Healthy Vegan Hamburger Helper Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What can I substitute for milk in Hamburger Helper? ›

Milk adds a creamy texure and lends its flavor to the sauce in Hamburger Helper. You may not enjoy the results made with only water. Betty's Emrgency Substitutions page suggests a substitution for a cup of milk: 1/2 cup evaporated milk plus 1/2 cup water; or nonfat dry milk prepared as directed on package.

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.

Instead of meat, you can add vegetables or a meat alternative of your choice to Hamburger Helper meals to make them plant-based. However, be aware that most of our boxed meal products contain ingredients that are not vegan, including milk and animal fat.

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.

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.

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

Chicken Burgers

This lean and low-fat protein is an excellent alternative to beef. When purchasing chicken for burgers, do not buy pre-ground chicken. Instead, choose boneless, skinless chicken breasts and use your own meat grinder for better texture.

A veggie burger is a hamburger made with a patty that does not contain meat, or the patty of such a hamburger. The patty may be made from ingredients like beans (especially soybeans and tofu), nuts, grains, seeds, or fungi such as mushrooms or mycoprotein.

Is McDonald's really vegan? ›

To be perfectly straightforward, stateside, McDonald's is not a particularly vegan-friendly option.

Modified Big Mac

Order the Big Mac without the beef patty and cheese. Swap the Big Mac sauce (which is not vegan) for one of the two vegan sauce options: Tangy Barbeque Sauce or Sweet 'N Sour Sauce. The Big Mac sesame seed bun and all the other toppings (lettuce, pickle slices, and onions) are vegan.

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.

If a firm or extra firm tofu is being used in a recipe, you could try mashed beans or chickpeas, lean meat, lean fish, and seafood (as a protein source) would work well.

Since tofu is made from soybeans, it is extremely rich in protein and iron. In addition to these benefits, tofu contains no cholesterol and very little saturated fat. Tofus can be used as a meat substitute or added into a variety of dishes, such as soups, salads, and even desserts.

2 cups milk. 1 tbsp mayonnaise (Use desired amount of mayonnaise or omit it. Sour cream can be substituted).

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.

Easy Hamburger Helper ingredients

Water: or you can use beef broth, chicken broth, or vegetable broth to add extra flavor. Milk: adds to the creaminess along with the cheddar cheese. You could sub sour cream if you were feeling like experimenting in the kitchen.

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.