Q: The Hamburger Helper beef stroganoff 'Deluxe' costs less than the regular HH beef stroganoff. What's the difference between the two? A: Our Deluxe Beef Stroganoff is made with sour cream, giving it a more rich flavor. We recommend trying both to see which you like best!

1. Heat: Add meatballs, hot water, milk, Sauce Mix and Pasta to 10-inch skillet; stir well. Heat to boiling.
2. Simmer: Reduce heat. Cover; simmer about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender. If necessary, uncover and cook, while stirring, an additional 1 to 3 minutes to desired consistency.

Hamburger Helper Stroganoff A few shakes of black pepper (add to browning meat) 1 container sliced mushrooms (or as many as you happen to have on hand), or 1-2 small cans of mushrooms, drained (add when you add the liquid and pasta)

The first Hamburger Helper flavors Cheeseburger Macaroni came out in 1973. And once there were six, there were flavors for almost every day of the week. Over the years, there were other hits but some misses as well.

Is Hamburger Helper Healthy to Eat? Boxed Hamburger Helper is high in sodium. The mix alone contains 550 milligrams of sodium and it's closer to 990 milligrams once prepared; the American Heart Association's recommended daily sodium intake for adults is 1500 milligrams.

On the rare occasions he did cook, Beef Stroganoff was a perennial favorite, and something I crave to this day. It wasn't fancy but something about the way the intensely savory flavors of the mushrooms, onions and beef melded with the rich and slightly tangy sour cream made it irresistibly appealing.

Instructions:

1. Brown hamburger meat in 12-inch skillet or 5-quart Dutch oven; drain.
2. Stir in hot water, milk, both packets Sauce Mix and uncooked Pasta.
3. Heat to boiling, stirring occasionally.
4. Reduce heat; cover and simmer about 13 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is tender.

And season with only salt and pepper. Add hot water milk the cheese packet macaroni stir this around bring to a boil reduce the heat. And cover simmer 10 to 12. Minutes.

Almost any of the “helpers” benefit from the addition of sautéed diced onion and minced or grated garlic. This adds another layer of flavor. Or try adding diced red sweet peppers. If it is a cheesy mix add a half cup of freshly grated parmesan and a handful of minced fresh flat leaf parsley.

Sour cream can curdle if added directly to hot liquid. To prevent curdling, temper the sour cream by stirring a little of the hot liquid into it and then adding the warmed sour cream mixture to the pan. Buttered egg noodles (see below for details of our tasting) are the classic accompaniment to this recipe.

High-end consumers are shifting toward fresher items with fewer processed ingredients while cost-conscious shoppers are buying inexpensive store brands. The makers of staples including Chef Boyardee canned pasta and Hamburger Helper meal kits failed to spot the threat and didn't innovate in time.

Beef prices were soaring and the U.S. economy had weakened when the undisputed king of boxed dinners was launched on the West Coast in December 1970. Betty Crocker's Hamburger Helper did as promised. It guided families who were striving to stretch a pound of meat into a dinner for five.