As a big fan of Hamburger Helper, one of the things I can say about the meal is that it offers a host of health benefits. It combines several different essential nutrients, including protein, fat, and carbohydrates, making a nutritionally balanced meal. Furthermore, Hamburger Helper may contain about 580 mg to 981.8 mg of sodium, which helps the body to achieve a better fluid balance.
When preparing a homemade Hamburger Helper, one of the essential ingredients you need for better results is milk. In case you don’t know, milk adds a creamy texture to the meal. That’s not all; it also provides the sauce in the food with great flavor. But here’s a burning question, can you make a hamburger helper without using milk?
Some of the alternatives you can use as a milk substitute for Hamburger Helper include almond milk, butter, coconut milk, chicken/beef stock, evaporated milk, and water. Furthermore, you can also use mayo or cream cheese as a milk substitute for Hamburger Helper.
In the rest of this post, I’ll share everything you need to know about the best milk alternatives for Hamburger Helper. So, without further ado, let’s get straight down to business.
Here’s What You Can Use Instead of Milk for Hamburger Helper
- Butter
- Mayo
- Dairy Free Milks
- Sour Cream
- Yogurt
- Grease and Flour
- Cream Cheese
- Beef Stock
- Extra Cheese and Water
Can You Make Hamburger Helper Without Milk?
The short answer to the question is yes; you can always prepare your Hamburger Helper without necessarily utilizing milk. As earlier mentioned, one of the purposes of milk in the food is that it adds a creamy texture, providing it with great flavor. Furthermore, milk is also one of the primary protein sources – an essential nutrient in Hamburger Helper.
Since you can make the pantry staple without milk, the question is – how do you ensure that the meal retains its creamy texture and great flavor?
If you don’t know, when preparing a Hamburger Helper, the meal produces starches. One of the benefits of that is it adds a little bit of creamy texture to the food. If you do not use milk for the pantry staple, I’ll say the cream produced by the starch is enough.
The only problem, however, is the Hamburger Helper will lack the milky flavor, which you’ve always known with the meal. Here’s where using milk substitutes come to the scene.
There are tons of milk alternatives when preparing homemade Hamburger Helpers. Apart from using water, you can always decide to use either or combination of these ingredients; almond milk, butter, sour cream, evaporated milk, mayo, coconut milk, and a few others.
Can You Use Mayo Instead Of Milk In A Hamburger Helper?
To answer the question, I’ll say yes; you can always substitute milk for mayo when preparing your homemade Hamburger Helper. However, you shouldn’t expect the meal to give you the exact flavor that milk often introduces to the pantry staple.
Dairy-free mayo
Many people often mistake mayonnaise for dairy products because of their taste, appearance, and even texture. However, it’s worth knowing that most mayo out there does not contain milk. Instead, they are made using a couple of ingredients, including spices, egg yolks, and vinegar.
Furthermore, Mayonnaise is a condiment that most people add to sandwiches to improve the taste, flavor, and texture of the meal. However, some people also use mayo while preparing pasta and potato salad. Since that’s the case, it means you can also use mayo as a milk alternative for Hamburger Helper.
By using dairy-free mayo to prepare your Hamburger Helper, you’ll be able to improve the taste and appearance of the meal. Of course, this will involve adding a thick, creamy texture and tangy flavor to the food.
Dairy mayo
Furthermore, as earlier mentioned, most mayonnaise products don’t contain milk. However, it’s also worth knowing that a few types of mayo come with milk being their main ingredient. Some of them include eggless mayonnaise, Portuguese mayo, and mayonnaise-based dressings.
The eggless mayonnaise contains condensed milk instead of egg. Interestingly, the addition of milk provides the condiment with a thicker texture and a sweeter flavor. As for the Portuguese mayo, it comes as a mixture of different ingredients, such as milk, lemon juice, spices, and oil. Lastly, the mayonnaise-based dressings, such as the creamy Italian, also contain milk in most cases.
Bottom line, depending on who you are, you can always use mayo (dairy or dairy-free product) instead of milk when preparing your Hamburger Helper
Can You Use Almond Milk Instead Of Milk In Hamburger Helper?
According to WebMD, homemade almond milk is nutritionally balanced and delicious if well prepared. The dairy milk substitute offers a host of health benefits for people, especially vegans. First, almond milk contains a low carbohydrate content. With that, it means it is excellent for controlling blood sugar.
Furthermore, almond milk contains a good amount of fats, an essential nutrient that keeps your heart healthy. That’s not all; homemade almond milk also contains Vitamin E, which helps to improve your skin. That said, almond milk is a good milk alternative for Hamburger Helper.
By using almond milk, you’ll be able to introduce a creamy texture and nutty flavor to your pantry staple. The milk is an excellent option for you, especially if you’re lactose intolerant. For effective results, I’ll advise you to opt for the unsweetened type of almond milk for hamburger helper.
What Can You Substitute For Milk?
As earlier mentioned, one of the best milk substitutes for Hamburger Helper is almond milk. The alternative also provides a creamy texture as dairy but with a nutty flavor. You can also utilize dairy-free or dairy mayonnaise as a substitute for milk when preparing the pantry staple.
Furthermore, apart from almond and mayonnaise, a couple of other milk alternatives are ideal for Hamburger Helper. They include groundnut milk, butter, cream cheese, and evaporated milk.
If you’re lactose intolerant, cream cheese is also an excellent option for Hamburger Helper. It will provide your pantry staple with a mild creamy texture and sweet taste.