Hamburger Helper

noun2

1. •
   Any quick, one-pan meal made by combining ground beef, a starch (like pasta or rice), and a seasoned sauce; applies to generic store-brand versions or recipes made completely from scratch.

   • “I ordered lumber for a new one,” Hopper told her while she handed him a bowl of last night’s reheated hamburger helper. — 2016
2. •
   (figurative) Anything that extends, enhances, or bulks up a limited resource.

   • Barter is basically a marketing tool. It is the "hamburger helper" of business. It stretches cash while bringing in new customers [...] — 1995