Healthy Vegan Hamburger Helper Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I substitute for milk in Hamburger Helper? ›

Coconut milk and cream has a thicker consistency than most plant-based milks and is recommended as the best milk substitute for Hamburger Helper meals.

Instead of hamburger meat, we used a plant-based ground meat. If you're looking for plant-based protein alternatives, Lightlife ground meat is a great option! Made with pea protein, it takes less than 5 minutes to cook and you can store it in the freezer until ready to use.

Hamburger Helper without meat is quick and easy to make. Just use the same measure of liquid normally used. Depending on if you add extra veggies and which ones, the consistency can change. Add a fresh twist to Helper tonight!

So instead I made my vegan hamburger helper recipe using easy-to-find, affordable ingredients, that you might already have in your kitchen. For the vegan beef, I use extra-firm tofu that is crumbled and seasoned, then dried out in the oven. This makes the tofu super chewy and meaty.

Here's exciting news: Hamburger Helper can be made with almond milk! I used it and it tasted great.

You can try using vegetable or chicken broth, which will add flavor and liquid to the recipe. Additionally, you could mix a small amount of sour cream or plain yogurt with water to achieve a creamy consistency without milk.

Easy vegan hamburger helper ingredients:

Vegan ground beef: I like impossible burger, beyond meat or gardein beefless crumbles but hey use your favorite brand. Pasta noodles: elbow macaroni is the choice you want for this.

Water: If you're looking for a simple substitute, water can be used in place of milk. While it won't provide the same creaminess, it will still work well in the recipe [2]. Shredded Cheese: Adding shredded cheese to your Hamburger Helper can help thicken the sauce and add extra flavor.

What makes Hamburger Helper unhealthy? ›

Hamburger Helper contains a ridiculous amount of sodium

But when you dive into what the ingredients provided in the box actually are, you may end up consuming close to your daily recommended amount of sodium.

Here are some recommended swaps and add-ins you can try: Add a boost of veggies: feel free to throw in shredded zucchini, sauteed chopped red bell pepper, or mushrooms or a few cups of chopped spinach! My kids usually never know that it's in there. Spice it up: if you'd like you can add some red pepper flakes on top.

What to not serve with tofu? According to studies, a high volume consumption of tofu and spinach together can increase your risk of kidney stones. Tofu and spinach contain calcium and oxalic acid respectively and the combined can form kidney stones.

Press the block of extra-firm tofu to remove excess liquid. Use your hands to break the tofu into crumbles, resembling the size of ground meat. Sauté or bake the crumbles in oil to get them crispy before using. Alternatively, use uncooked crumbles for making burgers.

Milk: I think milk works great to add richness to this homemade hamburger helper recipe and it cuts back on the calories a bit over using heavy cream. Hot water: If you want this dish extra savory, go ahead and heat up some beef broth or even chicken broth in place of the water.

To make mac and cheese without milk, the best choice is to find something that has a similar texture and a milk flavor. Things like heavy cream, almond milk, oat milk, yogurt, cream cheese, and even pasta water all work very well in boxed mac and cheese.

Key Ingredients to Make My Hamburger Helper Recipe

MILK – Feel free to use broth if you don't have milk on hand. BEEF BROTH – You can also use chicken broth if you prefer. ELBOW MACARONI – For the ultimate hamburger helper homemade recipe that will take you back to your childhood!

Use 1 cup of water and 1-1/2 teaspoons of butter for every 1 cup of milk called for in the recipe. The extra butter will help your baked goods stay moist.

But milk can't replace water altogether. If you're going to replenish with milk instead of water, go for it after a big workout or long day of hiking. Otherwise, water can't be beat! Real Simple is committed to using high-quality, reputable sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts in our articles.