Dairy-Free Hamburger Helper is the perfect weeknight dinner. It's kid-friendly and tastes just like the savory and cheesy version. This meal is made in one pot and is ready in less than 30 minutes!
I've made homemade hamburger helper with cream and cheese for my family before, and I was SO impressed when I made this dairy-free version. My family loved it!
When I make dinner, I always try to get some veggies on the table to go with it. Whether it's canned, frozen, or fresh veggies, or even a light salad, it will go perfectly well with this hamburger helper. I'd personally serve it with a light salad, fresh green beans, or something savory like my Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower or Marinated Brussel Sprouts. Garlic bread can be served with it too. Try it with my Healthier Garlic Bread!
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❤️Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Quick and easy: This dairy-free hamburger helper is made in one pot and is ready in less than 30 minutes. It doesn't get any easier than that!
- Just as delicious as the dairy-filled version: This dish is filled with ingredients that bring so many savory and meaty flavors. With the addition of nutritional yeast, it tastes like it has real cheese.
- No "weird" ingredients are necessary: This recipe doesn't require any coconut milk or dairy-free cheese shreds. While the addition of these ingredients may be delicious, they aren't always picky-eater-friendly. The only argument for this recipe could be the dairy-free sour cream, but this ingredient is optional!
📝Ingredient Notes
- Ground beef: Using lean ground beef means that you don't have much (if any) grease to drain. Some people like to opt for lean ground beef because it's easier to work with! I use 80% lean/20% fat, which does leave behind some extra grease that will need to be strained.
- Nutritional yeast: Nutritional yeast (also called "nooch") is an inactive yeast (meaning it won't make bread rise). Instead, it makes your dishes taste cheesy! Nutritional yeast is typically fortified so it's also a good source of several vitamins and minerals.
- Dairy-free sour cream: This ingredient is optional, but recommended. I like to add it for creaminess and an added fresh and tangy flavor. If you have a dairy-free sour cream you love, you can use it. I personally love to use Unsweetened Plain Coconut Yogurt by SoDelicious. Its flavor tastes a lot like sour cream, so it's always my preference.
🥩Substitutions/ Variations
- Ground beef: Other ground meat alternatives like ground turkey, ground chicken, or even ground pork will work for this recipe.
- Franks Red Hot Sauce: I like to use this brand because I find it less spicy and I think it has a really good flavor. If you have a different brand you'd like to use, feel free to use it! Or if you have anyone who is really sensitive to heat, you can use ½ teaspoon or just leave it out.
- Elbow noodles/macaroni noodles: You can use any other noodles you'd like. Common alternatives would be small pasta shells or wide egg noodles.
🥣Equipment
- Stockpot
🔪How to Make Dairy-Free Hamburger Helper
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, then add the ground beef. Cook until the meat is browned. Drain any grease, then let the garlic cook for 1 minute.
2. Mix in all of the spices. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire, Franks Red Hot Sauce, and Dijon mustard. Mix well to combine.
3. Add in the elbow noodles and let them cook for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the noodles are completely cooked and most of the liquid has been absorbed. Mix in the dairy-free sour cream and enjoy!
🧊Storing
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator. There it will last for 3 to 4 days.
When reheating leftovers, the sauce will dry up. Feel free to add a little extra dairy-free sour cream to add some creaminess back.
✅Pro Tips
- Don't burn the spices: The spices are mixed into the meat just right before you add the tomato sauce and liquids. Make sure to add them in right after you mix in all the spices and that your heat isn't turned up too high at this point.
- Add hot sauce to taste: I don't think that the Franks Red Hot Sauce makes it spicy, but if you're sensitive to heat, you may choose to reduce the amount or omit it entirely. If you want it spicier, add more Franks Red Hot, or serve with crushed red pepper flakes (I love to top mine with this)!
- Make sure your noodles are completely cooked: If for some reason your noodles aren't completely cooked and your pasta is looking dry, add a little more beef broth as needed. Most of the broth should be absorbed once the pasta is cooked and it should be creamy.
- Use a dairy-free sour cream you like the taste of: My top choice is Unsweetened Plain Coconut Yogurt by SoDelicious! It tastes similar to sour cream.
- Add more sour cream after reheating leftovers: Once cooled, the sauce will sort of dry up. After you reheat it, add some more dairy-free sour cream to it. It brings the creaminess back and adds that light and refreshing taste back!
⁉️Frequently Asked Question
Yes. You can use gluten-free elbow/macaroni noodles. I like the brand Tinkyada! You should also check that your Worcestershire sauce is gluten-free as well.
Hamburger Helper can be served with veggies like fresh asparagus, green beans, broccoli, Brussel sprouts, salad, garlic bread, and so much more!
🍝Other Dairy-Free Dinner Recipes to Try
⭐️Before you go! If you enjoyed this recipe for Dairy-Free Hamburger Helper, leave a review and share it with me! I love to hear from you.
📖 Recipe
Dairy-Free Hamburger Helper
Equipment
- Stockpot
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion chopped
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic about 3 to 4 cloves
- 1½ teaspoons salt or to taste
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 8 ounce can of tomato sauce
- 32 ounces beef broth
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire
- 1 teaspoon Franks Red Hot Sauce or to taste
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
- 3 cups elbow noodles also called macaroni noodles
- ¼ cup dairy-free sour cream or to taste (optional, see notes)
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil and chopped onion. Let it cook for about 5 minutes, then add the ground beef. Cook until the meat is browned. Drain any grease, then let the garlic cook for 1 minute.
- Mix in all of the spices. Add the tomato sauce, beef broth, Worcestershire, Franks Red Hot Sauce, and Dijon mustard. Mix well to combine.
- Add in the elbow noodles and let them cook for 10 to 12 minutes, until the noodles are completely cooked and the sauce is almost fully absorbed. Mix in the dairy-free sour cream and enjoy!
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 to 4 days.
- When reheating leftovers, the sauce can dry up. I recommend adding a little extra dairy-free sour cream to bring the creaminess back.
- I also recommend using your favorite tasting dairy-free sour cream. I use unsweetened plain coconut yogurt by SoDelicious. It's light, tangy, and tastes similar to sour cream with no weird aftertastes.
- I don't think the Franks Red Hot Sauce makes it spicy. But if you're sensitive to heat, you can reduce it by half or omit it from the recipe.
Nutrition
Note: The nutrition label is only an estimate. Amounts may vary.
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