Recipe Shortcuts, Do It Yourself Hamburger Helper Mix

I have used this in the past, but I'm not sure if this is one I've used or not.  I didn't originate this, Bill found it somewhere.  The first recipe is for the base, the rest are add-ins.  My comments will be at the end and are marked with **.

T = Tablespoon
t = teaspoon

Homemade Hamburger Helper Mix


2 cups of powdered milk
1 cups corn starch
¼ cup chicken bouillon powder
2 T dried onion
1 t. basil
1 t. thyme
1 t. pepper
2 T dried parsley
1 T garlic powder

Mix all ingredients together and store in a canning jar with an air tight lid.

To make:

Chili Mac

Brown one pound of hamburger and add:
1 cup of water
1 ½ cups of uncooked elbow noodles
2 cans 15 oz. chopped tomatoes
1 T chili powder
½ cup helper mix

Bring above ingredients to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for about 20 minutes or until noodles are cooked completely.

Hamburger Stroganoff

Brown one pound of hamburger and add:
2 cups water
½ cup helper mix
2 cups linguine noodles

Bring mixture to a boil and stir, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes or until noodles are tender. Then add:

½ cup sour cream and serve.

Hamburger Potato Casserole

Brown one pound hamburger. Add:
¾ cup water
6 peeled potatoes, sliced thin
1 cup frozen peas
½ cup (slightly heaping) helper mix

Lasagna Casserole

Brown one pound of hamburger and add:
½ half cup mix
1 chopped onion
2 cups water
2 - 8oz. cans tomato sauce
3 cups pasta of your choice
¼ cup parmesan cheese

Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 15 minutes. top with:
2 cups mozzarella cheese

Cover with a lid and do not stir. Turn off heat. Let it sit long enough for cheese to melt.

**I have used a couple of different versions of this.  There is a little taste difference, but a lot of that is because this version doesn't have the preservatives and additives that the boxed Hamburger Helper mix has.  Also, it is a lot lower in fat.  You can use whole-wheat pasta if you chose to.  And some of the measurements are going to be determined by your individual taste, for example 2 cups of mozzerella cheese (in the last one) might be more or less than you want.  But this is one that you can have fun with, and you might already have most or all of the ingredients on hand.  I store mine in a ziploc bag, and it can also be kept in the freezer to keep it a littler fresher.  You can also vary the spices a little, experiment and have fun.