Make Your Own Hamburger Skillet Meal Recipe

We used to buy quite a few prepared skillet meals from the box that you add hamburger to.  As the prices of food went up, and our family became larger, however, these no longer served as an affordable dinner option.  I began "tinkering" with the boxed meal, until we abandoned it completely.  Here is what we now do in place of it.  This recipe is most like the "beef" flavored meals you find in your grocery store.

You will need:

• 1 bag of macaroni noodles
• 1 pound ground beef
• 1 bag of mixed veggies (you can also use fresh shredded carrots)
• Augason Farms Beef Gravy Mix (or other brown gravy mix) 

*Note: We buy Augason, because it is more affordable than buying individual gravy packets and tastes better than buillion

To make this simple meal, start by browning your hamburger in a skillet.  If you use 90% lean or leaner, you don't need to drain it when done cooking.  Otherwise, drain the hamburger and return it to the skillet.
Now, you will add your macaroni noodles (approx 2 cups) and 3 cups of water.  Turn the heat to medium and allow the noodles to simmer.  Halfway through cooking (about 10 minutes), add 1/4 cup of the gravy mix.  Stir thoroughly and continue cooking. If you use frozen veggies, cook them before adding them in for the last 10 minutes.  If you use fresh carrots, you can just toss them in for the last 10 minutes.

When the noodles are done, and the veggies are tender, you can serve!  If you like your skillet meal with more gravy, you can always add a little more of the powder with water to taste.

My family loves this meal, and it's less than $3 for the entire meal when we use our own farm-raised beef.