Americans are buying a nostalgic pantry staple as grocery prices squeeze budgets. 

A $2 boxed dinner kit that families combine with a pound of ground beef for a cheap family meal is back in demand. 

While most food brands are seeing sales stall, Hamburger Helper’s are up 14.5 percent this year as shoppers seek affordable, convenient meals.

The renewed interest mirrors the same factors that contributed to its original 1971 launch and another surge in 2008: high inflation, escalating food prices, and families facing financial strain.

While overall inflation has cooled from a 9 percent peak in 2022 to 2.9 percent today, food prices remain stubbornly high. 

Groceries cost a fifth more than they did in 2021, and after falling in recent years they rose another 0.6 percent just last month. 

That’s pushing families back to budget-friendly dinners and away from pricier items like shrimp, steak, and fresh vegetables. 

For Hamburger Helper, that’s driving sales of its boxes of dried pasta and sauce mixes.

Hamburger Helper, the widely-favored affordable pasta dish enhancement, is seeing a 14.5 percent increase in sales this year as consumers look for more economical grocery options.

The brand is introducing new varieties, such as breakfast cups, brew pub cheeseburger boxes inspired by takeout, and packs of its classic Cheeseburger Macaroni cups for individual servings.

It also got a shout-out in Hulu’s award-winning drama, The Bear, which follows a genius chef, and the company reported a surge in sales.  

Eagle Foods, which bought Hamburger Helper from General Mills in 2023, is leaning into the moment, with executives saying they’re reminded of the stagflation era of the late 1970s. 

At the time, America was experiencing financial turmoil from the end of the Vietnam War. Job growth slowed while prices spiked amid gas shortages. 

‘Hamburger Helper is undoubtedly experiencing a blockbuster resurgence that resembles the runaway success the brand experienced when it first hit store shelves more than a half-century ago,’ said Mala Wiedemann, a marketing executive at Eagle Foods, said. 

‘Just as in 1971, the brand has become a destination for consumers seeking convenience, bold flavor, and affordability amidst high inflation, rising beef prices, and unemployment concerns.’

But sales of the staple product could face further challenges, with beef prices spiking 13 percent in the past year. The meat is not included in a box of Hamburger Helper. 

Hamburger Helper got a shout-out from The Bear, an award-winning show starring Jeremy Allen White as a chef, earlier this year, and saw a spike in sales after the episode was shown

Hamburger Helper, the sub-$2 box of meat flavoring and pasta, has been spiking in popularity as Americans try to cut down their grocery costs

Americans have been battling increasing grocery prices for several years, with bills up 21 percent compared to 2021

Eagle Foods is rolling out products including new breakfast options, high-end flavors, and solo packs. It had more than 50 flavor options before 2025’s sudden boom

Beef’s pricing problem appears to be a long-term issue as well. 

America’s current supply of beef-ready cattle is at its lowest level since the 1950s, while demand for red meat hasn’t wavered. 

However, despite the potential headwinds, it’s clear that American consumers are increasingly turning to cost-cutting options at the grocery store and at restaurants. 

In June, Campbell’s reported strong soup sales while snack sales — including Goldfish and Cape Cod chips — fell 8 percent.

‘Consumers are cooking at home at the highest levels since early 2020,’ Campbell’s chief executive, Mick Beekhuizen, said while reporting the company’s earnings. 

Even low-cost restaurants have been able to pull in more customers. 

Last quarter, McDonald’s reported a 2.5 percent increase in US sales after launching new promotions. 

Chili’s posted a 24 percent increase in sales after lowering its prices compared to its competitors.