April 3, 2023
One Pot Cheesy Hamburger Helper
This one pot cheesy hamburger helper kind of like the classic hamburger helper that we know and love, but better! And vegan! Made with ingredients that we always have on hand, this dish is easy to prepare, made in just one pot, and ready in just about 30 minutes!
Table of Contents
ingredients & substitutions jump to recipe step-by-step instructions tips and faqsOne Pot Cheesy Hamburger Helper
Are you looking for a hearty, vegan meal that’s easy to make and packed with flavor? Look no further than this one pot cheesy hamburger helper recipe! In just 30 minutes, you can have a delicious and satisfying meal that everyone in the family will love!
Grab a drink and let’s get to cookin’!
Ingredients & Substitutions
I love this ingredients list for this one pot cheesy hamburger helper because they’re simple and many I keep on hand all the time! Here’s what you’ll need:
- Avocado oil: or any other high heat oil
- Vegan Ground ‘Beef’: you can use any brand of vegan ground that you prefer! A few of my favorite brands that I find easily accessible and usually on sale are Impossible, Gardein, and Beyond Meat. You can also sub the vegan ground with another vegan meat alternative, crumbles tofu, chopped mushrooms or other plant-based protein sources. If substituting, please keep in mind that cooking times and methods may vary.
- Aromatics: onions, jalapeño, and garlic pack in flavor! if you don’t like spicy dishes, feel free to sub the jalapeño with bell pepper, or omit it.
- Spices: smoked paprika adds a subtle smokiness, ground mustard adds tanginess, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt and pepper all add layers of flavor to this dish!
- Tomato Paste
- Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes: canned tomatoes that have been roasted over an open flame, giving them a smoky flavor. You can find fire roasted tomatoes in the canned goods section of most grocery stores. If you’re unable to find fire roasted diced tomatoes, you can sub for regular diced tomatoes in the can
- Vegan Chick’n Broth: I typically buy this in powder, cube, or paste bouillon form, then mix it with water to create a very flavorful broth. I can find artificial chick’n powder or bouillon at my local Asian market, specialty health food stores such as Whole Foods and Sprouts, or on Amazon. If you can’t access it, you can substitute it with mushroom powder, or vegetable bouillon.
- Short Pasta Noodles: I’m using rigatoni for this recipe, but feel free to use any short pasta you like!
- Vegan Cheddar Shreds
- Fresh Parsley
Step-by-Step Instructions
Made in just one pot in about 30 minutes, this cheesy one pot hamburger helper couldn’t be easier to prepare! Here’s how:
1. Saute:
Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is melted, add the vegan ground meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the ground meat is heated through. Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Season with the smoked paprika, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become translucent, and the garlic is fragrant. Add the tomato paste and cook, continuing to stir, 1 to 2 more minutes.
2. Simmer:
Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the broth. Add the pasta and stir well to combine. Using a spatula, press the paste noodle down gently, ensuring they’re submerged in the broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the noodles are tender, making sure to give them a good toss and submerging the noodles into the broth every so often, 12 to 15 minutes, until the noodles are al dented.
3. Stir:
Stir in the vegan cheddar shreds and continue to stir until melted throughout. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Let the pasta cool about 5 minutes before serving.
4. Serve and Enjoy!
Garnish with more vegan cheese shreds and fresh parsley and enjoy!
Tips & FAQs
- To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta noodles and chick’n broth.
- To make this recipe soy-free, use a vegan ground meat that is soy-free, such as Beyond Meat or Impossible Meat.
- If the sauce is too thick, add more broth or water to thin it out.
- To make this recipe spicier, add more chili powder or leave in the seeds and veins of the jalapeño.
- To make this recipe milder, leave out the jalapeño or reduce the amount of chili powder.
Is this recipe freezer-friendly?
Yes! You can freeze leftovers for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating. Once thawed, you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
If reheating in the microwave, transfer the thawed leftovers to a microwave-safe dish and cover with a damp paper towel or microwave-safe lid. Heat on high for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
If reheating on the stovetop, transfer the thawed leftovers to a large pot or skillet and add a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed. Heat over low heat, stirring occasionally, until heated through.
Be sure to stir the pasta frequently to ensure that it heats evenly and does not stick to the bottom of the pan. Once the pasta is heated through, taste and adjust seasonings if necessary, and enjoy!
Storage and Reheating:
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. To reheat leftovers in the microwave or on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of broth or water to loosen the sauce if needed.
More One-Pot & One-Skillet Recipes for Easy Weeknight Meals:
- One Pot Cajun-Inspired Pasta
- Homemade Spaghettios and Mini Meatballs
- 20-Minute Peanut Gochujang Noodles
- Soy Chorizo Mushroom Marsala Pasta
- Ginisang Munggo (Filipino Mung Bean Soup)
Another One Pot Recipe FTW!
I hope you love this one pot cheesy hamburger helper as much as I do! If you try this dish and enjoy it, I wanna know! Snap a photo, take a video, or make a story and post it to Instagram or TikTok, and tag me at @eat_figs_not_pigs and #EatFigsNotPigs. I love seeing your recreations of my recipes!
Til next time, friends!
XO!
One Pot Cheesy Hamburger Helper
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- 1- pound vegan ground
- 1 large white onion diced
- 10 cloves fresh minced garlic
- 1 large jalapeño seeds and veins removed, diced
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 2 teaspoons mustard powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon fresh cracked black pepper
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 28-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes
- 3 cups vegan chick’n broth
- 1- pound short pasta noodles
- 1 7-ounce bag vegan cheddar shreds, plus more for garnish, optional
- Fresh minced parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Once the oil is melted, add the vegan ground meat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the ground meat is heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the onion, garlic, and jalapeno. Season with the smoked paprika, mustard powder, garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions become translucent, and the garlic is fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the tomato paste and cook, continuing to stir, 1 to 2 more minutes.
- Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices and the broth. Add the pasta and stir well to combine. Using a spatula, press the paste noodle down gently, ensuring they’re submerged in the broth. Increase the heat to high and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer until the noodles are tender, making sure to give them a good toss and submerging the noodles into the broth every so often, 12 to 15 minutes, until the noodles are al dented.
- Stir in the vegan cheddar shreds and continue to stir until melted throughout. Taste and adjust seasonings if necessary. Let the pasta cool about 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with more vegan cheese shreds and fresh parsley and enjoy!
Notes
- The sauce will naturally thicken since the noodles are cooking in it. Please see the Tips & FAQs section of this blog post for reheating instructions.
