Craving a nostalgic comfort food classic that's completely plant-based and packed with nutrition? Look no further! This Vegan Broccoli Cheddar Hamburger Helper is about to revolutionize your dinner game, proving that dairy-free doesn't mean flavor-free. Imagine creamy, cheesy goodness coating perfectly cooked pasta and tender broccoli, all ready in just 30 minutes - without a single animal product in sight!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup nutritional yeast
- 1 cup plant-based milk
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add elbow macaroni and cook according to package instructions until al dente, typically 8-10 minutes.
- While pasta is cooking, prepare the broccoli florets by washing them thoroughly and cutting into bite-sized pieces. Steam the broccoli for 3-4 minutes until bright green and tender-crisp.
- In a large skillet or saucepan, combine plant-based milk, nutritional yeast, garlic powder, and onion powder. Whisk together until smooth and well incorporated.
- Drain the cooked pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of pasta water. Return the pasta to the pot.
- Add the steamed broccoli florets to the pasta. Pour the nutritional yeast sauce over the pasta and broccoli, stirring gently to coat evenly.
- If the sauce seems too thick, gradually add reserved pasta water to achieve desired creamy consistency.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Mix thoroughly to ensure all ingredients are well combined.
- Let the dish sit for 2-3 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld together.
- Serve hot, garnishing with additional nutritional yeast or fresh herbs if desired.
Tips
- For the creamiest sauce, use a high-quality nutritional yeast that has a rich, cheesy flavor profile.
- Don't overcook your broccoli - keep it bright green and slightly crisp for the best texture.
- Reserved pasta water is your secret weapon for adjusting sauce consistency, so don't drain it all away!
- If you want extra protein, consider adding crumbled plant-based meat or tofu to the dish.
- Experiment with different plant milks like cashew or oat for subtle flavor variations.
- Fresh herbs like parsley or chives can add a beautiful finishing touch and extra layer of flavor.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 320kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 15g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 2g
Cholesterol: 0mg
