What Is Hamburger Helper & Is It Worth It?
While you’ve undoubtedly seen it on store shelves or in TV ads, have you ever actually tried Hamburger Helper? If you haven’t, one thing is for sure; you’re missing out on one of the simplest, quickest meals out there. After a long day, there’s no way I’m going to bring myself to cook, so very often, this is my favorite dinner option. Whether it’s a dozen different ingredients or just a quick dinner using a few items from my pantry and fridge, Hamburger Helper always delivers. But what is Hamburger Helper?
Hamburger Helper consists of an easy-to-make mix of noodles, starches, and seasonings that you can cook up with ground beef and cheese to create a delicious quick dinner. It is definitely worth trying, especially if you’re looking for an easy, pre-made dinner solution.
From its taste, texture, and unbeatable convenience, there’s a lot to love about Hamburger Helper. But is it worth trying? And why is it called Hamburger Helper? I’m about to answer all your questions about this notoriously easy meal in one place.
What Are the Ingredients in Hamburger Helper?
Hamburger Helper is a classic dish that’s been around for years and is easy to make at home. It’s a boxed combination of pasta and seasonings that you mix with meat and milk and cook until cooked through. The mix usually comes with some kind of sauce, spice/seasonings, and/or cheese, resulting in a creamy, savory dish.
It calls for some dairy ingredients, but it can be made entirely vegan by omitting the milk or substituting it with a vegan alternative. However, it does contain a lot of MSG, which should be taken into consideration for those with dietary restrictions. [1]
You can prepare this brand of packaged dry-mix dinner products with ground beef. It comes in more than twenty savory flavors, some of which include Cheesy Italian Shells, Stroganoff, and Four Cheese Lasagna. However, the base of the mix is always some pasta, but the rest of the ingredients vary by flavor.
So what’s in it exactly? Each packet contains a flavorful blend of spices and seasonings, such as garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. On the other hand, they also contain cheese powder to give it an extra creamy taste. Some flavors contain dairy ingredients like sour cream or milk powder as well.
Overall, Hamburger Helper provides an easy way to make a delicious meal in no time at all. The combination of spices and seasonings gives each flavor a unique taste that will tantalize your tastebuds. Plus, you’ll be able to look down at your meal with pride, knowing that you made it!
What Does Hamburger Helper Taste Like?
With its mix of pasta, sauce mix, and spices, Hamburger Helper has a nostalgic flavor that’s hard to ignore. It’s a classic comfort food that takes only minutes to make and is reasonably priced. Plus, all the ingredients come pre-packaged in one box, which makes for convenient meal planning.
The combination of the beefy flavor of ground beef, combined with onions and celery in the pasta dish, brings back memories of childhood family dinners. The cheese sauce adds a creamy texture, and not to mention loads of flavor, to tie it all together.
The spices also play an essential role in the flavor profile since they add hints of garlic, cumin, and paprika to balance out all the savory elements. It’s reminiscent of homemade spaghetti sauce but way easier to make.
If you like quick meals that are packed with flavor, it might be worth trying out Hamburger Helper!
How to Prepare Hamburger Helper?
I’m sure you’re wondering how to prepare Hamburger Helper. Well, the preparation time takes around 20 minutes, so it’s great for busy weeknights when you don’t have much time to spare.
The process is super straightforward. First, cook your ground beef in a skillet, and then add the powder packet, milk, water, and butter to make the sauce. After that, mix in the pasta and let it simmer until it is cooked through. You may also want to add your own vegetables or seasonings according to taste!
What’s great, there are so many things you can add to make your own version, including fresh tomatoes, bacon, shredded cheese, or Italian spices.
Finally, top with some cheese or bread crumbs, and voila! You just made an easy yet delicious meal in no time – perfect for those hectic days when you need something warming and satisfying real quick!
How to Serve Hamburger Helper?
Any way you serve Hamburger Helper is going to be delicious! It’s an excellent dish for all types of meals, from family dinners to quick weeknight meals.
Once you’ve finished making your Hamburger Helper, you may wonder what to serve with it. You can mix and match different side dishes to create a complete meal, and here are some suggestions:
- Vegetables: Serve some steamed or stir-fried vegetables like broccoli, carrots, or green beans. You could also use the extra sauce from your Hamburger Helper to give it a tasty kick.
- Salads: A classic tossed salad or light cole slaw goes perfectly with the meaty flavor of Hamburger Helper. For a cold side dish, try macaroni salad or potato salad for more variety in texture and taste.
- Starches: Enjoy classic comfort foods like mashed potatoes, baked beans, corn casserole, and cooked rice.
- Breads: Serve some fresh bread like garlic knots or biscuits for dipping into the sauce from your Hamburger Helper.
Why Is It Called Hamburger Helper?
Have you ever wondered why it’s called Hamburger Helper? It turns out that the name is derived from the fact that it was created to assist home cooks in making a complete meal with some help from a package of “helper.”
The original recipe has been around since 1971, when Hamburger Helper made its debut as an easy way to make a ground beef dinner more enjoyable, while the primary reason was actually to save meat because of rising meat prices and meat shortage.
It helps stretch out a small amount of ground beef into a much larger meal – making this both an economical and tasty option for any family budget!
The main seasoning packet in Hamburger Helper contains dried herbs and spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, paprika, and chives. There’s also long-grain enriched pasta and powdered milk or cheese sauce mix to complete the meal.
My favorite thing about it is that when you combine these ingredients with a pound of ground beef (or another type of meat), some butter or margarine, and water, you create a delicious food that your family will love.
So there you have it – Hamburger Helper was created to help make complete meals easily.
Is Hamburger Helper Worth Trying?
The answer to this question really depends on what your expectations are. Some people love it, while others find it bland and unfulfilling. But if you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner option or just something different to add some flavor to your burger night, then Hamburger Helper could be just the key.
Hamburger Helper is relatively affordable, simple to make, and requires minimal effort when compared to making a dish from scratch. Besides, its versatility lets you mix and match ingredients to suit your tastes. Plus, the cost per serving means that you won’t be breaking the bank for an experiment that may not turn out so well.
And here’s something else you should remember: Hamburger Helper might not be something everyone in your family enjoys, but this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth trying. As with any meal – sometimes it takes a few tries to get the recipe just right!
