Hamburger Helper is a popular boxed dinner, which requires you to add a few ingredients in a skillet and heat the mixture for a quick and easy meal. You can simplify the process even more by making it in the microwave.

Get out a 2-quart microwave-safe casserole dish. Break up 1 lb. of ground beef into the casserole dish. Heat the ground beef uncovered for three minutes. Remove the casserole dish from the microwave and break up the meat more. Place the casserole dish back in the microwave and heat the ground beef for another two minutes.

Drain the meat with a strainer. Boil water in a teapot or pot. Read the box to determine how much water is needed. Every type of Hamburger Helper requires a different amount of water.

Pour uncooked pasta, sauce mix, milk and boiling water into the casserole dish with the ground beef. The amount of milk depends on the specific type of Hamburger Helper. Heat the casserole dish uncovered for six minutes. Stir the mixture with a wooden spoon.

Heat the casserole dish in the microwave for another six minutes uncovered. Remove the dish and stir it with a wooden spoon. Check the tenderness of the pasta. If the pasta needs more time, place it back in the microwave and heat it for an additional three to six minutes.

Remove the casserole dish from the microwave and let it sit for a few minutes to cool and to allow the sauce to thicken.