serves 2 to 4, takes 30 minutes
Photo by Hannah Kaminsky
Tempeh Helper is a nostalgic dinner that takes you back bite by delicious bite. A vegan one-pot meal that comes together in 30 minutes flat. Crumbled tempeh, small shell pasta, and a savory seasoning mix all simmer together in the same skillet until the pasta is tender and the sauce has thickened up around it. Topped with a generous pour of cheesy sauce, every bite is chewy, meaty, and just a little nostalgic. The seasoning brings back all those familiar Hamburger Helper flavors: savory, herby, cozy and warming.
I was practically raised by Hamburger Helper. My mom worked two jobs raising three kids, and that little box was on rotation more nights than not. Decades later, I still get a craving for that comforting aroma, the chewy pasta, the slightly burned bits at the bottom of the pan. This is my grown-up vegan version, with all the nostalgia intact.
This recipe pairs with my Easy Breezy Cheesy Sauce, which goes on top like the cheese sauce packet did in the original. Make the sauce in a separate pot while the helper simmers and everything comes together at about the same time.
The Vegan Hamburger Helper Method: one pot, thirty minutes
We love a meal that comes together in one pan. Not having to boil the pasta separately is the beauty of Hamburger Helper. Brown the tempeh in olive oil until it’s got some color on it. Mix up the seasoning blend in a bowl while it cooks. This is what makes it taste like the box mix you remember.
Add water, the seasoning, dry pasta and all, right to the pan. Cover and simmer. So easy. While that’s going, make a batch of cheesy sauce in a small saucepan, if you like. It’s easy enough, so why not? The two finish at about the same time. Pour the sauce over generously and serve hot.
How to serve and customize Vegan Hamburger Helper
This recipe serves 2 hungry people or 4 reasonable ones. A few easy variations:
Add veggies. Sautéed bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini can go in with the tempeh in the first step. Spinach or kale can wilt in at the end.
Make it spicy. Bump up the chili powder, add a pinch of cayenne, or stir in a few dashes of hot sauce.
Make a bigger batch of seasoning. Quadruple the seasoning mix and store it in a jar. Scoop out a heaping 1/4 cup whenever the craving hits.
Top with herbs. I love to add extra aromatics at the end, like chives, scallions, and sometimes even cilantro. But I like cilantro on everything. A little parsley is always welcome, though.
Tempeh Helper FAQ
Is this gluten-free? It can be. Use quinoa pasta or any gluten-free shell pasta, and make the Easy Breezy Cheesy Sauce with cornstarch (the recipe gives both flour and cornstarch options).
Can I skip the cheesy sauce? Yes, it’s still really good without it. But the Cheesy Sauce is pretty great. Still. You can skip it.
What if I don’t have broth powder? No problem. Use 3 cups of vegetable broth instead of 3 cups of water and skip the broth powder. A crumbled bouillon cube or 2 teaspoons of bouillon paste also works if that’s what you’ve got.
Can I double this recipe? Yes, easily. Use a bigger skillet and add 2 to 3 minutes to the simmer time. The seasoning mix doubles cleanly too.
How long does it keep? 3 to 4 days in the fridge in an airtight container. Store the cheesy sauce separately so it doesn’t get absorbed into the pasta. Reheat in a saucepan with a splash of water to loosen things up. Don’t freeze it though — pasta-and-sauce dishes get mushy when thawed.
If you like Tempeh Helper, check out these recipes:
Tempeh Helper (Hamburger Helper Copycat)
Ingredients
For the tempeh helper:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 8 oz tempeh
- 3 cups water or vegetable broth
- 6 oz small shell pasta about 1 cup
For the seasoning mix:
- 2 teaspoons onion flakes
- 1 teaspoon granulated garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon mild chili powder
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 tablespoons broth powder Frontier chicken-style is great here
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot or cornstarch
- 1/4 teaspoon salt or to taste
For serving:
- 1 batch Easy Breezy Cheesy Sauce link to recipe
- Chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Have a lid ready.Drizzle the oil in the pan and crumble or tear the tempeh into bite-sized pieces, adding them to the pan. Sauté for about 5 minutes, until lightly browned.
- While the tempeh browns, mix all the seasoning ingredients together in a bowl.
- Add a few tablespoons of water to the tempeh to deglaze the pan. Add the 3 cups of water and the seasoning mix, stirring to combine. Add the pasta and cover.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring once. Remove the lid and cook for another 3 minutes or so, until the sauce has reduced and thickened to your liking.
- Taste for salt.
- Make the Easy Breezy Cheesy Sauce while the pasta simmers. Serve the helper hot, topped generously with cheesy sauce.
Yum! We don’t have Hamburger Helper here in Aus but I want to try Tempeh Helper anyway.
oh my god. this gets printed out and promptly placed on the very top of the “recipes i must try” pile!
This is totally reppin’ my childhood right now!! The memories are sure to flood back when I make this! yuuuum!!!
Tempeh needs all the help it can get. :p
Looks so good, even though I’ve never had real Hamburger Helper!
oh, I am just getting to know the elusive Tempeh (honestly, – why don’t the few Asian Stores around carry it ???) and am always glad for any suggestion, – and this looks totally like itstartedwithafish-family-food !
Thanx !
Yep, I think I’m pretty in to this for nostalgia’s sake.
need to try this!!
I’ve never heard of hamburger helper but your version sure looks delicious!
We were too poor for meals that came in boxes–we just had dry, baked hamburgers made with the really fatty, cheap meat. They needed help for sure, but never got it.
I love tempeh, and a little garlic and onion powder never hurt anyone. Sounds like comfort food to me! I’ll save this recipe for winter when I’m not melting.
Oh my word, we ate tons of Hamburger Helper when we were kids. And don’t get me started on the other things we ate…probably why I’ve been vegetarian for 15 years! Dare I say it…potted meat? Vienna sausages? Bologna? Anyway, I’m always looking for a new way to use tempeh, and this looks awesome!
I can’t wait to try this. I made a “taco night pasta” recipe from family circle that used crumbles, pasta, beans, tomatoes and sauce-totally reminded me of when my dad made hamburger helper for us when my mom worked nights. I love to take forever in the kitchen but I don’t always have the time-so the dad’s night/lazy recipes are great. Take RR to school!
My kids will definitely go for this; I’m making it the minute the weather cools off!
Mm, looks pretty good. This is something to save for the fall, which, in Austin, will get here by…December.
My mother tried several times introducing HH during my childhood, but I was never keen to the taste. Sad to say it but box spaghetti dinner was my dinner of choice.
Looks wonderful! I have about 532 packages of tempeh in my fridge right now, so definitely will give this a try. I used to love hamburger helper. My other favorite past dish was tuna noodle casserole. Creamy, dreamy and delicious!
I’m among those who’ve never had Hamburger Helper, and it never sounded appealing to me… but Tempeh Helper? That’s another story entirely! Can’t wait to try your recipe!
i have honestly never had hamburger helper in my life (unless it was before i can remember) but this is still exciting. hamburger helper commercials make me cringe, but i’m all for homemade! thanks for the recipe.
I assume that’s supposed to be 3/4 cup of nooch?
isa- you are wrong: we do care if you update your blog! i love your humor and joy and fun recipes… and i check more often than i want to admit! now i just have to go update my own blog! aloha, andrea
Thanks Skyla, I fixed it!
i’m all too familiar with hamburger helper…. and what a chuckle I got out of this post!
Love your cookbooks!
Not a fan of tempeh (sorry all you tempeh lovers!) but I may give this a try with garbanzos or tofu. And I’m definitely looking forward to making the cheese sauce!
Amanda, I think it would totally work with tofu or seitan, no prob. If using beans, maybe add 1/4 cup less liquid since it won’t absorb as much.
Awesome. I made it last night! Even pleased my picky husband. Comfort food indeed. Thanks!
This brings back SUCH childhood memories! My father banned Hamburger Helper in our house (because of chemicals, not meat) so we never had it at home, and it was a super treat to have it at my best friend’s house (whose mom served it almost daily). I cannot wait to try this tempeh version! I already love tempeh–I’m sure this will make it that much better. 🙂
Just have to say, freaking loved your post – really. Funny and true. But not funny. This will be delicious.
I always wanted my mom to buy hamburger helper when I was younger, but darnit, she was just too health conscious and I was never ‘lucky’ enough to stay for dinner at a friend’s place when they were having it. So, seeing this recipe here got me pretty excited to try a veganized version of the stuff. I enjoyed it. It didn’t remind my taste buds of anything sadly, but I can see how something like it would be considered comfort food. The seasoning probably tastes quite a bit like what comes in the box, though I oversalted a little bit. Really liked the cheezy sauce and the tempeh turned out really nice.
So thanks for satiating my curiousity!
I, too, was raised on the Helper! My mom is an awesome cook, but some nights, she just wasn’t feelin’ it. And that was cool, cause I loved Hamburger Helper as much as mom’s home cookin’ anyway. Is that blasphemy? I felt typing it just now.
Oh well. I also lived on this stuff made with ground Morningstar crumbles when I was a college-age vegetarian living on, like, $10 a week.
So I’m very, very thankful for this recipe! It’s so going on the top of my “things to make soon” list.
I mean, “I felt bad typing it just now.” God, I’ve gotta start proofing my comments before hitting submit.
I don’t remember eating hamburger helper – we ate our hamburger straight up – but Rice-a-Roni – oh yeah.
oh yes…this rocks. i love that things such as this will be my daughter’s childhood staples. then again, think she’ll end up blogging about how her mom spent too much time in the kitchen and share with the world meals she discovers from boxes? yeah…probably. 😉 thanks, isa!
Wow, nice one. Looks effin’ delishes!
[…] most recent post was super-awesome for writing and cooking inspiration both. I mean, c’mon. Tempeh Helper: Just Like Mom Used To Never Make? Brilliant. Also, her chickpea-noodle soup was pretty much the best thing ever while I was rocking […]
I didn’t have the hamburger helper as a kid, I remember the velveeta shells and cheese. So I’m a big fan of shells with any saucy dish and look forward to yet another use for tempeh. It’s magical.
Yes, I too grew up on hamburger helper. My Mom was a single mom that worked and tried to put a hot meal on the table every evening for my brother and me. I even remember making it myself when she was too busy working.
This is a version I can eat and it will bring back memories of my Mom. 🙂 Thanks!
yahhh! im so glad your back…i missed reading about your cooking adventures!
Love the recipe. Thanks for that. But now I’m going to have nightmares tonight about that creepy hand. 🙁
Eating it now. Pretty dang tasty. I’m assuming the frozen peas get thrown in the pot with the pasta? That’s what I did and it seemed to work.
This looks so good! We’re definitely going to make it. My husband is practically drooling. Thanks for sharing, Isa!
“that happy face oven mitt is actually planning on strangling you”
LOL!! Hilarious! Great looking recipe too!
-A
Wonderful recipe. It made a very rich and comforting meal. The broth powder that I used already had salt in it (I didn’t realize this when I made it) so the final product was a bit too salty. Otherwise, it was delicious.
This was so good paired with a nice simple tomato soup for last night’s meal. I now have a tempeh helper thought balloon that refuses to pop. Midnight snack, anyone?
YUM! I’ll have to leave out the peas. The men in this house do not eat peas.
I know that this is not a place to gush about your awesomeness, but I have been enjoying two of your cookbooks. I got so excited that I wrote an ode to you: http://beastmomma.squarespace.com/life-from-the-belly-of-the-bea/ode-to-isa-chandra-moskowitz.html
I am going to attempt this tomorrow… alas with some variations as I don’t have the onion/garlic powders or small shell pasta, but I do have chopped garlic/shallots and oversized penne pasta lol. Oh and no peas… But tempeh plus garlic/onion/herbs tastes amazing anyway 🙂
This was great. I am having the leftovers as I type. I had to use rotini, and I only had the veggie broth paste, but it came together perfectly and i love it. Woo!
Sounds delicious. Will try it tonite.
Thanks for this alternative version of HH. I must admit, I’m still addicted to HH (we make it with Lumen instead of cow, and add a handful of “healthy pasta” and peas to the mix, but otherwise follow the box). So easy to fall into old habits when everyone is tired at the end of the day. The kids liked your tempeh version, so hoping we can break the HH habit. Will probably premix the seasonings for future use to make it more convenient for those busy nights. Can the cheezy sause be premixed too (with exception of the water), or would it go funny?
[…] one for Vegan With a Vengeance. So cute! So awesome! And speaking of that book, I made Isa’s Tempeh Helper for dinner last night, and it was comfort food-alicious (bear in mind, however that I don’t […]