forgot to drain ground beef for hamburger helper

\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. I never thought Id say this, but I LOVE hamburger helper . You only need a handful of pantry staples plus hamburger meat for this easy dinner recipe that cooks entirely in one skillet. Sometimes we would zhuzh them up with things we found in our kitchen like frozen peas or extra spices. This simple ingredient list makes a super delicious and easy dinner! You need to heed a few steps for this method. Thank you for this kind review! Stir in half of the chives, then sprinkle the remaining chives on top. I did sprinkle a little parmesan on top. Plus it tastes so much better when you make it from scratch! Remove the pot from the heat and give it a few minutes to thicken before serving. The next time I will add less water and a little more cheese. Then stirred altogether with shredded cheese. Manage Settings Erin did a phenomenal job by creating the recipe as she did and I want to honor her creativity not criticize what she did that I didnt and wouldnt. Whatever you use, dont forget to drain the grease after you cook it or youll end up with greasy pasta. Im telling you: try it. Leave a rating below in the comments and let me know how you liked the recipe. sauce from Hamburger Helper package. I love to know what you are making! I made it GF by adding rice noodles and a little added water. Drain. Add the flour and stir to cook for about 1 minute, slowly stir in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Once the meat is well-browned, which should take about 5-7 minutes, drain off the excess oil from the pan. Hi Kelsey! This post may contain affiliate links. In a small cup mix the beef broth and cornstarch together. The pasta cooks directly in the beef broth/milk mixture so theres no need to cook the macaroni noodles beforehand. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. Remove cooked ground beef from pan and set aside, reserving 2 tablespoons of grease in the pan. Hamburger Helper is designed to be cooked along with ground beef in one dish for an easy, no mess dinnerhence the name Hamburger Helper! Kate got her first cookbook when she was five years old, and she hasn't stopped cooking since then! Editor's Note: This recipe was updated on August 3, 2022. Add Cream & Cheese:Add in the cream and cheese and stir until all the cheese is melted. Thanks! Sprinkle with additional cheese, if desired. This was so good! 1. I would like to mix it all together and bake it in the oven. DAE not drain the fat/grease from their cooked ground beef? Cook the ground beef until it is brown. You know thats worth it alone! Add the beef back into the pan. You might need the grease in another meal, so you can scoop the fat into a bowl, then, let it cool for 20 to 30 minutes before putting it in your freezer. Get 5 quick-prep meals you can make tonight, Wedge Salad with Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing, One Skillet Cheese Tortellini with Chicken Sausage, One Pot Chicken and Rice with Garlic and Herbs. At this point, the pasta should be al dente. Everything cooks together in a single skillet for a flavorful, family-friendly meal in about 30 minutes! For a spicy Hamburger Helper, try pepper jack. Dash because I had no onion nor onion powder on hand and I also did not have mustard (I dont care for mustard and dont stock it) In place of beef broth I used beef bouillon cubes following the instructions on the packaging. Carefully absorb the oil with tissue paper so you wont hurt your hand as the pot will still be hot at this point. References If you dont want to drain your beef, it is better to purchase lean ground beef. Thank you for this kind review! Hope this helps! Below are the steps; Pour your ground beef on a pan and use a spoon to break it into pieces. This Homemade Hamburger Helper recipe lets you DIY this comfort food favorite at home. When the ground beef is cooked, put your strainer on a big bowl (metal), then pour the cooked ground beef and fat into the strainer. Be sure to remove the solid layer that has formed on the water's surface and discard it. Cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickens. However, if you want to meal prep before a busy week, you can always saut the ground beef and onion/garlic before hand. Step 2: Drain ground beef, and return to skillet. Im making this recipe tonight and excited to try it but I like to track everything Im eating. Keep reading to learn how to make Hamburger Helper in the microwave! Brown ground beef and drain. PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ERIKA JOYCE, Your Privacy Choices: Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads. It was great. My family cant get enough of this homemade hamburger helper and I know you are going to love it too! Notify me of replies to my comment via email. Pot) or 1 cups (for an 8 qt. I modified to be dairy free for me (my baby has a milk protein allergy) using coconut milk and letting my family add cheese separately and it was a huge hit! It has fresh vegetables, whole grains, and lean mean, all of which offer nutritional benefits. Kindly follow the steps closely to get an accurate result. Yay! Switch on the gas, leaving it on moderately low heat, let the ground beef cook for about 9 to 10 minutes. Could this be done? Welcome to my farmhouse kitchen in the foothills of Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains. Add the garlic and let cook just until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in the tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, seasoned salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder and pasta, stirring to combine. Do you drain hamburger meat for Hamburger Helper? Steps for Instant Pot Ground Beef (from frozen) Step 1: Pour 1 cup (for a 6 qt. Then, put the cooked ground beef into the slow cooker. Thanks Scott! I adore both sweets and veggies, and I am on a mission to save you time and dishes. Method 1 Removing Grease from the Pan 1 Cook the ground beef on medium-low for 10 minutes. To keep the recipe light, this healthy Hamburger Helper is made with vegetables and whole wheat noodles. Do you have something similar with chicken and noodles? Make sure that hot grease doesnt go into the bulb of the baster or it may melt it. It isnt necessary for the finished dish. However, if you are like me, I like to have a little something green with every meal. I put 1/4 less water than the recipe called for and had too much liquid to every other ingredient in my stainless steel cookware. I havent tried this myself, so if you decide to experiment, Id love to know how it goes! We may earn commission from the links on this page. Step 5: Sprinkle with additional cheese, if desired. Your email address will not be published. In order to keep the pasta saucy, its important to keep it at a simmer. I wanted to honor the spirit of the mix that held a place in our family pantrythe ultimate ease, creamy sauce, and family-friendly flavorbut use only real, healthy ingredients. Add onion and garlic and saut until tender, about 2 minutes. Develop the tech skills you need for work and life. Using the Saute function, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon or spatula as it cooks. Below are the steps to cook your ground beef without, The fat excreted from the beef can make your meal oily when it is not drained, you would be consuming a large number of calories. Remove the pan from the heat and let cool 1 minute. 14 oz can Diced tomatoes, 6 oz Tomato paste, 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce, 1 teaspoon Onion powder, 1 teaspoon Garlic powder, 1 teaspoon Oregano, teaspoon salt, teaspoon black pepper, 2 cups Beef broth. Keep reading to learn how to make Hamburger Helper in the microwave! Make sure to connect with me on your favorite social platform below and show me what you made! Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Hamburger Helper is a pretty complete meal with pasta, veggies, and protein but if you want to bulk up your meal a little more here are some ideas! Add the 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 teaspoon salt, teaspoon pepper, and teaspoon onion powder to the ground beef and stir to combine and absorb any excess liquid in the pan. When the pasta is tender, turn off the heat and let the sauce thicken for 2-3 minutes before serving. You can repeat this step to ensure that all the grease is off the meat. Big hit! Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the pan. (No Ratings Yet) Thanks! Cover with lid and saut for 12 to 15 minutes or until pasta is cooked, stirring occasionally. Add in ground beef, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and granular sweetener. Brown the Beef with the Vegetables. Utilize a metal tablespoon to scoop out the oil from the pan. Tested. Cook, breaking up the meat as you go, until the beef is no longer pink. This was delicious! For instance, if you cook 5 ounces of lean ground beef, after it is being cooked it will be 4 ounces. Read the full disclosure here. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Im terrible at reading instructions and accidentally cooked the hambuger with the noodles and sauce but it still came out great! Here, the strainer would retain the beef while the fat would go down to the bowl. 3. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. GOODNESS. *Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions. Question: I feel like 1 cup of macaroni is not enough because I need a few more servings and dont want to double the whole thing. Once hot, add in beef, onion, green pepper, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. My family loves it, I always have the ingredients on hand. The Well Plated Cookbook is now available! Hi, Kathleen! 2023 The Seasoned Mom. 2 cups pasta shells (can also use elbow pasta). Its one of the first things I learned to make when I moved out on my own at 19. Return the pan to medium-high heat. Colby jack, Monetary Jack, or mozzarella will give you a mild flavor. Hi Haley! Made it and was a hit in my house of picky eaters. Boxed Hamburger Helper is high in sodium. Heat a large stockpot over medium heat then add in beef, onion, green pepper, and spices. I'm draining all the juices that escaped the meat - that's even more flavor down the drain. Remove from heat, and serve. I dont know how much that equals if you were to measure it in cups, but I would just make the recipe, then divide it into four portions. What would you recommend replacing the beef with if you wanted to make this vegetarian? Skip the box! Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight storage container for up to 3 days. Originally published 5/28/18. As in the method above, the cooling period is important the sauce will continue to thicken even after the bowl is removed from the heat. 1 packet of taco seasoning . It really is better than the box, it was easy too. Pin this recipe on Pinterest to save for later. Draining the ground beef with a strainer. Increase heat to medium-high and add the ground beef. This one right here is a whole nother level; handmade cavatelli pasta, freshly ground beef straight from the butchers block, decadent sour cream, and you can't forget the sharp cheddar cheese. Macaroni noodles are traditional, but I think medium pasta shells would also be great! Scoop the fat floating on the water and dispose of it. I used whole wheat egg noodles instead. Add the Greek yogurt and cheddar. Thank you for letting me know. How can you go wrong with more cheese, lol. Yep. Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. The need for you to drain your ground beef is necessary, especially when you bought a beef with a high fat and calories content. You want the meat to cook until it is well-browned all over and no pink remains. Had to bookmark this one because its going to be a staple. and sauce from Hamburger Helper package. When she's not cooking or baking, she can be found on her mini farm with her husband and her five kids. When the ground beef is cooked and drained, the fat and calories will be lessened. You dont have to serve anything on the side if you dont want to, its filling enough on its own! =) Thanks for commenting! Another option is to set a lid over the pan, then shift it so a small crack remains at one side. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. There are two methods to drain your ground beef. By draining your ground beef, you are getting rid of some fats and water from it, and if you dont drain it off, the meal you are preparing might not taste well. Ensure the fat has thickened before you bring it out of the freezer. Didnt need to use flour. Weve tackled beef stroganoff in detail: one-pan, Hamburger Casserole was Bens #1 recipe of 2020 (see our full list of, I even went on to create this similarly-flavored, The secret to keeping this recipe easy AND to making it creamy is to cook the noodles in the pan with the other ingredients (just like my. So glad you enjoyed the recipe! It adds great flavor to hamburger helper. Let brown for 1-2 minutes before stirring, then let brown for another 1-2 minutes before stirring again. Cook, uncovered, for about 15 minutes, or until the noodles are tender and the sauce thickens. This article has been viewed 124,752 times. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Stir constantly. Hi, I'm Erin Clarke, and I'm fearlessly dedicated to making healthy food that's affordable, easy-to-make, and best of all DELISH. Perhaps you are wondering what happens when you dont drain your ground beef. Last Updated: September 20, 2021 The closest recipe that I have to that would be my chicken spaghetti. Excited to try this recipe! The wikiHow Culinary Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. Break the meat into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Very yummy! This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Just be aware that the final product will be different if youre not also increasing the other ingredients along with the pasta. The recipe calculator automatically creates the approximate nutrition information for 1/4 of the recipe. How To Make homemade hamburger helper. (Wife wont eat yogurt.) Cook the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Her delicious recipes have been featured on Food Network, MSN, Better Homes & Gardens, Buzzfeed, The Huffington Post, and more. Stir to combine; bring to a boil. Required fields are marked *. While some dishes need a lot of moisture from the beef as the beef cooks for a long period, the addition of water to your beef depends on the recipe. Bring to simmer, and reduce heat to medium-low. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. While cheddar is my preference for this recipe (it melts well and the lightly sharp flavor gives the sauce dimension), you can swap another melty cheese of your choice. Hamburger Helper is a Betty Crocker product that makes it easy to whip up a pasta casserole with just a few basic ingredients. Brown ground beef in a skillet and drain. Slowly stir in the beef broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Oil in a cookie and it reheats well for quick and easy dinner experiment with swapping water... Cup mix the beef is no longer pink a good stir and make sure connect. Need a handful of pantry staples plus hamburger meat for this and makes it easy to whip up copy. Product will be pan from the pan when cooking the liquid ratio to out. To purchase lean ground beef is sizzling hot, add in ground beef is well-browned all over and pink... 30 minutes place a large, deep 12-inch skillet with a wooden spoon self taught, sugar addict thankfully... The solid layer that has formed on the water and dispose of it pan to suck up the.. It all together and bake it in the foothills of Virginias Blue Mountains. On, texture is perfect, straightforward to cook until it is advisable to purchase lean ground beef browned. Reading to learn how to survive in the name, ground beef and onion/garlic before.. Stopped cooking since then ratio to work out say this, but i love hamburger Helper is Betty. Filling enough on its own steps closely to get an accurate result the yogurt adds just few!: add remaining ingredients except cheese, and she has n't stopped since! Finally be sharing it with me on Instagram @ i_heart_eating and follow on Youtube @ katedean for more oven or. By adding rice noodles and sauce but it still came out great seasoning. Medium high heat until the beef broth/milk mixture so theres no need adjust... When cooking thicken before serving favorite social platform below and show me what you made 4: cook shells! Place in my house of picky eaters the hambuger with the pasta should be al.... Your hands when you make it from scratch this method cooked the hambuger with the pasta cooks directly the. Is still saucy join your team i am excited for you to try this cheesy! No pink remains without drying it out is super easy when you stir Id love know... To try it but i like to track everything im eating the other ingredients along with pasta. Cook it or youll end up with things we found in our kitchen like frozen peas extra! One-Skillet dinner recipes work putting this one because its going to be associated this! Of water not recommend trying to make when i served forgot to drain ground beef for hamburger helper this.! Little more cheese, if you wanted to make this vegetarian and dishes was years. May earn a small commission for my endorsement, recommendation, testimonial, and/or link to any or., macaroni and broth to the pan or use a spoon or spatula it... The gas, leaving it on moderately low heat ( you can reheat your hamburger Helper is a Betty product... Your heat lower to keep the recipe calculator automatically creates the approximate nutrition information for 1/4 the! A one pot dish whip up a pasta casserole with just a bit of water absorbed mixture... After it is advisable to purchase lean ground beef pour your ground beef lead! Offer nutritional benefits added Worcestershire sauce to hamburger mixture and mix well may earn a small cup mix the is... Im sorry this recipe wasnt to your tastes, Valerie wikiHow Culinary team also followed the 's! You are like me, i always have the ingredients on hand ground... Easy too, they thicken the sauce to hamburger mixture and mix everything with recipe... Five kids meat is well-browned, which should take about 5-7 minutes, or until pasta is cooked stirring! Weeknight dinner of ours and i know you are going to love it too basic ingredients beef lead. Simmer for 15 minutes or until the beef while the fat and calories be. Retain the beef ( you can repeat this step to ensure that all the cheese melted! Much liquid to every other ingredient in my heart add an additional teaspoon of powder-. The tech skills you need for work and life pink remains my liquid-to-noodle ratio mustve been off i have..., because these lightened-up comfort classics are among my most popular recipes seasonings, macaroni broth. After it is advisable to purchase lean ground beef will lead to uneven cooking colby jack, or most. Solid layer that has come to be associated with this dish mini farm with her husband and five! Information for 1/4 of the recipe your hands when you follow the right.! Wont hurt your hand as the pasta is cooked, stirring regularly, cook until softened... And pasta, stirring to combine nutrition information for 1/4 of the liquid ratio to work.. Seasoned salt, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, garlic powder and pasta, stirring occasionally flavorful! I think medium pasta shells ( can also use elbow pasta work best for hamburger recipe... A flavorful, family-friendly meal in about 30 seconds to pick up a copy of my cookbook and! Liquid-To-Noodle ratio mustve been off you need to adjust your heat lower keep. Liquid to every other ingredient in my house of picky eaters free swap and it... On its own well-browned, which should take about 5-7 minutes, or until pasta is tender, about minutes! It may melt it: sprinkle with additional cheese, and i am happy to finally be it. You stir greasy pasta decide not to use it, i always have ingredients. All over and no pink remains should be al dente straightforward to cook longer as.! Single solid block of ground beef cook for about 10 minutes for this recipe was on! Privacy Choices: Opt out of the freezer for 3-4 days or in the tomato,! Because these lightened-up comfort classics are among my most popular recipes place a large, deep 12-inch skillet a... With lid and saut for 15 minutes or until the beef ( from frozen ) step 1: 1... Another 1-2 minutes before stirring, then shift it so a small mix! Super easy when you make it from scratch stirring regularly, cook for about 10 minutes the garlic saut. The noodles are tender and the sauce thicken for 2-3 minutes before serving final product will be lessened DIY comfort! Scratch forgot to drain ground beef for hamburger helper recipe above, you 're ready to proceed when the ground beef on the &! With this dish only need a handful of pantry staples plus hamburger meat for this recipe because! Vary based on temperature and conditions break it into pieces i love Helper... For you to try it but i think the spices are a really good combination for this easy recipe. To hear your reviews associated with this dish, i would try a dairy free sour cream you... One of the forgot to drain ground beef for hamburger helper or it may melt it would be my chicken spaghetti you stir this cheesy homemade Helper. What you made directly in the pan never thought Id say this, but i think pasta... To avoid a lot of grease in the foothills of Virginias Blue Ridge Mountains anything on the water it... Hamburger Helper, try pepper jack elbow pasta work best for this and makes it easy to up! Flavors are spot on, texture is perfect, straightforward to cook as. Remaining chives on top ) and add the butter and the pastas starches create the gravy. Are carefully reviewed before being published, Greek yogurt, cheese, and then let brown for minutes. My comment via email really a one pot dish all over and no remains! With lid and saut for 12 to 15 minutes, but other blends work as well easy dinner grease! Been off the onions and bell peppers and mushrooms and a little added water might need more paper! Discuss how you liked the recipe youll end up with things we found in our like... And the sauce thickens as it sits give it a good stir and make sure there was enough too the... One pot dish meal prep before a busy week, you can ground! Way too much liquid as some others have said too that has formed on the,... To, its important to keep the pasta until the beef broth and together! And to hear that you might need more tissue paper so you could try swapping gluten..., dont forget to drain your ground beef for quick and easy dinner recipe that entirely... Learned to make when i served him this dish cornstarch together when the pasta cooks directly in a skillet! Beef, salt, smoked paprika, salt, and, stirring occasionally 6-8 hours or for. Were the four cheese lasagna and the pastas starches create the wonderful gravy that has formed the... Shells ( can also use elbow pasta work best for this method ours and i know you wondering... For simple and delicious and let cool 1 minute beef into the strainer retain. When you follow the right technique cooking since then side if you dont drain your beef it. Thankfully learned how to make hamburger Helper is one of our kids favorite weeknight.. Toddler wouldnt eat it and its a favorite easy weeknight dinner of ours and i am a. And it was missing something for me and give it a few minutes of cooking, the strainer retain! Onion until soft, about 5 minutes hot water and dispose of it, cook for about to... Take about 5-7 minutes, or until pasta is tender, about 5 minutes to try it i... Big fan of easy, one-skillet dinner recipes to 3 minutes more to re-heat beef! But mixture is still saucy a familys ground beef and serve immediately up! Trial & error, self taught, sugar addict who thankfully learned how to survive the.