Hamburger Helper is a popular line of packaged boxed dinners produced by General Mills. The brand has been around since 1971 and offers a range of quick and easy skillet meals, including several varieties of chili mac.
What is Hamburger Helper?
Hamburger Helper is essentially a pre-mixed seasoning packet that you combine with ground beef and other simple ingredients like water or milk to create a complete meal in one pan. The seasoning mixes come in a variety of flavors like cheesy potato, beef stroganoff, and chili mac. The packages also include dried pasta like macaroni, rotini, or rice.
To make a Hamburger Helper meal, you simply brown the ground beef in a skillet, add the seasoning mix and pasta, and simmer until the pasta is tender. Each box makes enough for about 4 servings. Hamburger Helper provides a fast dinner option that contains protein, starch, and vegetables in one simple dish.
When was Hamburger Helper introduced?
Hamburger Helper was first introduced by General Mills in 1971. It was designed to be an easy, affordable way for families to make a complete dinner with minimal time and effort. In the early 1970s, more women were entering the workforce so there was a need for quick and convenient dinner solutions. Hamburger Helper could be prepared start to finish in just 30 minutes.
The first two Hamburger Helper varieties available were Cheeseburger Hamburger Helper and the Hamburger Helper Tomato Sauce. In 1972, General Mills expanded the product line to include other favorites like Chili Mac, Chicken Fried Rice, Lasagna, and Stroganoff. Today there are over 25 different Hamburger Helper flavors sold.
When did Hamburger Helper chili mac first debut?
The exact year that the chili mac Hamburger Helper variety first debuted is unclear, but it was likely introduced in 1972 or 1973 along with other early Hamburger Helper flavors like stroganoff and lasagna.
General Mills had expanded the Hamburger Helper line to include five varieties by 1972. In 1973, they added several more flavors including chili macaroni, golden chicken nuggets, and tangy barbecued beef. So the chili mac flavor has been available for at least 50 years.
What is in the Hamburger Helper chili mac box?
A box of Hamburger Helper chili mac contains the following ingredients:
- Dry macaroni pasta
- Seasoning mix packet
- Dried minced onions
- Dried red bell peppers
- Salt
- Sugar
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Ground cumin
- Garlic powder
- Natural flavorings
The seasoning mix brings the signature chili mac flavors like tomatoes, chili spices, cheese, onions, and red bell peppers. The uncooked elbow macaroni pasta is also included to add into the skillet.
How do you make Hamburger Helper chili mac?
Making a skillet of Hamburger Helper chili mac is simple and takes about 30 minutes from start to finish. Here are the basic steps:
- Brown 1 pound of ground beef in a skillet over medium heat. Break up and crumble the beef as it cooks until no longer pink.
- Stir in 1 1⁄4 cups of water, the contents of the Hamburger Helper chili mac seasoning packet, and 2 cups of the dry macaroni pasta from the box.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.
- Remove skillet from heat and let stand for 5 minutes before serving. The chili mac will thicken up as it stands.
- Serve hot topped with your favorite chili mac toppings like shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, or hot sauce.
You can also add vegetables like diced onions, bell peppers, or tomatoes while browning the beef to pack some extra nutrition into the chili mac.
What are the ingredients in the Hamburger Helper chili mac seasoning?
The proprietary seasoning mix is what gives Hamburger Helper chili mac its signature flavor. The exact recipe and proportions are a trade secret held by General Mills, but the packet contains some of these common chili mac seasoning ingredients:
- Salt
- Sugar
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG)
- Onion powder
- Garlic powder
- Ground cumin
- Dried tomato powder
- Paprika
- Chili powder
- Dried cheese powder
When combined with the ground beef and macaroni, these seasoning ingredients come together to create the thick, saucy, mildly spicy chili mac flavor people expect from Hamburger Helper.
What are some recipe hacks for Hamburger Helper chili mac?
Here are some easy ways to tweak the standard Hamburger Helper chili mac recipe:
- Add diced veggies: Sauté onions, peppers, corn, or zucchini along with the ground beef for extra texture and nutrition.
- Use different ground meat: Substitute ground turkey or a meatless crumble instead of beef.
- Make it cheesier: Stir in some shredded cheddar, Monterey Jack, or pepper jack cheese at the end for an extra cheesy chili mac.
- Spice it up: Add 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or red pepper flakes for some extra heat.
- Top it with extras: Garnish with sour cream, crushed tortilla chips, chopped green onions, or hot sauce for fun toppings.
Feel free to get creative and make the chili mac your own by tweaking herbs, spices, add-ins, and toppings!
How can you make Hamburger Helper chili mac healthier?
Hamburger Helper meals are designed to be quick and convenient, but not necessarily health foods. Here are some easy ways to give Hamburger Helper chili mac a nutritional boost:
- Use leaner ground beef or substitute ground turkey breast.
- Sauté chopped vegetables like onions, carrots, bell peppers, or zucchini.
- Use low-sodium or no-salt-added tomatoes if adding diced tomatoes.
- Choose whole grain pasta shapes instead of regular elbow macaroni.
- Use reduced fat cheese and light sour cream for toppings.
- Boost fiber by adding beans or lentils.
- Use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream.
- Flavor with spices instead of salt.
Focusing on lean proteins, lots of vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy are easy ways to pack more nutrition into this family favorite.
What are some add-ins for Hamburger Helper chili mac?
Some tasty add-in ideas for Hamburger Helper chili mac include:
- Diced tomatoes
- Chopped green chiles
- Diced bell peppers
- Chopped onions
- Frozen corn kernels
- Cooked kidney or pinto beans
- Chopped zucchini
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Greek yogurt or light sour cream
- Chopped scallions
- Crushed tortilla chips
Get creative with mix-ins to add extra flavor, texture, color, and nutrition to the chili mac! Just stir the additions in after simmering the pasta and seasoning mix.
What are some substitutions for Hamburger Helper chili mac?
If you don’t have a box of Hamburger Helper chili mac on hand, you can replicate the flavor at home with the following substitutions:
| Hamburger Helper Ingredient | Substitution |
|---|---|
| Seasoning mix packet | 1 tablespoon chili powder, 1⁄2 tsp cumin, 1⁄2 tsp garlic powder, 1⁄4 tsp onion powder, 2 tablespoons tomato paste |
| Macaroni pasta | Any small pasta shape like penne, rotini, farfalle |
| Ground beef | Ground turkey, chicken, or vegetarian meat crumble |
Mix together common pantry spices like chili powder and cumin with tomato paste for the seasoning. Use any small pasta shape you have on hand. Ground turkey or chicken can sub for beef.
What are some ways to use up leftover Hamburger Helper chili mac?
Like many foods, Hamburger Helper chili mac tastes even better as leftovers! Here are some great ways to use up those leftovers:
- Frito pie – Top with crushed tortilla chips, cheese, onions, and sour cream
- Add an egg – Create a hearty breakfast bowl
- Stuffed peppers – Scoop into bell peppers and bake
- Top nachos – Laden tortilla chips with chili mac
- Quesadillas – Stuff in a tortilla with shredded cheese
- Chili mac soup – Thin out with broth
- Casserole – Combine with cheese and corn chips and bake
Get creative and give leftover chili mac new life! It reheats beautifully in the microwave or on the stovetop.
What are some commonly asked questions about Hamburger Helper chili mac?
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about Hamburger Helper chili mac:
Is Hamburger Helper gluten free?
No, Hamburger Helper is not gluten free. It contains wheat ingredients like pasta and thickeners in the seasoning mix. The chili mac variety contains elbow macaroni pasta made from wheat.
Is Hamburger Helper vegetarian?
No, Hamburger Helper recipes are not vegetarian because they require ground beef. To make a vegetarian chili mac, you could substitute ground turkey or a meatless soy-based crumble product for the ground beef.
Can you make Hamburger Helper without meat?
Yes, you can make meatless Hamburger Helper by replacing the ground beef with an equal amount of vegetarian meat substitute, such as soy crumbles or extra firm tofu. You may need to increase seasoning quantities slightly to compensate for flavor.
Does Hamburger Helper need milk?
Most Hamburger Helper varieties call for water, not milk. However, a few creamy sauce flavors will use milk instead of water for extra richness. Chili mac calls for water only, no milk required.
Is Hamburger Helper good for meal prep?
Yes, Hamburger Helper can be a handy item for meal prepping. Make a big batch and portion it out into containers ready for quick lunches and dinners later in the week. Just store the pasta separate from the sauce and combine when reheating.
Conclusion
Hamburger Helper chili mac is a quick, budget-friendly family dinner staple that has been around for decades. While not the most health-conscious meal, there are ways to pack in extra nutrition with veggie add-ins and lower fat ingredients. Leftovers can be creatively reinvented into tasty new dishes. With a few simple ingredients and 30 minutes, you can whip up a skillet of comforting chili mac using this iconic American boxed dinner brand.