the boxed HH – which is high praise indeed. THANK YOU for the great post and all the others you post and all the work that goes into them. You rock!

Tammy -
1-10
11:00
pm

Oh my goodness. Suzanne, my boyfriend and I had this for dinner tonight. It was so delicious; I couldn’t get over how yummy it was! I am NEVER using store bought boxed dinners again! I’m going to try and cook more things from scratch! There are so many preservatives in food these days, it’s crazy!

I have been a reader of your blog for sometime, but since I’ve started cooking, my interested in your website has gone up exponentially! THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I can’t wait to try more of your recipes!!!!

Stargirl Heuser -
1-11
7:42
am

I made the chili mac for dinner last night…SO much better than the box junk, in fact my people screamed MORE double it next time…..but now we need chicken recipies…HINT, HINT

Patty -
1-15
2:02
pm

Thanks for this. I’m not sure how to replicate the cheeseburger hamburger helper — it must have seasoning in it, but I have no idea what. Any ideas?

Sarah -
1-15
6:15
pm

Hi, Sarah! I’ve had several requests for cheeseburger macaroni so I just added it to the post. Check above (near the end of the post).

Suzanne McMinn -
1-20
8:44
pm

I love doing my own “hamburger helper” but this page is GREAT! What a wonderful reference for all the different kinds!

Theresa -
2-1
5:16
pm

Have you tried this with whole wheat pasta or any of the high-fiber whole grain noodles? I’m guessing I’d just have to increase the cooking time, but maybe also the liquid? Or maybe, it’s like white vs. brown rice — you just can’t easily swap them out and expect them to behave the same …

Faye -
2-1
6:28
pm

Faye, I haven’t tried it with whole wheat pasta or brown rice. You’re right, the first time you did that you’d need to really watch over it and adjust as needed.

Suzanne McMinn -
2-4
3:15
pm

Have you tried the lasagna version with no-boil lasagna noodles?

Faye -
2-4
4:53
pm

Thank you so much! I am Celiac, so I cannot eat the HH brand. This will help me so much to make the basic recipe and use my rice pastas.

Jacqueline -
2-8
12:32
am

Thanks for adding Cheeseburger Mac, that’s our favorite. Also we love Cheesy Hashbrowns. Can’t wait to try this!

midwestmom -
3-9
2:16
pm

I just discovered your blog a couple of weeks ago and I have been devouring it. I have always wanted to live a “country live” (minus the harvesting yeast, and making lard parts, I’ve decided). But I made this cheesy mac recipe the other night and it is FABULOUS! I will never buy box HH again! My kids can’t wait to try other flavors, too! THANK YOU!

Nicky Hurt -
3-15
8:44
pm

Thank you for this. I have copied down all of your remakes and tried several of them. My mate and I love the taste of these recipes and they are so much better for us than the boxed variety!

Thank you so much!

Arsh -
5-3
4:18
pm

Visiting from Amy Humble Musings. I just had to say “YOU ROCK!”

I love this!

Ouida Gabriel

Ouida Gabriel -
5-20
7:02
pm

YAY!!!! This is EXACTLY what I was looking for!! Thank you!!

Do you have one for the “4 Cheese Manicotti” one?

Beth -
6-23
12:45
pm

You have changed my life!!! I’m not a HH or processed food fan, but these one skillet wonders have made my life SOOOOOO much simpler. I’ve discovered this post about a week ago and have been making it at least once a day since then. Right now, we’re in the middle of wheat harvest. Of course, the crew refuses to eat sandwiches. So now I’m able to make a hot meal, using ONE pan, from scratch in no time flat. THANK YOU!

sheila -
6-30
6:40
pm

I haven’t looked thru all of the comments, so my apologies if I’m repeating someone. Other things to do to mix it some, substitute other meats for hamburger. Ground sausage, ground pork, hot links, diced chicken breast, diced boneless skinless chicken thighs, can of tunafish (they don’t call it tuna helper for nothing), frozen shrimp, artificial crab meat, etc. Even combine meats, think of how that Jambalaya recipe would work with frozen shrimp and slices of italian sausage in lieu of a lb of ground beef.

Bill Malamute -
7-6
12:57
pm

Thank you so much. My family loves hamburger helper, too… in fact it is one of the few meals everyone seems to like and the only way my picky 18-mo-old will eat pasta. But I don’t like it at all!. I have made your chili mac, cheesy chili mac, and cheeseburger mac and all have been a big success– plus they are cheaper, make more than the boxed mix, and I don’t feel like I’m eating fake food. You saved me. Now I’m trying whole wheat pasta and adding some vegetable puree in, ha ha!

Beth -
7-11
6:12
pm

Hi,
Love your post! I am wondering if you can figure out the spices / cheeses for Cheddar Cheese Melt flavor? I have decoded the following possible “real” ingredients from the box:

Ricotta cheese, dried
Cheddar cheese, dried
Spice
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Blue cheese, dried
Soy Sauce
Beef stock

Lisa -
7-11
9:02
pm

Lisa, I’ll have to experiment with that one! I’ll post here if I find out anything that seems to work!

Suzanne McMinn -
7-28
3:04
pm

Wow!!! Thank you so much for this. I’ve been living in England for the last 1.5yrs and had such a craving for Cheeseburger Mac. It’s not available in Europe in any form. So after a very disappointing trip to the store we decided to search online. We absolutely loved it!

Michael -
8-7
2:50
pm

I love your website and I’m sending the url to all my family so they can check it out to. they’ll love it.
Louise

Louise Cook -
8-8
12:15
pm

I can’t wait to try these! I grew up on hamburger helper but quit eating it years ago because of the ingredients. My son just started eating table food so this discovery is perfect timing!

Andrea -
8-9
7:13
pm

I am so excited to try these homemade helper recipes! I am making box helper tonight, again. The kids love it, I hate it-for the same reasons that you listed. For some reason the kids don’t always love my culinary creations. I can’t wait to try these homemade helpers, better for the kids and I may even be able to look foward to dinner again. Thanks!

Isabelle -
8-25
10:17
pm

I tried the Lasagna tonight, it was great. My 15 month old loved it! Thanks so much for writing these. Renee P

Renee P -
9-1
11:38
am

thank you so much for this post. I was wondering if you have any ideas for the tuna helper. I don’t eat meat so I always make tuna helper for myself.
Thanks again!

Anne -
9-1
6:18
pm

This is a great post. I have a man who loves him some hamburger helper and I’m less than thrilled about cooking it for him. I stumbled about your site in order to find the proper ratio for pasta to liquid for cooking everything in one pan. I don’t do the dried seasonings usually, so I cook the meat and veg in the pan and add flour and let cook for a minute or two, then add half of the liquid slowly required stirring constantly to prevent lumps, then add the pasta and the remaining liquid for a stroganoff type variety. Add the peas and sour cream at the end as a stir in….much better and tastier than the boxed stuff. I also sub in fake meat crumbles and use a veg or chicken broth for added flavor for the liquid to make a cheaper and lower fat variety. add the fake meat after the sauteeing of onion and garlic though….

Barbara Bechtel -