Hamburger Helper
nounEtymology hamburger + helper; a genericized trademark; introduced nationally by General Mills' Betty Crocker brand in 1971.
1
Cooking, Food, Lifestyle Any quick, one-pan meal made by combining ground beef, a starch (like pasta or rice), and a seasoned sauce; applies to generic store-brand versions or recipes made completely from scratch.
- “I ordered lumber for a new one,” Hopper told her while she handed him a bowl of last night’s reheated hamburger helper.2016, Crystal Kei, We're Gonna Have to Hide the Body:
- It’s a good opportunity to try new dishes, and Bill is very appreciative of some real food in the apartment that isn’t a microwaveable meal or hamburger helper.2019, cheekaspbrak, Run While You Still Can:
2
Broadly, Figuratively Anything that extends, enhances, or bulks up a limited resource.
- Barter is basically a marketing tool. It is the "hamburger helper" of business. It stretches cash while bringing in new customers [...]1995 November 23, Canada Computer Paper Inc., The Computer Paper, page 43:
- In many cases the diminished seventh chord is the in-between, the hamburger helper of ascending harmonic movement.2003, Alan de Mause, Mel Bay's Complete Fingerstyle Jazz Guitar Book, page 120:
1 more example
- UNE is also very smartly made, polished, captivating, and cohesive, with no perceptible cinematic hamburger helper; there are no wasted words.2025 May 26, The New America, The New America 2012-Current, page 43: