Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta (Printable)

Rich pasta with lean beef, spinach, and creamy sauce. Ready in 40 minutes, packs 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 tbsp 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 (adjust to taste)
12 - Pinch of red chili flakes (optional)

# How to Make It:

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 the cream cheese and milk, mixing until a smooth, creamy sauce forms. Add the 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 Suggestions:

01 -
  • You get nearly 45 grams of protein per bowl without needing a single protein shake or supplement
  • The sauce comes together in minutes but tastes like something that simmered for hours
  • Even people who swear they hate alternative pasta wont notice the difference
02 -
  • High protein pasta can go from perfect to mushy in seconds, so watch it closely and trust the package timing
  • The sauce will thicken as it stands off the heat, so dont panic if it looks slightly thinner than you want initially
03 -
  • Reserve about half a cup of pasta water before draining, which can help loosen the sauce if it gets too thick
  • Let the cream cheese come to room temperature for a few minutes before adding it to avoid any lumpy surprises

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