This easy vegan hamburger helper with mushrooms tastes just like stroganoff hamburger helper, but plant-based! And it’s ready in 30 minutes!
Key Ingredients
If you grew up in the U.S. during the ’90s, chances are Hamburger Helper was a staple in your kitchen. Now, toss the boxed version aside and make this vegan hamburger helper version of the classic comfort food! Here’s what you need to make it.
- Pasta: You can use whatever pasta you have available, but I recommend elbow macaroni, rotini, or the corkscrew noodles called Cavatappi, since they hold onto the vegan Hamburger Helper sauce.
- Olive Oil: Sauté the veggies in olive oil, coconut oil, or vegan butter.
- Onion: Yellow onions cook with the mushrooms and garlic, boosting the flavor of the sauce.
- Mushrooms: Since mushrooms are the star of this dish, I like using a variety of mushrooms. My favorite combination is oyster, shiitake, and white mushrooms. Use your favorite mushrooms or a combination, whatever you prefer.
- Spices: Season the vegan Hamburger Helper with dried parsley, kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, white pepper, and nutritional yeast. Nutritional yeast replaces the cheese in this recipe, adding a sweet, nutty flavor.
- Coconut Milk: What would Hamburger Helper be without creaminess? Stir in some full-fat coconut milk and a little vegetable broth for the perfect consistency.
Additions and Substitutions
- Swap the protein. Replace the chopped mushrooms with Beyond Meat, tofu, or lentils.
- Load up on veggies. Feel free to add other vegetables like green beans, carrots, peas, or corn to the mushrooms.
How to Make Vegan Hamburger Helper
The full recipe with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Step 1: Cook a package of noodles in a saucepan according to the instructions. Drain the pasta through a colander and set it aside.
Step 2: Warm olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the onions and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the onions soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
Step 3: Add the mushrooms and sauté until caramelized, for about 10-15 minutes.
Step 4: Stir in the dried parsley, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour in the coconut milk, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Step 5: Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the reserved pasta.
If you enjoy vegan hamburger helper, try one of these vegan recipes!
Serving Suggestions
Vegan hamburger helper is the ultimate comfort food. Serve the cozy pasta dish with a simple green salad, sautéed green beans, or a fermented veggie dish like pressgurka. And you can’t go wrong with a thick slice of garlic bread or crusty rolls to mop up all that saucy goodness.
What To Do With Leftovers
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container. Vegan hamburger helper will keep for 3-5 days.
- Reheat: Warm the leftovers in the microwave or stovetop, and enjoy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can hamburger helper be made without meat?
Make this recipe, and you be the judge. But to answer the question, yes. You can make Hamburger Helper from a box or a homemade hamburger helper without meat. I love using diced mushrooms as my source of protein, but other options include beyond-meat crumbles, tofu, or lentils.
More Vegan Recipes:
Vegan Hamburger Helper
- 1 package (14 ounces) pasta, cooked according to the package
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 pound mushrooms, roughly chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 teaspoons coarse black pepper
- 3 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon white pepper
- 1 can coconut milk
- ½ cup vegetable broth
- ¾ cup nutritional yeast
- Warm olive oil in a sauté pan. Add the onions and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the onions soften. Stir in the garlic and cook for another minute.
- Add the mushrooms and sauté until caramelized, for about 10-15 minutes.
- Stir in the dried parsley, salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. Pour in the coconut milk, vegetable broth, and nutritional yeast. Bring everything to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the reserved pasta.
Shariq
Thursday 1st of December 2022
So good! I ate this for a few days and still crave it. It is even better than the meat-based original. Thank you for sharing this recipe.