Vegan Cheeseburger Casserole

The Vegan Cheeseburger Casserole is a delicious recipe that gives you the taste and feeling of a regular cheeseburger without having the guilt of taking in any non-vegan ingredients such as meat, eggs, or dairy products. It gives you a delicious experience with ingredients such as dairy-free cheese, vegan ground beef, and layers of pasta. The Vegan Cheeseburger Casserole gives you the meaty feeling present in a traditional cheeseburger with the help of protein crumbles that are entirely plant-based. This recipe is an inspiration from the classic and traditional American cheeseburger.

STATS:

• Calories: 390 kilocalories
• Prep time: 15 minutes
• Serving size: 1 cup
• Cooking time: Thirty minutes
• Cuisine: American
• Total time: 45 minutes
• Course: Main course
• Diet: Vegan
• Serving: 6

EQUIPMENT:

• Large skillet
• Oven
• 9×13 inch baking dish
• Mixing bowl
• Spatula

INGREDIENTS:

• Two tablespoon of olive oil
• 1 medium onion (chop finely)
• 2 cloves of garlic (mince it)
• 1 cup of diced tomatoes
• One cup of tomato sauce
• 1 tbsp of tomato paste
• One tsp of vegan Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tsp of yellow mustard
• One tbsp of ketchup
• 1 tsp of smoked paprika
• ½ tsp of salt (adjust to taste)
• ¼ tsp of black pepper
• 1 cup of vegan ground beef
• 2 cups of cooked elbow macaroni or pasta of choice
• 1 cup of vegan shredded cheddar cheese
• ¼ cup of vegan milk (unsweetened)
• 2 tbsp of nutritional yeast (optional)
• ¼ cup of chopped pickles (optional)

INGREDIENT NOTES:

VEGAN GROUND BEEF:

• We add this to give the cheeseburger casserole a meaty feeling without having to add any real meat, and it also gives us plant-based protein. You can also use crumbled lentils or tofu instead as alternatives.

VEGAN CHEESE:

• It helps with the topping to give the casserole a cheesy layer. For an alternative, use an extra amount of nutritional yeast or cashew cheese sauce.

PASTA:

• We use pasta in this recipe to give the cheeseburger casserole a firm base and hold the full dish together. Zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta are alternative options for pasta.

TOMATO SAUCE AND KETCHUP:

• Ketchup and tomato sauce are useful in keeping the casserole moist, and we also get the sweetness and tanginess from them. For an alternative, use BBQ sauce or crushed tomatoes.

VEGAN WORCESTERSHIRE:

• It makes the casserole flavor more deep and flavorful. Tamari or soy sauce are alternative options as well.

MUSTARD:

• This provides the cheeseburger casserole with more color. Use spicy brown mustard as an alternative for this ingredient.

NUTRITIONAL YEAST:

• Yeast naturally gives the casserole a nutty and cheesy flavor. You can omit this ingredient or use vegan parmesan as an alternative.

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Warm the oven to about 190°C.
2. Take the 9×13-inch baking dish and slightly grease it.
3. Boil the pasta you desire and put it aside after properly draining it.
4. In a large skillet, pan-fry the garlic and onion for three to four minutes till they become fragrant on medium heat.
5. For the next five to seven minutes, stir in and cook the vegan meat till it becomes brown.
6. Now add pepper, salt, paprika, ketchup, mustard, Worcestershire, tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, and tomato
7. paste, and keep simmering for 5 minutes.
8. Add vegan milk, cooked pasta, and half the amount of vegan shredded cheese.
9. Put the yeast if you are adding it to this recipe.
10. Mix everything properly.
11. Place everything on the baking dish.
12. Put the remaining vegan cheese on top.
13. Put the baking dish inside the oven.
14. Bake for a time period of twenty to twenty-five minutes till the casserole becomes bubbly and goldish in color.

SERVING SUGGESTIONS:

• For the topping, you can sprinkle some parsley.
• Pair this cheeseburger casserole with roasted vegetables.
• Serve this dish with vegan ranch.

TIPS:

• Do not boil the pasta completely since it will cook further inside the oven later on.
• To make an oil-free version, you can make use of vegetable broth when pan-frying the ingredients.
• For more flavor, you can also use two vegan cheese options, mozzarella and cheddar.

STORAGE INFORMATION:

FRIDGE:

• Use an airtight box and refrigerate for 4 days. To heat it again, use the oven or microwave, using a little plant milk to give it creaminess.

FREEZER:

• You can freeze the cheeseburger casserole in the freezer for 2 months in a container that is freezer safe. Before reheating, thaw it inside the fridge for a night. Heat at about 175°C for 15-20 minutes.

FAQs:

How to make gluten-free cheeseburger casserole?

• You can use gluten-free Worcestershire sauce, vegan cheese, and pasta.

Can I prepare this recipe before an event?

• Yes, prepare the casserole ingredients inside the baking dish, and refrigerate for twenty-four hours, and bake when you need to.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION:

Calories: 390 kilocalories
Net carbs: 42 grams
Iron: 3.5 milligrams
Total carbs: 48 grams
Vitamin A: 1000 IU
Fiber: 6 grams
Calcium: 120 milligrams
Protein: 18 grams
Serving size: 1 cup
Sodium: 580 milligrams
Serving: 6
Potassium: 480 milligrams