Homemade Hamburger Helper

Start by browning your ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, crumbling it up along the way. Once it is fully cooked, drain the fat from the ground beef and return the skillet to the stove still over medium heat. Add in the pasta, giving it a good stir. Cook for a couple of minutes. Just the beef and the dry pasta.

During this time, add your spices and cornstarch into a small bowl. Give it a good mix, then set it aside.

Next add in the hot water into your skillet, giving another good stir. Add the milk and the spices and stir to combine.

Remember how that classic Hamburger Helper always had that shine to it? Well, that’s where the cornstarch comes in. Not only does it provide that nice shine, but it also helps thicken the sauce, making it super special.

Give the mixture a good stir, and cook this for about 15 minutes, or until the pasta become tender and the sauce begins to reduce down a bit as well as thicken.

Now it is time to add the cheese. Toss it on top, then give a good stir. Turn off the heat and get ready to serve.

Place in your serving bowls and dig in. I can tell you that the flavor and texture is spot on. As I informed my colleagues at work that I made Hamburger Helper the other night, one simply said “Oh, really? Hamburger and noodles in skillet. Wow.”

This is more than hamburger and noodles in a skillet, people. This is the real deal in taste, and without those forty or so unknown ingredients that you get in the box mix. Hope you enjoy.