(Update 2017) I’ve gone back and forth for a year now about whether I should keep the Hamburger Helper posts and the like on the site. On the one hand, they are the most popular posts on the blog. Every day, more and more people check these posts out. On the other hand, they are so unhealthy even with the good stuff added. And this blog is supposed to be about eating healthy on a budget. What to-do, what to-do?
Well, I decided to leave them. For now. My figuring is that if people are adding the good stuff then they are benefiting somewhat on the health side. And those people may need to cut corners more than others. So the hamburger helper ones are staying. At least until I can figure out how else to get that information to people.
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Do you like Hamburger Helper? My daughter does. It isn’t something I usually purchase, but a few months ago I had a few coupons for multiple boxes. The Hamburger Helper was on sale and cost only .75 a box with coupons for the name brand boxes.
We do varying things with the different types of helpers. We have been known to add chicken instead of beef to the beef stroganoff, so we know you can mix and match meats. Use any kind of meat you like in any of the different helpers. You can also do meat mixes. Why not use:
- Turkey
- Ham
- Pork roast
- Turkey and chicken mix
We also add vegetables. We’ve been known to add just one, or a combination of different vegetables:
- Celery
- Peas
- Carrots
- Corn and peas
- Carrots and green beans
- Broccoli
For more ideas: More Hamburger Helper Add-ins
You can do many things with Hamburger Helper. How about sharing some of your creations in the comments? Thank you.
Shannon
frugalrecipes.wordpress.com 
my entire family loves the hamb.helper stroganoff…i fix it according to directions….i am feeding a family of 6, so i add a handful of whatever extra pasta i have…a can of cream of mushroom or chicken soup, sometimes leftover sourcream…and a can of corn….this “recipe” was invented out of necessity, but it has become a family favorite…
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Sounds good. There are a lot of things that you can do with hamburger helper that taste very good. I like hearing about other’s ideas so that I can try them.
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Following your recipe right now. It looks and smells good. Great idea.
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i like to add alot of extra meat is the best
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hey shannon! thanks for the ideas.. i was trying to figure somthing out for lunch and we have hamburger helper lasagna but we had no beef… but we have chicken.. so im gonna try it with chicken instead of beef.. thanks to you i can look forward to a great tasting meal!! thanks for your help!
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Happy I was able to provide you with the idea. My daughter prefers chicken with most hamburger helpers.
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We feed a (very hungry) family of five with one box. The box alone would never be enough so I always add a little more of my own ingredients. I buy 1 + 1/3 lbs of ground turkey, which is cheaper and healthier than beef. I also add a few handfuls of whole wheat pasta (usually rotini or extra elbows). Of course you will need to add more water depending on the amount of pasta you use. I recommend a loaf of italian bread on the side to fill up those hungry bellies too!!
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This is great advice. When I ran the daycare from my home, I used to have to stretch recipes further than suggested on boxes and in recipes. This is not a hard skill to learn, it just takes a little getting used two.
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My favorite is the stroganof, I make it with a can of cream of potato, top it with sour cream before I take it off the stove, and use little milk and water so its denser. I usually use half the meat because I have to really stretch my budget. But another great one is the breakfast idea, to make cheesy hashbrowns using sausage, and serve with eggs on the side like I make them (usually omelettes) my husband and kids love it. and I can usually make it the night before and just heat it up, they are none the wiser.
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Wow! This is really useful! I live in a dorm with a couple other girls, and hamburger helper is a godsend. Our favorite is Beef fried rice, with corn added in, and we throw leftovers into a wrap with tomato and lettuce for a tasty lunch or snack the nexy day!
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That sounds like a great combination.
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i like to add chili beans to the chili macaroni and mozerella to lasagna and make any of the mexican ones into tacos or burritos and lots of cheese!
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Sounds interesting. I know a few people who will be trying that 🙂
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There are only two of us at home now and we’re both in our late 50’s; my husband loves hamburger helper so this is always a good fall back! I only use half the hamburger the recipe calls for and serve with a green vegetable or salad and i do add bread (garlic bread, etc or roll or stick). We divide the rest into lunches for the next day or dinner a couple of days later. It does taste really good with the full pound of meat but we get plenty of protein. (I brown the whole pound of hamburger, throw in an onion if there’s one in the cupboard, and divide the cooked meat in half–use one part that day and freeze the other half. I can then make a quick dinner with hamburger helper or tacos, etc., with the rest of the meat, when I get home from work.)
I noticed that Betty Crocker doesn’t post all the add ins anymore — I really miss this — I’ve done this sometimes and some of the meals turned out fabulous (add mexicorn, etc.).
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Thank you for your comment. it is important to stretch meals to have leftovers, and add-ins and side dishes allow us to do this. I also have posts giving add-in tips for homemade mac & cheese and other recipes.
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My kids favorite is the cheddar cheese melt. I add a can of ranch style beans and velveeta. It is delicious and it’s really good served with tortilla chips.Sometimes I’ll put bleded chili fixin’s rotel in it too. We have it with fried potatoes and corn or green beans. The chicken enchilada one we like too. I usually use a can of chicken and add velveeta and black olives (my kids LOVE black olives). It’s also really good with tortilla chips. But I usually make it and put it on flour tortillas to make kind of a taco. Good stuff!
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great ideas.i love when readers post about how they prepare the various meals in their own kitchens. thank you for contributing.
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Here on the island’s of Micronesia, Many of us use rice instead of bread and it works really well with the Stroganoff and a few of the other Italian and Mexican flavors that are available. It helps to keep and maintain budgets within large households. Tonight will be a first night in which i try some of these Ideas posted…I think I will begin with some onion, garlic, and fresh capsicums to this dish.
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If you need to stretch the budget you can add some rice to almost any helper. Just add 1/2 cup rice and 1 cup water. The rice will need to cook for 20 min. so add the pasta about halfway through the 20 min.
I always add beans to my helpers. Kidney beans for red sauces, black beans for mexican, and great northern beans for white sauces. Onion goes in almost everything.
Don’t forget, you can put a can of spinach in the lasagna along with the cottage cheese.
Steamed broccoli goes great with the alfredo sauces.
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These are good ideas. Thank you!
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i loove hamburger helper…usually made as is topped on steamed rice.. or left over like a sloppy joe ❤ today ill try my three cheese helper with either peas+carrots or steamed broccoli…over rice of course! thanks for all these yummy tips.
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You are quite welcome 🙂 enjoy!
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i added corn and green beans to mine with a little bit of cheese to make it chessey and with some chilly tomatoes make it more tasty with salt and pepper the mest
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If you go to HamburgerHelper.com and click recipes, they suggest add ins for each helper.
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my daughter loves hamburger helper i usually add celery, or bell peppers for crunch. served with rice n toss greens
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I am sure this is delicious 🙂
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MY GRANDCHILDREN LOVE CHEESEBURGER HAMBURGER HELPER AND ALFREDO HAMBURGER HELPER. I USE A CAN OF HAM DICED UP AND HALF OF A 10 OZ BAG OF FROZEN BROCCOLI IN THE CHEESEBURGER MAC AND THEN A CAN OF CHICKEN AND THE OTHER HALF OF THE BROCCOLI IN THE ALFREDO. FOR BOTH MEALS I MAKE A SIMPLE GARDEN SALAD OF LETTUCE, TOMATO AND CUCUMBER ON THE SIDE. AND I TOAST REGULAR BREAD IN THE TOASTER AND SPREAD WITH BUTTER, THEN SPRINKLE IT WITH JUST A TOUCH OF GARLIC SALT AND ITALIAN SEASONING FLAKES. IT IS A COMPLETE MEAL THAT GOES A LONG WAY AND THEY LOVE IT. NOT TO MENTION THEY’RE EATING THEIR VEGGIES.
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I just made the Lasagna version of Great Value brand Hamburger Helper last nite. I like to sauté chopped onions in olive oil, then ad a can of seasoned diced tomatoes, drained. I then only ad 2 1/2 cups of water instead of 3. I also melt in a little of real cheese if its in the fridge. Even American is ok. I tell you, so simple but I actually get compliments on this dish and it disappears quick! They are great starters for something better!
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Sounds good 🙂 My favorite hamburger helper was when I used venison in the stroganoff one rather than ground beef. It was so tasty!
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Can you add great and red peppers.
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You sure can! I don’t eat them myself, but lots of other people add the peepers to their hamburger helper.
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