Looking for rich and creamy dinner that the whole family will love, but without the dairy? This Dairy-Free One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is so delicious, and can be made in under 30 minutes. Perfect weeknight comfort food!
Rich pasta in a creamy sauce with well seasoned ground meat is the ultimate comfort food. Our Creamy Dairy-Free Ground Beef Pasta is a delicious fall and winter dish.
This Dairy Free One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta is a similarly rich and flavorful recipe, but it's made with ground turkey instead of ground beef. And the herbs and spices are Mexican influenced, so the meat flavor is somewhere between a classic cheeseburger and a taco.
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🌟 Why you'll love this recipe
My own family loves this dish so much. I hope you'll try it, and let us know if you love it, too!
- It's a mashup of two fave dishes: cheeseburger flavors with rich and creamy comforting pasta.
- You can make this all in one pot. Less mess and easy clean-up!
- It takes 30 minutes to make, so it's perfect for busy weeknights.
- It's creamy without the dairy!
🧄 Ingredient notes
Pasta - description of what it is/how it is used with affiliate link where possible
Ground meat - typically cheeseburger pasta is made with ground beef. You can use ground beef, but this recipe calls for ground turkey, which is leaner.
Dairy-free cream - I use this dairy-free heavy cream. If you find it hard to find dairy-free cream (not to be confused with creamer -- they are different!), you can use dairy-free or lactose-free half and half, or canned coconut milk.
Dairy-free cheddar shreds - There are many different brands of dairy-free cheddar shreds on the market. Follow Your Heart dairy-free cheese is my favorite to use in this recipe, but you can use whatever is your favorite.
Nutritional yeast - You'll find nutritional yeast flakes either in the bulk bin section or the baking section of your grocery store. This adds nutritional value plus a nutty flavor to each dish. It can be added along with the other spices, or add it along with the dairy-free cream and dairy-free cheese at the end.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Sauté the garlic and onions for 1 minute.
- Add the ground turkey. Season with salt and pepper, then cook until the meat is lightly browned on all sides.
3. Sprinkle in the spices: the chili powder, cumin, paprika, and oregano. Stir to coat the meat.
4. Stir in the nutritional yeast. (Note: you can add the nutritional yeast at any time after the meat is cooked, up until the last step before serving).
5. Add the tomatoes with their juices and chicken broth, stir.
6. Add the pasta, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low-medium, cover with a lid, and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just cooked through.
7. Then add the dairy free cream and the dairy free cheddar-style shred. Stir to combine, then cook, stirring regularly, for about 3 minutes, until the shreds are melted and the sauce is creamy. Turn off the heat and serve immediately.
👩🏻🍳 Recipe FAQs
Yes! Instead of the dairy-free cheese and cream, you can absolutely use regular heavy cream and regular cheddar cheese. You can also omit the nutritional yeast if you prefer.
Allow the pasta and meat to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Absolutely! You can freeze this cheeseburger pasta. In fact, I can personally report that it's absolutely delicious frozen, then reheated. Allow the pasta and meat to cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe airtight container and freeze for up to two months. Reheat in a pot on the stovetop, or microwave. Add a tablespoon or two of water per serving when you reheat. This helps "wake up" the pasta and return the moisture of the sauce.
🍽 Serving ideas
To complete a satisfying, comfort food meal, add a side of Garlic Rosemary Focaccia bread, Garlic Parmesan Knots, Filipino Pandesal Rolls, or Homemade French Bread.
Or create a well-balanced meal with healthy vegetable side dishes like Air Fryer Broccoli, Garlic Rosemary Roasted Carrots, or Mushroom Marsala.
🍷 Best wine pairings
This comforting one pot cheeseburger pasta goes well with white wine and red wine, but I really love pairing it with a crisp rosé wine. This Stoller Rosé is full of summery berry and watermelon aromas and flavors, and the acidity is a nice balance to the richness of this pasta.
More comfort food recipes
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Dairy Free One Pot Cheeseburger Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ cup diced onion
- 1 pound ground turkey
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 Tablespoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ cup nutritional yeast
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire roasted salsa tomatoes, with their juices
- 4 cups chicken broth or beef broth
- 12 ounces pasta
- 12 ounces pasta
- 1 cup dairy free heavy cream
- 1 cup dairy free cheddar-style shreds
Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Sauté the garlic and onions for 1 minute.Add the ground turkey. Season with salt and pepper, then cook until the meat is lightly browned on all sides.
- Sprinkle in the spices: the chili powder, cumin, paprika, oregano, and nutritional yeast. Stir to coat the meat.
- Add the tomatoes with their juices and chicken broth, stir.
- Add the pasta, stir, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low-medium, cover with a lid, and allow to simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is just cooked through.
- Then add the dairy free cream and the dairy free cheddar-style shreds. Stir to combine, then cook, stirring regularly, for about 3 minutes, until the shreds are melted and the sauce is creamy. Turn off the heat and serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
Caitlin says
This is such a good and hearty recipe, can't wait to make it again in the fall!
Ieva says
What a fun idea! Really looking forward to trying this recipe, as we love nutritional yeast on just about anything. Seems like a true comfort food recipe here! It'll be perfect when the weather starts getting colder!
Renee | The Good Hearted Woman says
You just gotta love these 30-minute one-pot meals! This one is such an easy dish to put together, and perfect for when our dairy-free family visits!
Ai says
This was soooo flavorful! I was having a cheeseburger craving and this really hit the spot.
Cam says
This was the perfect weeknight meal for my house! So delicious and really easy to make and throw together last minute.