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Mouth Watering! One-Pot Vegan Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Pasta

One-Pot Vegan Hamburger Helper – Cheeseburger Pasta

A hearty vegan spin on the classic hamburger helper with tender pasta, savory crumbles, and a rich, dairy-free cheese sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 People
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American-Comfort
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta Base:
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 garlic cloves minced
  • 12 oz vegan ground meat or lentils for a lighter option
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp chili powder optional
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
For Cooking the Pasta:
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 2 cups unsweetened plant-based milk
  • 12 oz short pasta elbow, shells, or rotini
  • For the Vegan Cheese Sauce:
  • ½ cup nutritional yeast
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
  • 1 tsp lemon juice
Optional Toppings:
  • Fresh parsley or chives
  • Vegan shredded cheddar
  • Red pepper flakes

Method
 

  1. Heat oil in a large pot and sauté onion until soft. Stir in garlic, vegan meat, tomato paste, and spices, cooking until browned.
  2. Pour in broth and plant milk, then add pasta. Bring to a boil, reduce to a simmer, and cook uncovered until pasta is tender and most liquid absorbed.
  3. Stir in nutritional yeast, Dijon, garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, and lemon juice until creamy and cheesy.
  4. Let rest a few minutes before serving, then top with parsley, vegan cheese, or chili flakes.