Once upon a time there was a boy and a girl who moved to Minneapolis after college to whoop it up for a few years before settling down into adulthood, or whatever it is they call being a mid-upper twenty something.
The boy and the girl were dating, but lived in separate apartments. The girl liked to have the boy over for dinner as often as she could because she liked the boy a lot, but also because she knew what the boy would eat every night if left to his own devices.
See, while the girl liked to cook meals chock full of fresh veggies and protein (for the most part,) the boy had a weakness for boxed dinners that called for a pound of hamburger to “help” them along.
The meals were quick, cheap, and painless to prepare, but loaded with salt and weird ingredients.
“Disodium guanylate?” The girl once asked the boy, after looking at the ingredient list.
“I think that just means ‘extra delicious’.” The boy replied.
The boy and the girl ended up getting married and moving back to Iowa a few years later, and while they’ve been eating well ever since, he occasionally likes to think of the boxed dinners from his bachelor days and drool a little.
More in love with the boy than ever, the girl offered to whip up a homemade version of his favorite “flavor”, Cheeseburger Macaroni.
And the boy freaking LOVED IT. And guess what? The girl did too!
Ok. The jig is up. The boy is Ben, and the girl is me. ;) The rest of the story is true, however, including the part where Ben inhaled his bowl of Cheeseburger Macaroni. I literally gave him a bowl, went to snap a few pictures, and it was gone by the time I got back. Thanks for waiting!
The beauty of this meal is that it is inexpensive – I had all the ingredients on hand except for the hamburger to “help” bring the meal together – it’s made in one pot, so clean up is basically nil, and it’s ready in 20 minutes. 20 minutes!
Start by browning, and draining, one pound of ground beef.
Next, sprinkle in a rainbow of yummy seasonings and thickeners, including paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, pepper and cornstarch.
Pour in water, skim milk,
and any short pasta – regular or gluten-free. I wanted to use elbow macaroni, but only had mini penne on hand. Still worked fine!
Stir everything together, pop a lid on top, and simmer the mixture until the pasta is al dente, about 10 minutes.
Finally, stir in a wee bit of sharp cheddar cheese, and it’s done!
Ultra cozy, ultra easy, and, most importantly, disodium guanylate free!
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Homemade Cheeseburger Helper
Description
Homemade Cheeseburger Helper is the healthier, homemade version of boxed Hamburger Helper. This gluten-free dinner recipe is incredibly delicious!
Ingredients
- 1lb lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup hot water
- 2 cups skim milk
- 1-1/2 cups dry gluten-free or regular elbow macaroni (or other small pasta)
- 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
- Brown ground beef in a large skillet then drain and return to the skillet. Add cornstarch, seasonings, hot water, skim milk and pasta then stir to combine and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, place a lid on top, then simmer until pasta is al dente, stirring a few times.
- Turn off the heat then add cheddar cheese and stir until melted. Let stand for 5 minutes or until sauce has thickened then serve.
Notes
From Food.com
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
This meal is the ultimate in comfort food, shockingly easy to prepare, and so dang good. SO good! Enjoy!
shawna detrick 01.27.2012
My daughter and I are making Kale chips right now!!!!
Samantha 01.27.2012
I cannot WAIT to make this!! My boyfriend is OBSESSED with hamburger helper and he’s been doing so well giving it up. I can’t wait to surprise him with a healthy version of his favorite boxed meal :)
And Dustin would totally say kale chips taste like burnt leaves, too.
Lindsey Michaud 01.27.2012
brilliant!! I used to enjoy having lazy meals with the Helper but found it disgusting what all came with it. Cannot WAIT to make this!!
Lindsey Michaud 01.29.2012
Made it- it is DELICIOUS!! Really tastes spot on but you don’t feel guilty :)
Erin 01.27.2012
I used to love hamburger helper until I was confused by the ingredient list. I really want to try this out!
Brenda Evans 01.27.2012
I am lucky to find any kale is seems, let alone precut! I love kale but when I made the chips, I got “burnt leaves”. Maybe I cooked too long(same as your recipe), maybe they dont work with purple kale which was all I had at the time.
Katie 01.27.2012
Kristin, am I remembering right that you had a recipe or two for chocolate sheet cake? I can’t seem to find one. The lemon bluberry muffin top cookies were delicious, the staff at my children’s schools loved them too!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.27.2012
You bet! The Pioneer woman’s sheet cake is unnnbelievale! http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/06/the_best_chocol/
Katie 01.27.2012
Thank you, thank you, thank you! That was the one I was planning on making. I made Texas/chocolate sheet cake numerous times growing up but haven’t made it for a while. We are headed to my husband’s grandparents tomorrow and his grandma just had a birthday so will be celebrating with this cake. I just cut it up and it is delicious. I’m sure this is probably the same recipe I made growing up. Didn’t you have a cake recipe also that was Ben’s grandmas maybe? Again, thanks as always for sharing your recipes. We have never had the hamburger helper, but my kids will love this dish! Adding it to next week’s menu plan! Have a great weekend!
Iowa Girl Eats 01.30.2012
I do – it’s Ben’s late Grandma’s recipe. :) Hope you enjoy the dish!
Tom 01.27.2012
you won’t regret it :) just the right added “zing”
Tom 01.27.2012
As the “boy” who was feeding the “girl” still love the commentary. The added bonus is my son only knows this version, not the box. Bonus addition of a couple squirts of ketchup and yellow mustard into the mix completes the “cheeseburger”. Pitching him the kale “chips” soon
Iowa Girl Eats 01.27.2012
I SO wanted to do that, but my “boy” hates mustard. I’m going to try that sometime when he’s out of town or something… ;)
Joe 01.27.2012
Disodium guanylate is a flavor enhancer made from dried fish and seaweed. It is a common additive to not only box dinners and soup mixes, but it is also used in many spices and flavorings. Read the label of your onion powder and garlic salt; I’ll bet it’s in there, too.
Iowa Girl Eats 01.27.2012
It’s not – I checked! It’s also synonymous with MSG, which we don’t like to knowingly eat.
Ris 01.27.2012
I love kale chips! I usually just add olive oil and sea salt while they’re in the colander so I don’t have to use a plastic bag. Best fake junk food ever!
Julie 01.27.2012
My boyfriend likes to make something similar to this. We also put in green peppers and a drained can of stewed tomatoes. It adds some extra deliciousness! I agree this dinner is definitely a quick and easy, yummy staple.
Ps kale chips.. Will have to try these!
Em 01.27.2012
Yes yes yes!
I love kale chips. :)
Emilie @ Emilie's Enjoyables 01.27.2012
um my “boy” would love me if I made this!
Jacki 01.27.2012
Mike had the same response as Ben. And I think I had the same response as you did when I saw Kale on sale at HyVee a couple of weeks ago. Will need to watch for them again as those babies rocked!
Chelsea 01.26.2012
My boy-friend would LOVE this! I need to make it in a vegetarian style :)
Amber @ A Little Pink in the Cornfields 01.26.2012
I think I need to try kale chips!! I have never heard of making this!
Dream Mom 01.26.2012
Oh, how I love kale chips. I just put them in a glass bowl and drizzle the olive oil over them and take my hand to toss them. I am always amazed at how easy and delicious they are!
Emily @LivingLongfellow 01.26.2012
Looks like some good minneapolis comfort food! Yumners
CherubMamma 01.26.2012
Not only does that sound perfectly yummy and super easy to prepare…I think I’m going to measure out the dry ingredients and keep them together in my pantry. I only turn to those box meals when I’m in a super big hurry and don’t want to measure a thing! I’ve been meaning to look up homemade versions for quite awhile now. Thanks for saving me some time!
Emily 01.26.2012
Love this. Y’all are too cute. Have a good night!