Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta (Print View)
Rich, satisfying pasta with lean beef in a creamy sauce. Ready in 40 minutes with 45g protein per serving.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz lean ground beef
→ Pasta
02 - 10 oz high-protein pasta (lentil or chickpea pasta)
→ Vegetables & Aromatics
03 - 1 medium onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 7 oz baby spinach, roughly chopped
→ Sauces & Dairy
06 - 3/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons low-fat cream cheese
07 - 1/2 cup milk (dairy or protein-enriched plant milk)
08 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Spices & Seasonings
09 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
10 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - Pinch of red chili flakes
# How-To Steps:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the high-protein pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
02 - Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through (about 6-7 minutes). Drain any excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in the garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the spinach to the skillet and stir until wilted, about 2 minutes.
05 - Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream cheese and milk, mixing until a smooth, creamy sauce forms. Add Parmesan, Italian herbs, black pepper, and salt. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
06 - Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing gently to combine and fully coat every piece.
07 - Taste and adjust seasoning. Sprinkle with extra Parmesan and red chili flakes if desired. Serve hot.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- delivers an impressive 45 grams of protein per serving without tasting like gym food
- the creamy sauce clings beautifully to high-protein pasta, which can sometimes be challenging to coat
02 -
- high-protein pasta can release excess starch, so dont skip the step of draining excess fat from the beef before building the sauce
- the sauce will thicken considerably as it stands off the heat, so keep it slightly looser than you think necessary
03 -
- reserve a splash of pasta water before draining to loosen the sauce if needed
- room temperature cream cheese incorporates more smoothly than cold