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A close-up bowl of Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta garnished with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta

This Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta is a macro-friendly game changer. By blending low-fat cottage cheese with marinara, we create a rich, velvety sauce that packs over 40g of protein per serving without the heavy cream. Paired with lean beef and high-protein pasta, it’s a 30-minute muscle-building dinner that tastes like pure comfort food.

  • Total Time: 30 Minutes
  • Yield: 4 Servings

Ingredients

 

  • lb (450g) Lean Ground Beef (96/4)
  • 8 oz (225g) High Protein Pasta (Chickpea, Lentil, or Protein+ blend)
  • 1 cup Low-Fat Cottage Cheese (Small curd works best)
  • 1.5 cups Marinara Sauce (No sugar added preferred)
  • 1/2 White Onion, diced
  • 2 cloves Garlic, minced
  • 1 tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1/4 cup Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Salt and Black Pepper, to taste
  • Fresh Basil (Optional, for garnish)

Instructions

 

  1. Boil Water: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
  2. Cook Pasta: Add the pasta and cook until al dente (1–2 minutes less than package directions). Important: Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  3. Brown Beef: Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the lean beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Cook for 6-8 minutes until fully browned.
  4. Sauté Aromatics: Add the diced onion and garlic to the beef. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant and soft.
  5. Blend Sauce: While beef cooks, place cottage cheese, marinara sauce, and parmesan into a blender. Blend on high for 30 seconds until completely smooth and creamy orange.
  6. Simmer: Reduce skillet heat to low. Pour the blended sauce over the beef. Stir well. If too thick, add small splashes of reserved pasta water to thin it out. Simmer for 3 minutes.
  7. Combine: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet. Toss to coat for 1 minute.
  8. Serve: Top with fresh basil and extra parmesan if desired.

Notes

 

  • Blender Tip: Don’t skip blending! Stirring cottage cheese directly into the pan will result in a clumpy texture. Blending is the secret to the creamy sauce.
  • Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Add a splash of water before microwaving to loosen the sauce.
  • Substitutions: You can swap beef for 99% lean ground turkey or chicken breast to lower the fat content further.

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