Chef Boyardee Is Getting ALL Up in Hamburger Helper’s Turf with Its Latest Launch

Put down that can of ravioli! A new struggle meal just dropped! As if there weren’t enough recession indicators, Chef Boyardee has launched its very own line of skillet meals. I guess they saw Hamburger Helper absolutely killing it (sales are soaring) and wanted to get in on that action.

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Chef Boyardee’s take on the shelf-stable, dried-pasta skillet meal is launching in five flavors

According to the brand’s website, Chef Boyardee is kicking off its first foray into the dried pasta realm with five choices: Cheeseburger Mac, Beef Pasta, Meat Lasagna, Cheesy Italian Shells, and Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo. All the meals come with dried pasta and a sauce packet—all you have to add is meat and, presumably, water to reconstitute the pasta and sauce. (Many Hamburger Helper flavors require milk, but it’s unclear whether any of these do, too).

When we taste tested a bunch of canned pastas, we genuinely liked Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, but we have to admit that we’re hoping for higher quality from these new skillet meals. And honestly, when it comes to hearty, salty, nostalgic food, it’s kinda hard to beat a classic cheeseburger mac skillet meal. Really, the only one of these that gives me pause is the fettuccine alfredo—will it really be sufficiently cheesy and creamy out of a box? Not to mention that having to buy chicken (expensive!) instead of hamburger (somewhat less expensive!) for a skillet meal feels a little sacrilegious.

In general, we kinda can’t wait to get our hands on these new Chef Boyardee meals

I’ll admit it. I’m a lazy cook. I can’t help but have an affinity for skillet meals, trying times or not. I personally can’t wait to get my hands on these and I’m sure the rest of the Sporked team feels the same. These would make for a banging but filling, taste test. It looks like we won’t have to wait too long, or search too hard, to find the whole line. According to the food finder on CB’s website, they’ll be available at most stores across the country!