How to Reheat Hamburger Helper Dishes

Hamburger Helper is such a useful meal kit. From box to stovetop to done, it takes very little time as well as few ingredients. Hamburger Helper is so easy and inexpensive and there is generally plenty to go around. But what about the leftovers?

Hamburger Helper is a common household staple because it is a convenient meal that can be completed within about 30 minutes and it’s an extremely budget-friendly option. If you have a large family and one box isn’t enough, they even offer double packs of many flavors. 

Hamburger Helper is so versatile because there are multiple flavor options, from Stroganoff to Chili Macaroni, to Cheesy Enchilada and so many more. There are more than 20 flavors of Hamburger Helper and then there are options for Chicken Helper and Tuna Helper as well. 

But the question is, how do you reheat hamburger helper? How can you reheat your Hamburger Helper without the sauce turning thick or runny and losing flavor? Can you reheat it or should you toss it out? The good news is, you can reheat and still have great tasting Hamburger Helper. 

We’ve put together a simple reference guide for you that covers all of the ins and outs of both storing and reheating your Hamburger Helper dishes. Keep reading to familiarize yourself with the best ways to reheat and enjoy it again! 

Storing and Reheating Delicious Hamburger Helper Dishes

Hamburger Helper sure makes a great option for a quick meal. It takes so little effort and is quick and simple. The ingredients required to put together Hamburger Helper are minimal, typically requiring 1 pound of hamburger with a small number of additional ingredients such as milk and water. 

It’s hard to know how to store the leftovers and the best way to reheat your Hamburger Helper. There are so many different options for meals from these boxed sets that you must wonder if reheating them is different for each one and if it’s going to be a hassle to figure out how to reheat the one you need at the time. 

The good news is, it’s much simpler than that. There are some basic reheating tips that we will share with you that will work across the board for all of them. Reheating your Hamburger Helper is really very simple and there are a couple of different methods you can use if you want to try to switch things up. 

Stock up on your Hamburger Helper, you never know when it could come in handy to have a quick meal option and chances are you have the “extra” ingredients you need to put it together on hand already. 

We’ll let you in on a secret. If you want to be super proactive, you can even make your Hamburger Helper in bulk—or prepare several different boxes. You can freeze your Hamburger Helper until you are ready to use it. But here is the secret, reheating it from frozen and making it straight from the box essentially take about the same amount of time. 

So here we are and I’m sure you’re on the edge of your seat as you wait for the details. How do you reheat your Hamburger Helper? Let’s begin by going over some of the upsides and downsides you might experience reheating Hamburger Helper. Below are some lists with this information. 

The Upsides to Reheating Hamburger Helper

• It’s always an upside when you can use your leftovers rather than throwing them out. 
• Hamburger Helper can be reheated from the fridge or freezer. 
• You can reheat in multiple ways – stovetop, microwave, or oven. 
• You get to enjoy that heart meal again. 
• The flavor often increases when it sits and soaks in. 

The Downsides to Reheating Hamburger Helper

• You may have to add more liquid.
• Cornstarch can break down and cause your sauce to lose some of its thickness.
• The grease from your meat can congeal but is easily removed upon reheating. 
• The pasta can dry out so be mindful of having enough liquid when reheating. 

Now that we’ve covered some of the basic things you can expect or should watch for, we can move on to some of the more involved details for reheating your Hamburger Helper, no matter which flavor you are working with. 

We’ve assembled a simple guide to walk you through the processes of storing and reheating your Hamburger Helper. We hope that this guide will be helpful to you in your reheating process. Your tummy and your wallet will thank you later! 

Detailed Guide to Reheating Hamburger Helper

Reheating your Hamburger Helper is not rocket science. It does not have to be challenging and it most definitely does not have to be time-consuming. It is almost literally just as simple as putting it in your microwave, stove, or oven and reheating it. 

But there are a few tricks to ensuring that your pasta doesn’t dry out and that your sauce maintains the proper thickness and your Hamburger Helper is just as delicious reheated as it was when it was freshly made. We will cover both storing and reheating it below. 

How to Store Hamburger Helper

Before we can talk about reheating your Hamburger Helper, we need to talk about storing your leftovers properly. If it is not stored properly, then it may not be any good when you reheat it. Proper storage can make a significant difference when it comes to reheating. 

Take the time to store and reheat your Hamburger Helper properly and you won’t be disappointed with the texture or flavor when you do. It will turn out delicious and you will be glad you saved the leftovers. 

1. Store your Hamburger Helper in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Allow the food to cool completely prior to packaging to store. You can store your leftovers in the fridge for up 5 days without jeopardizing quality or flavor. 
2. You can freeze leftovers as well. Place them into a gallon freezer bag or an airtight container and store them in the freezer. You can freeze them for up to 1 year if sealed properly. 
3. You can also make ahead and freeze Hamburger Helper, but when it comes down to it this is not a time-saving factor as Hamburger Helper is relatively quick to make and reheating will not be a much faster option than making fresh. 

How to Reheat Hamburger Helper

You stored away some leftover Hamburger Helper 2 days ago and tonight is a leftover night at your house for dinner. Now you need to plan for reheating it. What steps do you need to follow? 

Below we will give you specific instructions for reheating based on which kitchen appliance you use to reheat. If you stored your Hamburger Helper in the freezer, we recommend that you thaw it overnight for the best results. However, if you did not thaw overnight the best results will happen on the stovetop. 

1. Microwave
   • This is one of the simplest solutions for reheating your Hamburger Helper dishes and requires minimal time and effort. Cover your microwave-safe dish loosely and place it into the microwave for 3 minutes. Stir every 30-45 seconds to prevent overcooking.
     As you microwave, be mindful of the thickness of the sauce. You may need to add a very small (1 TBSP at a time) amount of water to keep your sauce to the appropriate thickness. 
2. Stovetop
   • Reheating your Hamburger Helper on the stovetop is our recommendation for reheating. Place your leftovers into the appropriately sized pan to hold the amount of food you are reheating.
     Warm on the stove at a low to medium temperature. Add some water to retain moisture for the sauce. Cover with the lid and allow it to warm for 10-12 minutes, stirring frequently.
     If you are reheating it frozen, start by covering it with the lid on medium heat and allowing the heat to thaw the mixture. 
3. Oven
   • A great option for changing up your Hamburger Helper is to reheat it in the oven. Spread the food into an oven-safe dish and warm at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until warmed through. You can top it with cheese for additional flavor as well. 

If you follow these guidelines and recommendations, we are sure you will be pleased with the outcome when you reheat your Hamburger Helper dishes – no matter which flavor you are reheating. 

Related Questions

We hope that this guide has been helpful to you and provided appropriate information for reheating your Hamburger Helper dish. Enjoy your tasty, reheated meal! We would like to invite you to take a look at our frequent questions below for further information. 

Should I Add Milk When Reheating?

Our recommendation is to start by adding small amounts of water when you reheat your Hamburger Helper. However, you can add milk to thicken your sauce once it is nearly warm all the way through. 

Will the Pasta from the Dish Dry Out When Reheating?

Follow the recommended steps when reheating and you should not have to worry about the pasta drying out. Be sure to add water or moisture as needed, checking it periodically as it reheats to avoid any part of the dish being dry.