Master Mix: Hamburger Helper Pantry Kits

 Master Mix: Hamburger Helper Pantry Kits

Talk about saving money, I already had all the ingredients in my pantry to make my own hamburger helper kits, so no reason to spend the money on the commercial ones at the store.  I think it literally took me maybe 15 minutes max to whip them together.  

All I need to throw these  three quick skillet suppers together is a few fresh ingredients.  

I will list the full recipes for all three Hamburger Helper recipes first (including the instructions for cooking them for dinner), and then show you how to put the pantry kits together for storing in your pantry.

At the end you will find a clickable link to google doc's for a printable version for you to staple to each kit.

Let's get started.

Cheeseburger Macaroni Helper:

Ingredients for the pantry kit:

1 1/2 cups uncooked elbow macaroni

1 sauce packet:  2/3 cup powdered milk

                           1 Tbp. corn starch

                           1 tsp. each: Onion Powder

                                              Garlic Powder

                                              sugar

                                              paprika

To cook for dinner:

Fresh Ingredients for cooking day:

1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)

3 cups hot water

1 cup shredded cheese

Brown ground beef in large skillet, drain grease, add hot water, pasta and contents of sauce packet.  Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low about 12 minutes stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. During last few minutes of cooking, stir in the cheese; cover and cook final few minutes till cheese is melted.  Turn off heat and uncover. Let skillet dinner sit for about 5 minutes. This will allow sauce to thicken a bit.

Taco Helper

Ingredients for the pantry kit:
1cup instant brown rice
1 cup diced, canned tomatoes
1 sauce packet:  2/3 cup powdered milk
                           1 Tbp. corn starch
                           2 tsp. taco seasoning
                           1 tsp. each: Onion Powder
                                              Garlic Powder
                                              sugar
                                           

To cook for dinner:
Fresh Ingredients for cooking day:
1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
3 cups hot water
1 cup shredded cheese
Optional: tortilla chips

Brown ground beef in large skillet, drain grease, add hot water, rice, tomatoes (drained) and contents of sauce packet.  Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low about 20 minutes stirring occasionally, until rice is tender. During last few minutes of cooking, stir in the cheese; cover and cook final few minutes till cheese is melted.  Turn off heat and uncover. Let skillet dinner sit for about 5 minutes. This will allow sauce to thicken a bit.

Salisbury Beef Helper

Ingredients for the pantry kit:
1 1/2- 2 cups uncooked egg noodles
1 sauce packet:  2/3 cup powdered milk
                           1 Tbp. corn starch
                           1/2 tsp. pepper
                           1 tsp. each: Onion Powder
                                              Garlic Powder
                                              sugar
                                         
To cook for dinner:
Fresh Ingredients for cooking day:
1 lb. ground beef (or turkey)
3 cups hot water
1./2 tsp. worcestershire sauce

Brown ground beef in large skillet, drain grease, add hot water, pasta and contents of sauce packet.  Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer on low about 12 minutes stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.  Turn off heat and uncover. Let skillet dinner sit for about 5 minutes. This will allow sauce to thicken a bit.

To make Pantry kit: 

Mix sauce packet ingredients together in a small bowl. 

Label a sandwich sized plastic storage bag and pour sauce mix in bag, seal, and set aside.

Label a gallon sized ziplock bag and pour in pasta or rice,  sauce packet, and for taco helper also place a can of diced tomatoes.

Seal gallon sized bags and staple a copy of the recipe to the bag.  (click on link below for a printable copy)
Store in pantry till ready to cook.  

Click here for printable Hamburger Helper Pantry Kit Recipes

CLICK HERE TO SEE 4 MORE HAMBURGER HELPER RECIPES