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
As far as I am concerned, "Hamburger Helper" is free-style cooking. The only rules I apply are the same as for all my cooking:
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 Helmut
My mother made this when I was a kiddo and I've made it thought the years. It's relatively cheap, fast, and tastes way better than HH. Recipe: pre-cook about 1/2 to 3/4 of a larger package of pasta, or a full package if you are serving more than 4 people, either noodles, macaroni, or whatever. Brown lean hamburger meat in a pan and drain. Use about a pound, but if you economizing or making for less people, you can use even as little as 1/4 pound.
By Vicki
Almost Hamburger Helper Mix in a Jar
The recipes can be found on the Thriftyfun website! (08/06/2010)
By Marjorie
Here's another one. ;-)
Homemade Hamburger Helper Alternative
Cook on low heat until heated through.
(08/06/2010)
By Deeli
I ran across these recipes while surfing the net one day, I haven't tried any of them though, enjoy
http://chickensintheroad.com/blog/2010/01/03/homemade-hamburger-helper/
(08/06/2010)
By Tim Miller
I always brown hamburger, chopped onions, chopped bell peppers (not only green, but red and yellow, makes for a pretty visualization). Brown the ground beef, until no pink is showing. I also fix a box of mac and cheese, (directions on box) and take a package of frozen peas and carrots. I blend them and cook for about 10 or so minutes, on low, so the flavors will blend.
Homemade Hamburger Helper: Brown your meat. To keep it cheap you can use ground turkey, chicken, or sausage, or hamburger.
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)
By Sarra
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