Get ready for an easy and quick meal with our Vegan Hamburger Helper copycat! This one-pot wonder is packed with hearty pasta, savory vegan meat, and a creamy sauce that'll have everyone asking for seconds. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends!
Introducing our homemade Vegan Hamburger Helper, a delightful twist on the classic dish many of you know and love. Some might call it cheeseburger macaroni, but it's so deliciously close to the boxed Hamburger Helper (just way better) that we couldn't resist naming it after the original.
I aimed to recreate the original's classic taste and quick prep time but made it entirely plant-based. Now, everyone can enjoy a delicious dinner that brings back those nostalgic flavors with a tastier twist.
Never tried Hamburger Helper? No worries! You'll still love this easy-peasy, ready-in-under-25-minute meal that's healthier than the original. This may be a new favorite dish.
If you like pasta dishes, check out One-Pot Creamy Vegan Pasta, Lemon Artichoke Pesto Pasta, and Easy Vegan Mushroom and Leek Pasta.
For more copycat recipes, try Vegan Chocolate Chip Skillet Cookie (BJ's Copycat), Vegan Tunacado Sandwich, and Vegan Pumpkin Spice Steamer.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy Meal: This vegan version is a one-pot meal that comes together quickly, making it perfect for busy weeknights.
- Nostalgic Flavor: A plant-based twist on a classic comfort food brings back those familiar, cozy tastes.
- Family-Friendly: It's hearty, satisfying, and a hit with the whole family and a big crowd pleaser.
- Versatile: It's customizable with your favorite veggies or plant-based proteins to make it your own.
- Meal Prep: You can whip up a big batch and store it in individual containers for a quick and easy lunch option, perfect for kids' lunchboxes and grown-ups on the go.
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following simple ingredients to make this delicious meatless hamburger helper. See the recipe card for measurements.
Ingredient Notes
- Vegan Ground Meat: For the closest vegan ground beef to traditional ground beef, use Beyond Meat or Impossible Meat, found in most major grocery chains now-a-days.
- Vegan Cheddar: When incorporating vegan cheddar cheese into this dish, I like using the Violife cheddar shreds.
- Garlic Powder: If you've cooked anything else from Nuts & Twigs, you know I'm a raw garlic devotee. But for this dish, garlic powder is the hero of this speedy, tasty meal. If you’re ambitious and want to show off your knife skills, sub in three minced garlic cloves.
- Chili Powder: Not all chili powders are created equal – the proportions of spices vary, creating a range of flavors from smoky and sweet to fiery and bold, so each one brings its own unique magic to your dish. Explore to find one you love.
How To Make Vegan Hamburger Helper
This is so easy, folks, you can have dinner ready in less than 25 minutes with minimal mess and a few ingredients. See the recipe card for details.
Step 1 - Sauté the Onion: In a large pot over medium heat, cook the diced onion in olive oil until softened, about 5 minutes.
Step 2 - Cook the Plant-Based Ground: Add the plant-based ground to the pot and cook until browned, breaking it into bite-sized chunks. Stir often to avoid sticking.
Step 3 - Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes until well incorporated.
Step 4 - Add Spices and Cornstarch: Sprinkle in the cornstarch, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir and cook for another minute.
Step 5 - Add Pasta and Broth: Pour in the broth, stir, and bring to a boil. Add the pasta, reduce the heat to a high simmer, and cook according to package directions, altering the time as necessary.
Step 6 - Season: Add salt and black pepper. Stir to combine. If using, stir in grated vegan cheddar until melted.
Recipe Tips
- Adjust Consistency: I've noticed that the smaller pasta shapes, like small elbows and shells, are like little broth-sucking sponges and will need the liquid recommended in this recipe to cook properly. Meanwhile, the larger or denser pasta shapes, like rigatoni or fusilli, take a little more time and hold their shape better, needing a little less broth. Use about ½ cup less if using these later denser pastas. Keep an eye on the pot, and be ready to add more broth if it looks like your pasta's getting parched before it's fully cooked.
- Use High-Quality Plant-Based Meat: Choose a high-quality plant-based ground meat for the best flavor and texture. We use Beyond Ground Beef.
- Cook Pasta Al Dente: Cook the pasta until it's al dente because it'll keep cooking a bit more once it's mixed with the sauce and hanging out in the warm pot.
- Stir Often: To prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot, stir frequently during cooking.
- Make Ahead: This recipe is great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day, so consider making a double batch!
Make Ahead Tip
This vegan Hamburger Helper is perfect for kids' lunch boxes and grownups on the go, too—it’s tasty and filling! For more ideas for kid lunches, visit Vegan School Lunch Ideas for Kids.
Serving Suggestions
This meal is tasty but lacks a little bit of color to me, so I always serve it with something on the side. Here are some ideas:
- Fresh Green Salad: Pair your Vegan Hamburger Helper with a simple salad and a Classic French Salad Dressing or Easy Vegan Ranch Dressing.
- Roasted Vegetables: Complement the dish with a side of roasted veggies like broccoli, carrots, or Brussels sprouts. Try this Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Vegan Parmesan recipe.
- Garlic Bread: Serve with warm, crusty garlic bread.
- Pickles: Add a side of tangy pickles. Yep! Pickles, to balance the savory flavors.
- Hot Sauce: Offer a variety of hot sauces for those who like a little extra kick.
- Steamed Greens: Lightly steamed greens like kale or spinach add a nutritious and colorful side.
- Corn on the Cob: Sweet, buttery corn on the cob is a classic side that pairs well with this hearty dish.
Storage and Reheating
- Refrigerator: Store leftover hamburger helper in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Microwave Reheating: Microwave a portion in a microwave-safe dish, covered, on high for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway. If the sauce has absorbed too much, add a couple of tablespoons of veggie broth and stir until warm.
- Stovetop Reheating: Reheat on the stovetop over medium heat with a splash of vegetable broth if it has thickened.
Additions and Variations
- Extra Veggies: Add chopped bell peppers, spinach, mushrooms, or zucchini for more veggies.
- Spice It Up: Incorporate a pinch of red pepper flakes or a dash of hot sauce for some heat.
- Different Pasta: Try using gluten-free, whole wheat, or even spiralized veggies like zucchini noodles. Cooking times will vary, so keep a close eye so it doesn't overcook.
Frequently Asked Questions
While elbow macaroni is classic, you can use any pasta shape you like. Just keep an eye on the cooking time, as it may vary with different pasta shapes. As I state in the recipe, you may need slightly less water for larger pasta shapes like rigatoni, so adjust as needed.
Simply substitute the elbow macaroni with your favorite gluten-free pasta. Make sure to check the broth ingredients as well to ensure they are gluten-free. Check the cooking times and adjust the liquid levels if needed.
You can substitute cornstarch with an equal amount of arrowroot powder or tapioca starch. These alternatives will help thicken the sauce just as well.
If the pasta looks dry before it's fully cooked, add a bit more broth, a little at a time, until it reaches the desired consistency.
Of course, but it won't taste like hamburger helper. If you use healthier alternatives like TVP, make sure to weigh the 16 ounces requested when rehydrated- about 7 ounces dry. You can also use tofu or tempeh crumbles. However, these will alter the flavor significantly and will not be the same flavor intended in the recipe.
More Vegan Pasta Recipes You'll Love
What did you think?
Got a minute? Dive into the comments and rate this vegan hamburger helper recipe to let me know how it turned out for you. Was it a hit? Any twists you added? I want to know if my directions were any good. Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube for inspiration.
PrintRecipe
Vegan Hamburger Helper
Get ready for an easy and quick meal with our Vegan Hamburger Helper! This one-pot wonder is packed with hearty pasta, savory plant-based "meat," and a creamy, dreamy sauce that'll have everyone asking for seconds. Perfect for busy weeknights or lazy weekends!
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 6 bowls 1x
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 16-ounce package of plant-based ground (Beyond Meat/Impossible Ground)
- 3 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 tablespoon of cornstarch
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- 16 ounces elbow macaroni (1 pound)
- 5 ½ cups broth*
- 7-8 ounces of grated vegan cheddar
- 1 ½ teaspoons salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Sauté the Onion: In a large pot over medium heat, add olive oil and cook the diced onion until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Cook the Plant-Based Ground: Add the plant-based ground to the pot with the onions and cook until browned. Break it apart by cutting into it with your utensil until you get small bite-sized chunks. Stir often.
- Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for another 1-2 minutes until it’s well incorporated with the onions and vegan ground beef.
- Add Spices and Cornstarch: Sprinkle in the cornstarch, garlic powder, and chili powder. Stir well to combine and cook for another minute.
- Add Pasta and Broth: Pour in the broth and stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then add the pasta. Reduce heat to a high simmer.
- Cook Pasta: Simmer, uncovered, for about 9 minutes (this may vary, so check your package directions), stirring occasionally, until the pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Season: Add the salt and black pepper. Stir to combine.
- Optional Vegan Cheddar: If using, stir in the grated vegan cheddar until melted and well combined.
- Serve: Serve hot and enjoy your delicious Vegan Hamburger Helper! See the post for serving suggestions.
Equipment
Notes
*Smaller pasta shapes, like elbows and shells, soak up broth fast and need more liquid, like the 5 ½ cups I use in this recipe. Larger shapes, like rigatoni or fusilli, need less, so start with 5 cups. The 5 ½ cups in this recipe are needed to cook a 16-ounce box of small Barilla elbows.
For the best flavor and texture, use plant-based ground meat like Beyond Ground Beef or Impossible Meat found in most major grocery chains. Other plant-based grounds may not provide the same taste that closely mimics Hamburger Helper.
Cook pasta until al dente; it will continue cooking a little in the sauce.
Stir frequently to prevent the pasta from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Great for meal prep and tastes even better the next day—make a double batch!
Nutritional information is only an estimate.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: dinner
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegan
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 628
- Sugar: 7.7 g
- Sodium: 1386.5 mg
- Fat: 11.7 g
- Carbohydrates: 134.7 g
- Protein: 13.8 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
BJ Davis says
Wow, Reg. This was delicious...seriously loved it and the kids loved it too. It tastes super close to the original and I think we're going to try to make it with the TVP instead next time. Thanks for the recipe!
Regi Pearce says
Hey BJ! Thanks for the lovely comment. Glad you and the kids liked it. Let me know how it goes with the TVP.