Homemade quick-to-fix-just-add-hamburger meals

Has anyone never had Hamburger Helper? I’m betting that if you have you don’t have it on a regular basis. There are many different names for these meals and they are made by several different companies.

These quick-to-fix-just-add-hamburger-meals are great in a pinch and for some reason kids seem to love them. The label with ingredients listed is very long. Most of them are hard to pronounce. I think we’ve all made variations of some of these meals over the years. Several cookbooks I have call it goulash and some of them are pretty good.

The main attraction of the quick-to-fix-just-add-hamburger-meals, is that they are quick and pretty much everything you need is in one little box and ready to go. Most mixes are just the same except for 2 or 3 different ingredients. Notice how similar the recipes are? Hamburger Helper is like a template. This is how Betty Crocker churns out a zillion varieties. You put 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 mix for any variety of Hamburger Helper that appeals to you–invent your own! Put labeled 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 have your own quick-to-fix-just-add-hamburger meal in no time. 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.

If you want to make your own mixes remember this: most packages include about 1 1/2 cups of pasta or dried sliced potatoes, or about 1 cup of rice. They include a packet of sauce seasonings, dried tomatoes or a packet of dried cheese. After browning and draining 1 lb. of ground beef, in the same skillet you add water and/or milk, about 3 cups total, seasoning packet, and simmer (about 12-20 minutes). Add cheese near the end for some varieties.

Here are the rules for creating your own mixes:
Pasta, potatoes or rice: Generally use 1 ½ c. pasta or dried potatoes or 1 c. rice.
Milk: to add powdered milk to the seasoning packet, figure 2/3 c dry milk and water to make 2 c. liquid
Cheese: to add cheese powder to seasoning packet, experiment with your brand of cheese powder to see how cheesy you like it. If you have cheese powder in Storage this is a great way to learn how to use it. All brands are different and depending on the mix you are making you can learn to use the cheese powder in case fresh cheese is not available.
Tomatoes: Many of the mixes call for tomatoes. If you have tomato powder stored this is a great way to use it in your mixes. If you have canned tomatoes add them when called for.
Hamburger: All of the recipes call for browned ground beef. If you have canned hamburger in storage this is a great way to use it. You can also make these mixes with the beef chunks or any canned beef you may have.
Seasoning Packet: Includes cornstarch, a variety of spices such as onion and garlic powder, salt and pepper, sugar, paprika, chili powder, Italian spice mix, parsley and basil, depending on the variety.

Here are some varieties you can try for yourself. When you make your own mixes you are cutting out tons of preservatives and several processed dyes. Give some a try. If you like them, make up some mixes to have on hand for an emergency or just for a quick lunch.

Homemade Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper
1 ½ c. elbow macaroni
Seasoning packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. chili powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
½ t. paprika
2/3 c. dry milk powder + 2 c hot water or (2 c. milk)
1/3 c. cheese sauce powder OR 1 cup cheese, shredded on cooked dish
Add in:
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. hot water
2 c. milk (or 2 c. water if you added powdered milk in the sauce packet)
Brown ground beef in a large skillet; drain. Add hot water, milk, pasta, and your homemade sauce packet . 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 fresh 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.

Chili Mac Hamburger Helper
1 pound ground beef
2 1/4 cups hot water
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups elbow macaroni
1 cup stewed or diced canned tomatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. chili powder
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar or jack cheese, shredded, near the end or use cheese powder in seasoning packet.

Lasagna
1 lb. ground beef
2 1/4 c. hot water
1/2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. medium egg noodles
1 c. stewed or diced canned tomatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. mixed Italian herbs
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. 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
1 lb. ground beef
2 1/4 c. hot water
1/2 c. milk
1 c. rice
1 c. stewed or diced canned tomatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. chili powder
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. 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. (Can use cheese powder in the sauce packet)

Beef Stroganoff
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. hot water
2 c. milk (if you have sour cream, replace 1/2 cup of the milk with sour cream or use sour cream powder)
1 ½ c. small egg noodles
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
2 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1 t. parsley
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
½ t. pepper
Add-in of 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms.


Potato Stroganoff
1 lb. ground beef
1 cup hot water
2 cups milk (if you have sour cream, replace 1/2 cup of the milk with sour cream)
1 ½ c. very thinly sliced or diced potatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
2 t. garlic powder
1 t. onion powder
1 t. parsley
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
½ t. pepper
Add-in of 1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms.

Salisbury
1 pound ground beef
1 cup hot water
2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups small egg noodles
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
1/2 t. pepper
Add a dash of Worcestershire sauce.

Cheesy Italian Shells
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. hot water
2 c. milk
1 1/2 c. small pasta shells
1 c. stewed or diced canned tomatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
1 T. mixed Italian herbs
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic powder
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
Stir in 1 c. cheddar, shredded, near the end.

Cheesy Jambalaya
1 lb. ground beef
3/4 c. hot water
2 c. milk
1 c. rice
1 c. stewed or diced canned tomatoes
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
2 t. chili powder
1 t. basil
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic
1 t. salt
1 t. sugar
Stir in 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded, near the end.

Cheeseburger Macaroni
1 lb. ground beef
1 c. hot water
2 c. milk (If using powdered milk, add more milk than water to make this one creamier)
1 1/2 c. elbow macaroni
Sauce packet:
1 T. corn starch
2 t. paprika
1 t. onion powder
1 t. garlic
1 t. salt
1 t. 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!)