This shelf box is dinner itself: pasta and sauce in one. Brown ground beef, stir in the packet with water and milk, layer it all in a baking dish, and you have a complete meal in forty minutes. Built for tired weeknights.

Serves 2. 40 minutes, 15 at the stove.

About 730 calories a serving, 55 g protein, 6 g carbohydrate, 53 g fat. From USDA figures for 100% of the ingredients; amounts are the recipe's.

Cook mode

1. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 pound ground beef, breaking it apart as it cooks until no pink remains, about 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.5 min
2. Stir in the contents of the Hamburger Helper box, then add 2 cups water and 1 cup milk as directed on the package. Bring to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes until the pasta is tender, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.10 min
3. While the mixture simmers, heat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius). Transfer the cooked pasta and beef mixture to an 8-by-8-inch baking dish and smooth the top.
4. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes until the top is set and the edges are lightly browned. Remove from the oven and let rest for 2 minutes before serving.15 min

Note To stretch this to three people, add an extra half pound of ground beef and increase water to 2.5 cups. Leftovers keep covered in the refrigerator for three days; reheat gently with a splash of water to restore creaminess. Serve with a simple green salad and garlic bread if you have time.