Hamburger Helper was created by General Mills, and it was called "Hamburger Helper" because it was designed as a meal solution to help stretch ground meat, particularly hamburger, into a more substantial and flavorful dish. When Hamburger Helper was introduced in the 1970s, ground meat, particularly hamburger, was a popular and affordable choice for many households. But it can be challenging to create variety and flavor with just a basic pound of ground meat. The concept behind Hamburger Helper was to provide a convenient package that included pasta and a seasoning mix, which, when combined with ground meat, could transform it into a more complete and flavorful meal.