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    Home > Vegan Kid Friendly Recipes

    Easy, Cheesy Vegan Dinner Bake

    Posted: Aug 13, 2021 ยท Updated: Sep 23, 2021

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe
    Image of cheesy vegan dinner bake with text inlay that reads 15 minutes hands-on time, 10 ingredients, and easy, cheesy vegan dinner bake
    This quick, kid-friendly shepherd's-pie-like bake takes no more than 15 minutes of hands-on time followed by 30 minutes in the oven and dinner's ready! It's a great option for weeknights and the heavenly aroma as it bakes will have everyone scurrying to the table. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free and it can be soy-free.
    Photo of cheesy vegan dinner pasta bake in skillet and served in two blue-green plates with avocado.

    This easy, cheesy vegan dinner bake makes a delicious dinner for anyone but it's a particularly good one to have in your back pocket if you have kids around.

    It's cheesy with nutritional yeast and it's got vegan sausage so it's a tastebud pleaser beyond a doubt. But it also has lots of veggies packed away inside all that deliciousness, so you know you are feeding them something that's both tasty and good for them.

    This is the kind of meal I put together in a hurry for Jay, when I have just about 15 minutes to get something together for dinner after wrapping up work and walking Lily and Leo in the evening. Almost everything here comes out of a packet (except the potatoes, although you can just buy mashed potatoes and add them to this dish).

    With schools about to reopen (where did the time go?) this is also a great lunchbox option. It packs beautifully and is delicious warm or cold.

    Closeup of vegan dinner bake in a blue-green plaet with avocado and a fork and thyme near it.

    Why you'll love this easy, cheesy vegan dinner bake

    • It's easy and it's cheesy. ๐Ÿ™‚ Two things anyone would have trouble saying no to.
    • It's healthy. The vegan sausage has lots of protein, but if you don't want to use it, use this lentil filling from my vegan Irish shepherd's pie recipe. It will take a bit longer, but it's also super tasty.
    • It's kid friendly. With all those cheesy potatoes and the sausage, no kid will be able to resist. While I get that some of us don't love vegan meats because they are processed, it is important to give a little when you cook for kids. Jay loves vegan sausage and vegan hot dogs and vegan pepperoni, and letting him eat these foods occasionally keeps him happy and helps keep him off the really bad stuff--processed meat--which he sees kids consuming at school all the time.
    • It's cook friendly. You just need 15 minutes of hands-on time to get this casserole together. After that it's the oven that does the heavy lifting.
    Closeup of vegan dinner bake with a spoon.

    Ingredients

    • Potatoes. Any kind you have on hand, including yellow, red or russet potatoes.
    • Vegan sausage or meatless "beef". Again, anything you have in your refrigerator will work for this. Just keep in mind if you use vegan sausage that you need to crumble it first into little bits, which you can do by hand or in the food processor.
    • Vegetables. 16 ounces of any veggie you love or have on hand. From zucchini to bell peppers to mushrooms to spinach to just a bag of frozen peas and carrots. Frozen veggies work just as well as fresh here and will cut down prep time considerably.
    • Garlic powder
    • Onion flakes or powder
    • Vegetable stock (optional), or use a teaspoon of vegetable bouillon seasoning.
    • Thyme. Use dry to reduce prep time but it is summer so if you have fresh thyme on hand just use that instead. Use a teaspoon of dry or a tablespoon of fresh thyme.
    • Paprika. This is optional, but use it for a nice color to your dish.
    • Tamari (optional, leave out especially if soy-free)
    • Salt
    • Ground black pepper

    How to make this vegan dinner bake

    • Mashed potatoes in bowl
      Mash potatoes in a bowl
    • Cheesy mashed potato topping
      Add nutritional yeast, salt, pepper, lemon juice and set aside.
    • Vegan meat in cast iron pan
      Brown vegan meat in a cast iron or nonstick skillet
    • Vegan meat and veggies before seasoning in cast iron pan
      Add veggies, garlic powder, onion flakes, thyme and salt and mix well. Add optional paprika and tamari for more color, savory flavor and spice.
    • Vegan meat and veggies cooking in cast iron pan
      Stir in vegetable stock or, alternatively, water with a teaspoon of vegetable bouillon.
    • Cheesy vegan dinner bake with cheesy mashed potato topping in cast iron pan
      Cover the veggies with cheesy mashed potatoes...
    • Cheezy vegan dinner bake in cast iron pan
      ...then using a spatula mix the mashed potatoes into the veggies.
    • Cheesy vegan dinner bake in cast iron pan
      Bake 30 minutes in a preheated 425 degree oven.
    • Vegan dinner bake served in a blue dish with avocado and a fork
      Serve the vegan dinner bake hot, warm or cold.

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    Overhead shot of cheezy vegan pasta bake in skillet with spoon.
    Vegan dinner bake served in two dishes and in cast iron skillet

    Easy, Cheezy Vegan Dinner Bake

    This quick, kid-friendly shepherd's-pie-like bake takes no more than 15 minutes of hands-on time followed by 30 minutes in the oven and dinner's ready! It's a great option for weeknights and the heavenly aroma as it bakes will have everyone scurrying to the table. This recipe is vegan, gluten-free and nut-free and it can be soy-free.
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Review Recipe
    Course: Breakfast/Brunch/Lunch/Dinner
    Cuisine: American, Can be soy-free, nut-free
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
    Keyword: Vegan Dinner Bake
    Prep Time: 15 mins
    Cook Time: 30 mins
    Total Time: 45 mins
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 308kcal
    Author: Vaishali ยท Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

    Equipment

    • Cast Iron Skillet or Nonstick Skillet

    Ingredients 
    US Customary - Metric

    For the potatoes

    • 4 medium potatoes (any kind is fine, from russets to yellows to reds.)
    • 2 tablespoon nutritional yeast
    • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
    • Salt and ground black pepper to taste

    For the veggie filling

    • 1 teaspoon vegetable oil (if you want to make this free of added oils, use a tablespoon of vegetable stock)
    • 14 oz vegan sausage (or vegan meat, crumbled)
    • 16 oz mixed vegetables (any kind is fine, frozen works great. I chopped up some zucchini and bell peppers this time because I had them around, but you can also use mushrooms, spinach, other squash, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, peas and carrots)
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 1 teaspoon onion flakes (or onion powder)
    • 1 teaspoon thyme (use a tablespoon if using fresh thyme)
    • 1 teaspoon paprika (optional)
    • 1 teaspoon tamari (or soy sauce, optional)
    • ยพ cup vegetable stock (or sub with ยพ cup water and a teaspoon of vegetable bouillon)
    • Salt and ground black pepper to taste
    • 1 tablespoon chives (optional, for garnish)
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    • Boil and mash the potatoes (I leave the skins on when organic). Stir in the nutritional yeast, lemon, salt and pepper and set aside.
    • Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit.
    • In a cast iron or nonstick skillet heat the oil. Add the vegan sausage and cook a couple of minutes, stirring frequently.
    • Add the veggies and mix. Add garlic powder, onion flakes, thyme, and the paprika and tamari, if using. Mix well.
    • Let the veggies cook for a few minutes, stir a few times in between, until they are tender but not mushy. Add the vegetable stock and mix well.
    • Layer the potatoes over the top of the veggie-meat filling, then, using a spatula or spoon, mix them in.
    • Bake 30 minutes in the preheated oven.
    • Garnish, if you like, with chopped chives. Serve hot, warm or cold.

    Recipe notes

    • You can use more or less potatoes based on your preference. Potatoes are healthy, and extremely so in this dish, and they are usually kid-friendly. Stir the mashed potatoes into the veggie filling instead of just layering it on top, as you would in a shepherd's pie, to mix all the flavors together for more deliciousness.
    • Make sure you buy vegan sausages or meat marked gluten-free and/or soy-free if you are sensitive to these. There are many brands now available that are free of gluten, soy and nuts.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Potassium: 995mg | Fiber: 9g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4085IU | Vitamin C: 42mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a comment and recipe rating below!
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    About Vaishali


    Hi! I am so happy you're here. I'm Vaishali, and I've been sharing recipes for delicious vegan food at Holy Cow Vegan since 2007. Every one of the more than 1,000 recipes on this blog has been tried and tested -- and loved -- by my family and I. I hope you will find something here to share with your loved ones. Thanks for stopping by!
    Read more about me here.

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    Comments

    1. CJ @www.bravelittlevegan.com

      August 13, 2021 at 10:56 am

      Sounds delicious for sure. Also sounds like a great way to use up some random veggies sitting in my fridge!

      Reply
      • Vaishali

        August 13, 2021 at 1:20 pm

        Yes! Definitely use any random quick-cooking veggies you have sitting around in this dish. ๐Ÿ™‚

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

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    Vaishali Honawar, Holy Cow Vegan author, profile photo

    Hi, I'm Vaishali! I cook, eat and share easy, tasty and nutritious plant-based recipes from my Washington, D.C. kitchen, but I never fight a craving for samosas or French fries. 

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