Pasta mix, classic beef, unprepared
Whole food · Meals, Entrees, and Side Dishes
This is a dry, pre-mixed blend of pasta shapes and savory beef-flavored seasoning, designed for a quick, hearty meal. The uncooked mix has a firm, starchy texture and a savory, umami-rich aroma from the dehydrated beef broth and spices. Nutritionally, it's a high-carbohydrate base with a modest protein boost from the beef flavoring.
Calorie split: 14% protein · 82% carbs · 5% fat
↓ Full nutrition💚 Why it's loved
People love it for its comforting, familiar beefy flavor and the sheer convenience of a complete, shelf-stable meal kit. It's a nostalgic staple for quick dinners and a versatile canvas for adding fresh vegetables or extra protein.
⚠️ Watch-outs & how to enjoy it better
The primary concern is the high carbohydrate content and potential for blood-sugar spikes, especially without added fiber or protein. It can also be high in sodium from the seasoning packet. To counteract this, pair it with a large side of non-starchy vegetables and a lean protein like chicken or beans, and use only half the seasoning packet if sodium is a concern.
Key benefits
- Provides quick energy from complex carbohydrates
- Offers convenience for a fast, one-pot meal
- Contains added B vitamins often enriched in pasta
- Shelf-stable for long-term pantry storage
- Low in fat per serving
🍽️ Popular dishes
🌍 Where it's eaten
💡 Did you know?
The iconic 'Hamburger Helper' brand, a quintessential example of this product, was created in 1971 as a response to a national beef surplus and the need for budget-stretching family meals.
Full nutrition (USDA data · scales with serving)
| Water | 8.6 g |
| Energy | 354 kcal |
| Energy | 1482 kj |
| Protein | 12.3 g |
| Total lipid (fat) | 1.8 g |
| Ash | 5.1 g |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 72.2 g |
| Fiber, total dietary | 2.0 g |
| Total Sugars | 5.0 g |
| Sucrose | 0.40 g |
| Glucose | 0.10 g |
| Fructose | 0.08 g |
| Lactose | 0.00 g |
| Maltose | 4.4 g |
| Galactose | 0.00 g |
| Starch | 57.2 g |
| Calcium, Ca | 21.0 mg |
| Iron, Fe | 2.7 mg |
| Magnesium, Mg | 39.0 mg |
| Phosphorus, P | 127 mg |
| Potassium, K | 342 mg |
| Sodium, Na | 1537 mg |
| Zinc, Zn | 0.99 mg |
| Copper, Cu | 0.16 mg |
| Manganese, Mn | 0.66 mg |
| Selenium, Se | 43.2 ug |
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 2.6 mg |
| Thiamin | 2.4 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.42 mg |
| Niacin | 5.2 mg |
| Pantothenic acid | 0.57 mg |
| Vitamin B-6 | 0.13 mg |
| Folate, total | 127 ug |
| Folic acid | 101 ug |
| Folate, food | 25.0 ug |
| Folate, DFE | 197 ug |
| Choline, total | 5.2 mg |
| Betaine | 8.6 mg |
| Vitamin B-12 | 0.01 ug |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 0.00 ug |
| Retinol | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Carotene, alpha | 0.00 ug |
| Cryptoxanthin, beta | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin A, IU | 1.0 iu |
| Lycopene | 0.00 ug |
| Lutein + zeaxanthin | 1.0 ug |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 0.33 mg |
| Vitamin E, added | 0.00 mg |
| Tocopherol, beta | 0.15 mg |
| Tocopherol, gamma | 0.26 mg |
| Tocopherol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, alpha | 0.08 mg |
| Tocotrienol, beta | 0.96 mg |
| Tocotrienol, gamma | 0.00 mg |
| Tocotrienol, delta | 0.00 mg |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3), International Units | 0.00 iu |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0.00 ug |
| Vitamin K (phylloquinone) | 0.30 ug |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0.00 g |
| Caffeine | 0.00 mg |
| Theobromine | 0.00 mg |
Fat & fatty acid profile (per 100g)
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 0.44 g |
| SFA 4:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 6:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 8:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 10:0 | 0.02 g |
| SFA 12:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 14:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 15:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 16:0 | 0.28 g |
| SFA 17:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 18:0 | 0.11 g |
| SFA 20:0 | 0.00 g |
| SFA 22:0 | 0.01 g |
| SFA 24:0 | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 0.50 g |
| MUFA 14:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 15:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 16:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 17:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 18:1 | 0.49 g |
| MUFA 18:1 c | 0.40 g |
| MUFA 20:1 | 0.01 g |
| MUFA 22:1 | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 22:1 c | 0.00 g |
| MUFA 24:1 c | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 0.81 g |
| PUFA 18:2 | 0.77 g |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 c,c | 0.75 g |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3 | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 c,c,c (ALA) | 0.04 g |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 c,c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:3i | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 18:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 c,c | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:3 n-6 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (EPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:4 | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (DPA) | 0.00 g |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (DHA) | 0.00 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 0.11 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 0.09 g |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:1 t | 0.09 g |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0.00 g |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.02 g |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.02 g |
| Cholesterol | 0.00 mg |
FAQ
Is this the same as a boxed meal kit like Hamburger Helper?
Yes, it's essentially the core component—the dry pasta and seasoning mix—of such kits. You just need to add the ground beef and water to prepare it.
Why is the fat content so low if it's 'beef' flavored?
The flavor comes from dehydrated beef broth, spices, and powders, not actual fatty meat. The low fat makes it a lean base, but the final dish's fat content depends on the meat you add.
How can I make this dish healthier?
Boost nutrition by adding plenty of frozen or fresh vegetables (like peas, carrots, or spinach) during cooking. Use lean ground turkey instead of beef, and consider using only half the seasoning packet to reduce sodium.
Nutrient density (calculated · NRF9.3)
Nutrient Rich Foods index: beneficial nutrients (protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals) minus saturated fat, added sugar & sodium, per 100 kcal.
NRF9.3 index — Fulgoni, Keast & Drewnowski, 2009. Computed from USDA nutrients.
Weight-loss friendliness (composite index)
Energy density 3.54 kcal/g · 14% calories from protein · 2.0 g fiber · 5.0 g sugar per 100 g.
Composite of energy density (Rolls et al., 1999), protein & fiber satiety, minus sugar. A calculated heuristic — ranks satiety-per-calorie, not a clinical measure.
Dietary load (calculated from USDA values)
Potential renal acid load. Positive = acid-forming, negative = alkaline-forming.
Sodium-to-potassium ratio: 4.49 (lower is better — aim for ≤ 1)
Sodium:potassium per WHO potassium guidance. Computed from USDA nutrients.