Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade Hamburger Helper

The following recipes are effective hamburger helper substitutes.

Seasoning (Makes enough for a few batches):

Mix together the following.

Ingredients:

• 1 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 Tablespoon garlic powder
• 2 Tablespoons dried parsley
• 1/2 cup instant onion
• 1 Tablespoon onion powder
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 2/3 cups fat-free dry milk powder
• 3 1/2 Tablespoons beef bouillon granules

Store in a jar with tight between uses.

Cheeseburger Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked macaroni
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup seasoning mix
• 2 cups of grated cheese

Directions:

First brown the hamburger and drain off the fat. Add 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup uncooked macaroni, 1 can chopped tomatoes and 1/2 cup seasoning mix. Simmer covered 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Remove from heat and add 2 cups of grated cheese.

Chili Tomato Macaroni

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked macaroni
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup seasoning mix
• 1 Tablespoon chili powder

Directions:

First brown the hamburger and drain off the fat. Add 1 1/2 cups water, 1 cup uncooked macaroni, 1 can chopped tomatoes, 1 tablespoon chili powder and 1/2 cup seasoning mix. Simmer covered 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender.

Potato Casserole

Ingredients:

• 1 pound hamburger
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked macaroni
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon seasoning mix
• 5 or 6 medium sized potatoes, thinly sliced

Directions:

First brown the hamburger and drain off the fat. Add 1 cup water, 5 or 6 peeled sliced thinly potatoes, 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon seasoning mix. Simmer covered for 20 to 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Stir. Uncover and cook until excess water is evaporated.

Adapted from a recipe at:
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/columncc/cc010724.html

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Homemade Hamburger Helper

I know there is a really simple recipe for making your own hamburger helper. Does anyone have it handy?

- TT

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RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I have an old family recipe:

It's called "Peanuts"

Ingredients:

• one lb. of chop meat
• one lb. of elbow macaroni
• 2 cans of Campbell's tomato soup, do not add water to soup

Fry chop meat in frying pan, drain grease. Add two cans of tomato soup, mix with meat, and heat until hot. Boil macaroni, drain water. Add tomato soup and chopmeat mixture to drained macaroni in pot. Serve immediately. Some people like to add ketchup. (Not me or my kids).

My kids go crazy for this. It doesn't sound like it would be that good, but it is. Try it. Let me know how they liked it. (04/22/2004)

By Caryn

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Trying to feed a family of seven on a very limited budget I started making my own hamburger helpers. I start with boxed macaroni and cheese (I use generic that I can get for 3-4 for a dollar) follow package directions, add some cooked chopmeat and depending on what flavor you want, add either some tomato sauce or brown gravy. My kids love it. (04/22/2004)

By briteIs5

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade Hamburger Helper

Ingredients

• 1 1/4 tsp. black pepper
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder
• 2 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 1/3 cup instant onion
• 3 Tbsp. onion powder
• 1 Tbsp. salt
• 1 2/3 cup nonfat dry milk powder
• 3 1/2 Tbsp. beef bouillon granules

(04/25/2004)

By Deb in CO

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Kitchenmixes.com has loads of recipes (dry) you can make yourself. Below is a mix for hamburger helper and it can be used for both stroganoff and chili mac. Hope this helps. kitchenmixes.com (05/04/2004)

By bjtindle

Hamburger Helper

There is a recipe my mom makes, it is one pound hamburger, one can corn, and 2 cans tomato soup, no water. Mix all of them together in large skillet and add cooked elbow macaroni. Then I like to throw some mozzarella on top, and I also like to put on cajun seasoning, but that is entirely optional to taste. (09/01/2004)

By Johnny

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I have a generic recipe for hamburger helper and one recipe to make from it.

Homemade Ground Beef Helper

• 2 c. nonfat dry "instant" milk
• 1 c. cornstarch
• 1/4 c. unsalted chicken or beef bouillon powder
• 2 Tbsp. onion flakes
• 1 tsp. dried basil
• 1 tsp.dried thyme
• 1 tsp. black pepper
• 2 Tbsp. dried parsley
• 1 Tbsp. garlic powder

Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight container. Use as base mix for hamburger helpers.

Chili Tomato Mac

Brown 1 pound ground beef or turkey, drain off fat. Add 1 c. water, 1 and one half cups uncooked macaroni, 2 (15 oz) cans diced tomatoes, 1 Tbsp chili powder, and 1/2 cup of the "Helper Mix". Simmer covered about 20 minutes or until macaroni is tender. Serves about 4 persons. (01/23/2005)

By Guest

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

• 1 lb ground meat (I use turkey)
• 1 onion, finely chopped
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 1 jar your favorite tomato sauce (Prego garlic and onion)
• pasta - your choice (I like Campanelle)
• cheese

Brown the meat, drain the fat, push to the sides of skillet. Brown the onion in the middle. Then combine meat and onion, add the wet ingredients, add some pasta and simmer until done. Top with grated cheese. I love tons of locatelli. (11/04/2005)

By Judi

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I like this:

• 1# ground beef
• I can peas
• 2 packets brown gravy mix, or 2 cups brown gravy made
• 2-3 handfuls of egg noodles
• salt and pepper

Season ground beef and cook until done. Add the cooked noodles and the gravy mix, or premade gravy and the can of drained peas. Cook through and enjoy. (10/03/2006)

By Sweet Sarah

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Nice site. I checked this out earlier, since I decided to make my own batch. I used the following which was available. "Hankburger Helper"

• 1 lb of ground hamburger
• 12 oz. of bowtie noodles
• 1 can (10-11 oz.) of mushroom gravy
• 1 Step Skillet Mac seasoning

Just cook the first three like your normally would, mix 'em up and add the seasoning (3 tablespoons if you like to measure everything). I'm not sure if this seasoning is still being made, but I bought a bunch at a discount store I frequent. It's a blend of garlic, onion, red pepper and Italian seasoning

A few quick notes: 16 oz. pasta would've probably been a better choice, but I like a lot of meat. Also, a can of peas probably would've gone great with the mushroom gravy, but I didn't have any. I'll be trying this next time I make it. (10/13/2006)

By Hungry Hank

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

If you are trying to feed a big family, I'd suggest getting some TVP, which is a soy based meat alternative that is very cheap. There are even brown flavored ones that look like beef. Use it plus your meat and you have and the expensive meat goes a lot further. https://www.usaemergencysupply.com/food_storage/texturized_vegetable_protein.htm (07/21/2008)

By Carol

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

• 1-2 lbs. ground beef
• salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder
• 1 med. onion, diced
• 1 can beef stock
• 1 box mac and cheese dinner mix
• 1/2 cup milk

Cook noodles according to box. Brown seasoned ground beef with onion. Add beef stock and milk; stir in cheese packet from boxed dinner and cook on med. low heat until thickened, stirring constantly. Add the cooked and drained pasta and serve. (02/24/2009)

By Bell

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I call it Kevin Helper.

• 2 cups of egg noodles
• 1 cup of shredded cheese
• 1 can of cream of mushroom
• 4 cups of water
• 2 1/2 cups of shredded beef
• 4 bullion cubes

Take the beef and bullion cubes cook on high after 20 minutes, add noodles. Then take noodles and beef and put in square casserole pan. Then mix with cream of mushroom and shredded cheese. Cook for 23 minutes at 350 F. The best recipe; your family will love. (04/13/2009)

By Pariand906

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I received this from Campbell' Kitchen today.

Cheeseburger Pasta from Campbell's Kitchen

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's condensed cheddar cheese soup
• 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's condensed tomato soup
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 cups uncooked medium shell-shaped pasta

Cook the beef in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat until well browned, stirring often to separate meat. Pour off any fat. Stir the soups, water, and pasta in the skillet and heat to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium. Cook for 10 minutes or until the pasta is tender, stirring often.

Serving Suggestion: Serve with carrot and celery sticks with ranch dressing for dipping. For dessert serve store-bought brownies topped with vanilla ice cream.

5 servings (02/01/2010)

By mamastanze

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Homemade Hamburger Helper

How do I make homemade Hamburger Helper?

By Sharon from Lexington, SC

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RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I found some great recipes at chickensintheroad.com. Click on the Cooking tab at the top of the page and scroll down to "See All My Recipes". You will find a basic recipe along with about a dozen variations of Hamburger Helper. (05/17/2010)

By Kcfields

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I do it all the time. Brown your ground beef and drain as usual, then stir in several cups of water and several beef bouillon cubes, and about a 1/2 cup of milk. Stir in dry egg noodles or other pasta, and simmer until water is absorbed and pasta is tender. You may need to add more water as it simmers (I never measure). You can also add a squirt of soy sauce, Worcestershire, ketchup, sour cream, cheese, tomato sauce, Italian seasonings, etc. to your tastes. Almost anything is possible. (05/18/2010)

By mbilar1

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Homemade Hamburger Helper

I am trying to stretch my food budget and am looking for a recipe for "homemade Hamburger Helper". If anyone has any idea how to make your own Hamburger Helper without having to buy the box, this would really help me out. Thank you for any recipes/ideas. Have a good day!

By Rachelle from Denver, CO

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RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

As far as I am concerned, "Hamburger Helper" is free-style cooking. The only rules I apply are the same as for all my cooking:

• no MSG,
• no sugar
• no white flour
• it needs to have a little bit of fat, so that it doesn't cannibalize muscles

So I start with browning a chopped onion and ground beef. If there is excessive fat, I decant that off, but a few spoons full of it are quite OK. Then I add paprika powder, small flake oregano, basil, hayflowers, and bay leaf, and a spoon full of Watkins Soup & Gravy mix. (That seems to be the only one without MSG).

If I have pasta sauce or tomato paste handy, I add some of that as well. While that simmers, I check the fridge for any veggies that I don't have enough of for a complete meal, and toss those in as well.

For the pasta I use any whole wheat or mixed grain pasta, or I make spaetzle. Spaetzle are pea sized drops of pasta dough dripped into boiling salt water and then drained. Spaetzle makers are cheap. They are just a board or slide with holes in it, and a sleeve for holding the dough to slide over the board. They are usually a dollar at yard sales, $5 at eBay, $10 at Amazon, $20 at a home hardware store, $60+ at a deli. Instead of dripping them into salt water, you can of course also drip them into soup. But that is a different topic altogether '-)

Have FUN!
DearWebby
http://webby.com/humor (08/05/2010)

By DearWebby

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

My mother made this when I was a kiddo and I've made it thought the years. It's relatively cheap, fast, and tastes way better than HH. Recipe: pre-cook about 1/2 to 3/4 of a larger package of pasta, or a full package if you are serving more than 4 people, either noodles, macaroni, or whatever. Brown lean hamburger meat in a pan and drain. Use about a pound, but if you economizing or making for less people, you can use even as little as 1/4 pound. Add chopped onion (optional). When completely cooked through, add a couple of small (or one larger can) cans of tomato sauce and salt and pepper. Then fold in the pre-cooked noodles. Heat on low about 10 minutes or so to combine the flavors. You're done. You can also add mushrooms, green pepper, celery, etc. at whim, but the basic dish, while it doesn't sound like much, is quite tasty. (08/06/2010)

By thriftyvicki

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Almost Hamburger Helper Mix in a Jar

The recipes can be found on the Thriftyfun website! (08/06/2010)

By MCW

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Here's another one. ;-)

Homemade Hamburger Helper Alternative

• 1 lb ground beef, browned, and drained
• 16 oz pasta, cooked according to package directions

Drain pasta and combine with ground beef, then add:

• 2 (10 3/4 oz) cans of condensed tomato soup
• 1 1/2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
• 1 tsp. prepared mustard

Cook on low heat until heated through. (08/06/2010)

By Deeli

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I ran across these recipes while surfing the net one day, I haven't tried any of them though, enjoy

Chili Cheese Hamburger Helper
Chili Mac Hamburger Helper
Lasagna Hamburger Helper
Cheesy Beef Taco Hamburger Helper
Beef Stroganoff Hamburger Helper
Potato Stroganoff Hamburger Helper
Salisbury Hamburger Helper
Cheesy Italian Shells Hamburger Helper
Cheesy Jambalaya Hamburger Helper
Cheeseburger Macaroni Hamburger Helper

http://chickensintheroad.com/blog/2010/01/03/homemade-hamburger-helper/ (08/06/2010)

By trm1224

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

I always brown hamburger, chopped onions, chopped bell peppers (not only green, but red and yellow, makes for a pretty visualization). Brown the ground beef, until no pink is showing. I also fix a box of mac and cheese, (directions on box) and take a package of frozen peas and carrots. I blend them and cook for about 10 or so minutes, on low, so the flavors will blend. It tastes great, but so much better the next day, after it has been sitting over night. My hubby likes it. My kids (all grown, by now) used to call it "junk" They would say "we're having "junk" again. (08/07/2010)

By weezy1c

RE: Homemade Hamburger Helper

Homemade Hamburger Helper: Brown your meat. To keep it cheap you can use ground turkey, chicken, or sausage, or hamburger.

Make your cheese sauce: melt two to four tablespoons of butter in a skillet once melted add a spoonful of flour and whisk. Once combined add in another spoonful. If it gets dry add in a touch of milk. Whisk until dissolved and add in another spoonful of flour. Add in enough milk until you reached the amount of liquid you want stirring the whole time. If the sauce isn't thick enough add in flour this way.

Put a spoonful of flour in a cup, add in two or three spoonfuls of hot skillet liquid to cup and mix until dissolved; then pour in skillet. Once sauce is made add shredded cheese. Now add homemade or store bought noodles to meat and pour into sauce along with salt and pepper. You can also add garlic and onion powder and other spices upon preference. Cook until noodles are done.

Eat and enjoy. (10/23/2010)

By sadonathan8839