Although I'm not usually crazy about Hamburger Helper, I sometimes use it when I know I'm going to have my kid's friends over for dinner. Feeding teenaged boys can break the bank so I use two boxes of mix to only one pound of meat. The kids hardly notice there is less meat and the dinner goes twice as far.
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
I use just one box of hamburger helper and just add extra pasta. Normally you can add a good size handful of pasta and the sauce that is there will be enough.
If you happen to live near a discounted grocery store, you can probably buy a generic/off brand hamburger helper dinner.
Why not make something like this when your son's friends come....you can stretch it with some extra noodles. I don't think it costs a lot to fix and sure beats that boxed stuff any day!
Skillet Goulash
· 1 pound lean ground beef
· 1/2 cup onion; chopped
· 16 ounces tomatoes (1 can)
· 1/2 cup chopped celery
· 1/2 cup water
· 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
· 1/4 teaspoon pepper
· 1/8 teaspoon basil leaves
· 1/8 teaspoon marjoram leaves
· 1 1/2 cups fine noodles; uncooked (about 3 ounces)
Cook and stir the meat and the onion in a large skillet until the meat is brown. Drain off the excess fat. Stir in the tomatoes (with the liquid) and remaining ingredients, stirring to break up the tomatoes. Heat to boiling, then reduce the heat and simmer, covered, stirring occasionally, until the noodles are tender, about 20 minutes. A small amount of water can be added if necessary. Serve hot.
Skillet ground beef recipe serves 4.
Try using ground turkey or ground chicken is sometimes cost less. Also sometimes discount stores and regular stores that have a 5lb log of hamburger and buy freezer bags too. Too me a favor just be careful with the coupons only get what you need and use all the time if you have a coupon for something you wanted to try go for it but only if you want to.
at our aldi's ground turkey is only .89 for a 1 lb roll and much healthier
When the meal is over, did they get enough protein?
There are three adults here and I regularly use only half pound of ground beef with the hamburger helper.I'm not trying to be cheap or save money,we just prefer the taste of it with less meat.I wouldn't worry about the protein count for teenagers or any other age group because i am sure you are like other people and only serve the stuff once in awhile.We place too much emphasis on meats anyways.kids really do not get enough fruits and vegetables so i wouldn't worry about making the hamburger helper the way you do,it sounds great to me...
I add extra noodles and it stretches really well. There's enough flavor in the sauce to make it still taste good.
As far as getting enough protein, they are kids, they probably immediately got up from the table and either went to someone elses house to eat or stopped and got a hamburger somewhere and got additional protein. Doesn't matter how much you feed them, they always have room for more! I also use less meat in Hamburger Helper or add extra noodles or potatoes and it is just fine! Keep feeding those kids!
I also use less meat but I add frozen veggies to fill in.
I also add more macaroni to mac and cheese to help stretch it.
By making one's own a lot of chemicals are eliminated, especially all the salt and sugar.
Do you alter the amount of milk & water you use when using 2 boxes & 1 lb of ground beef?
I would double the liquids if you are using two boxes. Otherwise, the noodles might not cook properly.
Add your voice! Click below to comment. ThriftyFun is powered by your wisdom!
