Some dinners are presented in a box that may not yet have reached the status of “guilty pleasure”, but we know that it could be better for us. Example: Hamburger Helper. It’s comforting, it’s fast, and it’s so good. There’s something in that tender pasta with the tasty beef, but most of all, there’s that irresistible sauce. Still, there are things to consider…like sodium levels, food colors, and ingredients you can’t quite pronounce. But don’t worry, we’ve got a solution so you can take your Hamburger Helper and eat it too.
Make it your own! (It’s as simple as the box, we promise).
For the homemade Hamburger Helper, the process is the same as for the box. You brown the ground beef, then add the noodles, liquid, and seasoning, and simmer together for a few minutes until the noodles are tender. The main difference is that you create your own “sauce”, which means you know exactly what you’re going to eat. We’ve found the perfect combination of paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, mustard powder, salt, and pepper. The taste is identical to the real sauce.
The other difference is that when you make it yourself, you can include real cheese instead of powdered cream. This means that our version is a bit cheesier than the original, but hey, we’re not complaining.
INGREDIENTS
1 lb ground beef
1 cup dry macaroni noodles
1 cup hot water
2 cups milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 tablespoon paprika
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon mustard powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 cup cheddar cheese, grated