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Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta Recipe

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★★★★★

5 from 77 reviews

This Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta combines tender penne pasta with a rich, flavorful ground beef sauce enhanced by Greek yogurt and melted cheddar cheese for a delicious, protein-packed meal perfect for any weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Pasta

  • 225g penne pasta

Beef and Sauce

  • 450g lean ground beef
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 cup beef broth

Dairy

  • ¾ cup plain Greek yogurt (or cottage cheese)
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (or mozzarella)

Seasoning and Garnish

  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook until al dente according to the package instructions. Drain the pasta and reserve ½ cup of the pasta water for later use.
  2. Brown Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean ground beef and cook until browned and fully cooked, approximately 6 to 8 minutes. Drain any excess fat from the pan.
  3. Sauté Aromatics: Push the cooked beef to one side of the skillet. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic to the empty side. Sauté for 2 to 3 minutes until the onions soften and become fragrant.
  4. Add Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste with the beef and aromatics, and cook for another 1 to 2 minutes to deepen the flavors.
  5. Simmer with Beef Broth: Pour in the beef broth and mix everything together. Let the mixture simmer for 3 to 5 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  6. Make Sauce Creamy: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the Greek yogurt and shredded cheddar cheese until the sauce becomes creamy and smooth. Add some reserved pasta water as needed to reach your desired consistency.
  7. Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet and toss everything together to evenly coat the pasta with the creamy beef sauce.
  8. Season: Taste the dish and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper to your preference.
  9. Garnish and Serve: Optionally, sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top for garnish. Serve the creamy high protein beef pasta warm and enjoy!

Notes

  • Using Greek yogurt instead of cream reduces fat and adds protein making the dish healthier and creamy.
  • Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency without diluting flavors.
  • Lean ground beef helps keep the dish lower in fat while delivering good protein content.
  • You can substitute cheddar cheese with mozzarella for a milder flavor.
  • Fresh parsley adds a bright finishing touch but can be omitted if unavailable.

Keywords: high protein beef pasta, creamy pasta recipe, ground beef pasta, Greek yogurt pasta sauce, easy weeknight dinner

Find it online: https://tastewithamy.com/creamy-high-protein-beef-pasta-recipe/