I saved this article from - http://chickensintheroad.com/cooking/homemade-hamburger-helper/
This isn't quite hamburger helper, but it's pulled us out of the low-food-budget slump more than once. For our family of 5, I'd start with 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of ground chuck. Brown and cook it until it's no longer pink, then add onions and continue to cook and stir.
In the meantime, cook 1 pound of elbow macaroni until it's the way you like it (my family wants it softer than al dente) and drain it well.
Add 1 (15oz) can of stewed tomatoes to the ground beef and onions, and stir. Add 1 (15 oz) can of mixed vegetables, cover and cook for 6-8 minutes.
Mix 2 Tbsp. flour to 1 cup water, and get all the lumps out. Add it to the hamburger mixture and stir until mixture is thickened. Add 1 can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup and stir it in good. Add the pasta to the mixture, and heat it all together.
It goes really fast, and is as good as anything I've ever eaten. I control the salt, add no MSG or other chemical, and it was more than enough to feed even my teenage boys. Since I always kept store-brand creamed soups and pastas on hand, as well as other canned goods, it was just as easy to make as that stuff in a box that is no-telling how old or what it has in it.
If I want it to taste a little like one of the Mexican or Southwestern flavors, I substitute a can or two of kidney beans for the mixed vegetables, and add seasonings like chili powder and cumin. You can always add a bit of grated cheese or sour cream to change the flavor.
No matter what I did with it, it was always eaten. It was filling and wholesome and gave them more energy than they needed many times.
Hope this helps you.
HokeyPoke
Mine is pretty similar to ones already posted, though I don't use a mix. I just brown the ground beef and onion, drain, then add water, pasta and bullion. The ratio is about 2 cups water to 1 cup dry pasta. I mix cornstarch into a half-cup of milk to thicken the sauce. Then I just season however I want.
I normally use about half a pound of ground beef for my husband and myself. That's plenty for us and it works out cheaper. I also use quick cooking pasta to cut down on cooking time. Small-size frozen vegetables added makes it a complete meal. A bit of tomato paste adds color and gives it a little zing too! I keep a tube of tomato paste in the fridge so I can just use a little whenever I want.
Recipe is a jar mix which you can make at the holiday season.
"Almost Hamburger Helper" Mix in a Jar
2 C. nonfat dry milk
1 C. corn starch
1/4 C. beef bouillon powder
2 T. onion flakes
1 t. dried basil
1 t. dried thyme
1 t. black pepper
2 T. dried parsley
1 T. garlic powder
Mix the ingredients together and store in an airtight jar.
Attach the following recipes to the jar:
Chili Mac:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1 C. water
1/2 C. macaroni noodles (uncooked)
2 cans chopped tomatoes
1 T. chili powder
1/2 C. mix
Combine all and simmer 20 minutes or until macaroni is cooked.
Stroganoff:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
2 C. water
1/2 C. mix
2 C. uncooked egg noodles
1/2 C. sour cream
Combine all except sour cream. Simmer 20 minutes or until noodles are tender. Stir in sour cream and serve.
Potato Beef Casserole:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
3/4 C. water
6 potatoes, peeled and thinly sliced
1 C. frozen mixed veggies
1/2 C. mix
Combine all and simmer, covered, until potatoes are tender, about 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove cover and cook until excess water is evaporated.
Quick Lasagna:
1 lb. ground beef, browned and drained
1/2 C. mix
1 onion, chopped
2 C. water
16 oz. tomato sauce
3 C. lasagna noodles, uncooked, broken in bits
1/4 C. parmesan cheese
2 C. mozzarella cheese, shredded
Combine all except mozzarella in large skillet. Bring to a boil, let simmer for 15 minutes or until noodles are cooked. Top with mozzarella. Turn off heat and let cheese melt.
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The following recipes are effective hamburger helper substitutes.
Seasoning (Makes enough for a few batches):
Mix together the following.
Ingredients:
Store in a jar with tight between uses.
Cheeseburger Casserole
Ingredients:
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:
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:
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
I know there is a really simple recipe for making your own hamburger helper. Does anyone have it handy?
- TT
It's called "Peanuts"
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
By briteIs5
By Deb in CO
By bjtindle
By Johnny
Homemade Ground Beef Helper
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
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
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
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
By Carol
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
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
Cheeseburger Pasta from Campbell's Kitchen
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
How do I make homemade Hamburger Helper?
By Sharon from Lexington, SC
By Kcfields
By mbilar1
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
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
By thriftyvicki
The recipes can be found on the Thriftyfun website! (08/06/2010)
By MCW
Homemade Hamburger Helper Alternative
Cook on low heat until heated through. (08/06/2010)
By Deeli
http://chickensintheroad.com/blog/2010/01/03/homemade-hamburger-helper/ (08/06/2010)
By trm1224
By weezy1c
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)
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