High Protein Beef Pasta — Creamy One-Pan Weeknight Dinner
A creamy, protein-rich pasta dish with lean ground beef and a garlic-infused sauce — perfect for quick weeknight dinners or meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz high-protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or whole wheat)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb lean ground beef (90/10)
- ½ onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ tsp paprika
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup milk (or dairy-free)
- ¼ cup light cream cheese or ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1–2 cups baby spinach or zucchini (optional)
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package; reserve ½ cup pasta water.
- Heat oil in a skillet. Brown ground beef, breaking it up, about 5–7 minutes.
- Push beef aside, sauté onion and garlic 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in milk and cream cheese (or yogurt off-heat). Simmer until smooth.
- Add pasta, reserved water, Parmesan, and greens. Toss to coat.
- Cook 2 more minutes until creamy and heated through.
- Serve warm with herbs or extra cheese if desired.
Notes
- Add chili flakes or tomato paste for variation.
- Use plant-based alternatives for dairy-free version.
- Stores well in fridge up to 4 days.