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!

bowl of dairy free one pot cheeseburger pasta with ground turkey and chopped parsley.
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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

forkful of dairy free cheeseburger pasta above a bowl of cheeseburger pasta on a blue background.

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

ingredients in bowls to make one pot cheeseburger pasta dairy free on a bright blue background.

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

  1. In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil. Sauté the garlic and onions for 1 minute.
  2. 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

closeup of bowl of dairy free one pot cheeseburger pasta with ground turkey and chopped parsley.
Can I make this recipe with full dairy ingredients?

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.

What’s the best way to store leftovers?

Allow the pasta and meat to cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.

Can I freeze this dish?

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

white bowl with forkful of dairy free cheeseburger pasta on a blue background

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

bowl of dairy free cheeseburger pasta on colorful napkins with bottle and glass of rosé wine.

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

5 from 6 votes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
This cheeseburger pasta is creamy without the dairy. The ultimate comfort food pasta recipe!
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Ingredients 

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

Heavy Cream: I use this dairy free heavy cream or dairy free half and half. You can also use canned coconut milk instead.
Cheese shreds: Use your favorite dairy free cheddar-style shreds.
Nutritional yeast: You can add the nutritional yeast flakes along with the spices, as noted in the recipe instructions, or you can add it at the end along with the dairy-free cream and dairy-free cheese. 
Meat: This recipe calls for ground turkey, but you can use ground beef if you prefer. 
Broth: I use chicken broth for a lighter flavor, but use beef broth for a richer, deeper red meat flavor. 

Nutrition

Calories: 251kcal, Carbohydrates: 15g, Protein: 22g, Fat: 12g, Saturated Fat: 3g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 4g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Cholesterol: 42mg, Sodium: 943mg, Potassium: 561mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 5g, Vitamin A: 1029IU, Vitamin C: 10mg, Calcium: 115mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

About Marlynn

I'm a cookbook author, recipe developer, photographer, WSET 2 Certified wine pro, mom of two, and dog lover. I'm here to help you with fast, easy, and delicious recipes, food & wine pairings, cooking & baking tips, plus food and wine travel guides.

5 from 6 votes (1 rating without comment)

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5 Comments

  1. Caitlin says:

    5 stars
    This is such a good and hearty recipe, can’t wait to make it again in the fall!

  2. Ieva says:

    5 stars
    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!

  3. Renee | The Good Hearted Woman says:

    5 stars
    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!

  4. Ai says:

    5 stars
    This was soooo flavorful! I was having a cheeseburger craving and this really hit the spot.

  5. Cam says:

    5 stars
    This was the perfect weeknight meal for my house! So delicious and really easy to make and throw together last minute.