Welcome to the second installment of Childhood Eats, where I take a super classic, memorable childhood recipe—maybe from my childhood, maybe from yours!—and remake it so it’s even better.
WHAT is Hamburger Helper?Hamburger Helper is a packaged product (like ) that was first introduced in 1971 by General Mills in response to high beef prices. Though it was initially marketed to housewives as a way to stretch out a pound of meat and simplify family dinners, in recent years General Mills realized its main audience was single bachelors, and pivoted its marketing campaign accordingly. The way I remember it is as one of the meals my brothers and I made for ourselves when we were home alone as kids. Sometimes we would zhuzh them up with things we found in our kitchen like frozen peas or extra spices. Hamburger Helper comes in a wide variety of flavors (one of our faves was the four cheese lasagna), but for this recipe we’re keeping it classic with the original cheeseburger macaroni.Our go-tos were the four cheese lasagna and the classic cheeseburger macaroni flavors. Sometimes we would zhuzh them up with things we found in our kitchen like frozen peas or extra spices, but for this recipe we’re keeping it classic. This one right here is a whole ‘nother level; handmade cavatelli pasta, freshly ground beef straight from the butcher’s block, decadent sour cream, and you can't forget the sharp cheddar cheese. Hold on to your noodle for this one and let this hamburger help ease all your worries and help you rejuvenate your childhood memories.
Though I went above and beyond by making fresh pasta and grinding my own meat, Hamburger Helper is all about the convenience, so you can easily swap in store-bought pasta (pick a shape that will really hug the sauce) and pre-ground beef.
Tried my twist on this childhood favorite? Let us know how it came out in the comments below!
Editor's Note: This recipe was updated on August 3, 2022.
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- Yields:
- 6
- Prep Time:
- 15 mins
Ingredients
For The Pasta
- 4 c.
sifted all purpose flour
- 2 tbsp.
kosher salt
- 2 tbsp.
olive oil
- 1 1/2 c.
water
For the Hamburger Helper
- 1/2
medium yellow onion, diced
- 2
cloves of garlic
- 1 lb.
ground beef
- 1 tsp.
garlic powder
- 1 tsp.
onion powder
kosher salt
freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp.
Frank's red Hot
- 1 c.
sour cream
- 1/2 c.
chicken stock
- 3 c.
shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Directions
For The Pasta
- Step1Placesifted flour into a large mixing bowl and make a well in the center. Add salt, olive oil, and water into the well. Using a fork start incorporating flour into the liquid until combined enough for you to start kneading the dough with your hands. Knead for about 8mins minutes until smooth and elastic. If needed, adjust the dough with more flour if it is too wet or more water if it is too dry. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and rest for half an hour.
- Step2After the dough has rested, roll into a rectangle about ½ inch thick and cut into strips ¾ inch wide. Cut each strip into ½ inch rectangular pieces.
- Step3Lightly flour your cavatelli board and roll each piece gently with your thumb down the board. Lay your cavatelli in a single layer on a floured sheet tray until ready to cook. If you are planning on making the pasta ahead, you can put it into the freezer until you need it.
For The Hamburger Helper
- Step1Start boiling salted water in a pot for your pasta. While that is heating up add onion and garlic to a large saute pan and cook until translucent. On medium high heat add the ground beef to brown with the garlic powder, onion powder and salt and pepper. Once cooked drain some of the oil from the beef if needed.
- Step2After the meat is cooked, add your cavatelli to the boiling water and cook for about five minutes, until they float to the top of the water. It is always good to take a fork and try a piece if you are unsure.
- Step3On medium-low heat add franks red hot, sour cream, and broth to the beef and stir until the sauce is combined. Then add your cooked cavatelli to the beef sauce and stir in your cheese until melted (you can increase or reduce the amount of cheese to your liking). Season with salt and pepper to taste and garnish with sliced green onion and enjoy!
Romel Bruno
Contributing Recipe Developer/Host
Originally from New York City, Romel Bruno has been working in kitchens for over 10 years; he currently is focused on recreating childhood classics for the YT series, Childhood Eats. When he is not filming he loves to cook soul food.
