Perfect Hamburger Helper Recipe from Box (Cheesy!)

This Perfect Hamburger Helper Recipe from Box (Cheesy!) is Hot, Cheesy, Comforting and a Tasty MEAL for BUSY people. Need to get it on the table affordably and quick? I’ll show you how to make it taste great!

Seriously though, if you are just learning to cook then this is the right place! Try this Ultimate guide to ground beef or even make these Hangry Hamburgers for a quick meal! But Boxed Hamburger Helper is another way to have a quick delicious meal in minutes!

You'll only need a large skillet and you'll be feeding the whole family this dressed up boxed version from the grocery store one-pot meal in just minutes!

What do you know, the boxed stuff is pretty darn good on busy weeknights with just a few simple additions! It's certainly a family favorite at my house and was one of my own childhood favorites!

Give this Easy homemade hamburger helper recipe a try today and save your back pocket some change and get your picky eaters around the dinner table for comfort food and an easy dinner!

Why This Dressed up Boxed Hamburger Helper Recipe Works!

• Show you how to add more flavor to your hamburger helper in just a single skillet.
• Give you ways to add some veggies that TASTE GREAT! 
• You’ll have dinner on the table in 12-15 minutes, no joke! 

Here’s How It’s Done. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s) 

What is Hamburger Helper?

Hamburger Helper is a mix that includes noodles and a flavoring package that you add to ground beef (or chicken or whatever type you have purchased). It’s often on sale for about $1 making it an affordable family dinner choice. 

What are the Ingredients in Hamburger Helper? 

The ingredient list on the box I am looking at (double cheeseburger macaroni) has (the flavor you  choose may be different), check out the back of the box to be sure. : 

Elbow macaroni (they are made out of wheat flour and other ingredients)

• Corn Starch
• Modified Whey, 
• Salt
• Wheat Flour 
• Sugar
• Cheddar Cheese
• Palm Oil
• Citric Acid, 
• Vegetable Oil
• Annatto Extract
• Yeast Extract
• Parmesan Cheese
• Onion
• Lactic Acid
• Monoglycerides
• Sodium Phosphate, 
• Calcium Lactate
• Nonfat Milk
• Garlic
• Natural flavor
• Silicon dioxide 

Is There a 3 Ingredient Ground Beef Recipes?

Sure! Hamburger Helper itself is about 3 ingredients for most flavors. You could consider the box of HH one ingredient, the ground beef as an ingredient and then add something like a can of peas! YUM! 

What are the Hamburger Helper Instructions? 

So simple that you can’t mess it up. 

First, for the store-bought version brown a pound of ground beef, add water and/or milk, add the flavor packet and the noodles, mix it all up and then cook it on the stove top over medium high heat!

Which Is the Best Kind of Hamburger Helper? 

I’m not really a connoisseur of these things, but friends swear by the cheeseburger flavors and the beef stroganoff of HH. Probably just depends what you are into the most. 

Can I Make Hamburger Helper More Healthy? 

Yes, you absolutely can! Try one of these solutions: 

• Use a lean ground beef, ground turkey or ground chicken instead of ground beef. 
• Brown the meat over medium heat or  medium-high heat in olive oil instead of vegetable oil.
• Try adding canned or frozen vegetables to your dish like early baby peas, carrots, diced tomatoes or green beans. Any of those would taste good. 
• You can use any type of milk you like, so if you are looking for lower fat, you could try skim looking for more flavor, add heavy cream 
• Serve your hamburger helper with healthy sides and serve small portions of the HH. For example a large salad, a taco salad using the HH as the meat , turn it into a topping for nachos that are loaded with veggies. Serve over a baked sweet potato. There are lots of options with real ingredients for this.

How to Make Hamburger Helper Better?

Here’s my secret tips for making Hamburger Helper MORE tasty. Use Whole Milk, if the instructions call for milk. Replace any water in the recipe with chicken broth. If the HH is a tomato sauce type dish, add a can of diced fire roasted tomatoes.How to Make Hamburger Helper Recipe

Can I Make Hamburger Helper Without Milk? 

Yes, you can substitute a number of things for the milk…

• Vegetable Broth
• Chicken Stock
• Beef broth
• A milk replacement like almond milk (or other nut milks).
• Coconut milk (shake the can very well and mix well). 
• Evaporated Milk
• Cream cut in half with stock.

How to Make Hamburger Helper Without Meat? 

You can make Hamburger Helper with….

• Better than Beef
• Impossible Burger
• TVP
• Vegetarian Crumbles (be watchful because these tend to make dishes taste very salty).
• There are types of hamburger helper that use tuna/ fish instead of beef or chicken! Go look! 

How to Make Hamburger Helper Taste Better? 

• I think the best way to make HH taste better is to use stock to prepare instead of water.
• Also enhancing flavors by adding a little extra real cheese at the end, topping with an herb, adding a dollop of sour cream.
• If the HH is a tomato based dish then adding a can of diced fire roasted tomatoes or tomato paste is often a winner! 
• Herbs, spices and other additions often help: garlic powder, onion powder, fresh onion, hot sauce, fresh parsley, extra veggies, chili powder, red pepper flakes, dijon mustard, worcestershire sauce. 

How to Make Hamburger Helper From the Box? 

To Make Hamburger Helper from the box, simply follow the exact directions on the back of the box. Every one is a little different but most include adding about 1lb of meat (usually burger, but can be tuna, chicken, etc) to milk and water with the contents of the box.

What are the Hamburger Helper Flavors? 

You can find a complete list of the flavors on the Hamburger Helper Site. They include things like cheeseburger macaroni, cheesy ranch burger, Tomato Basil Penne, etc. How to Make Hamburger Helper Recipe

Tips and Tricks

• Sometimes it is difficult to mix the powder mix into the liquid (it occasionally likes to clump). . To avoid this, heat your liquid in the microwave for 1 minute and add the spice packet to that liquid. Mix well with a fork and then add it to your skillet.How to Make Hamburger Helper Recipe
• To make your dish more healthy, consider adding veggies to the mix. Frozen veggies you can add to the last 10 minutes of cooking and the same with canned vegges (pour the can water off before adding).  
• If you are adding veggies, think through if the veggie will taste good with your dish. For example, peas or broccoli with a cheesy dish will be yummy. Tomatoes added to a tomato based dish also yummy. Broccoli to a tomato dish, maybe not. 
• Switch out water in the recipe for broth or stock (chicken or vegetable probably work best) to add a ton of flavor. 
• Make a slightly more cheesy sauce by adding some cheese slices or melting cheese to the dish just as it is ready. Add some parmesan cheese to the top.

Watch Me Make Hamburger Helper

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This article originally appeared on the pages of Loaves and Dishes on October 19, 2019 and has been updated with new information, new recipe card, ingredient information and more!

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