Description
There’s something deeply comforting about a bowl of pasta, especially when it’s a High Protein Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe that feels indulgent but is secretly packed with the good stuff. This dish delivers a hearty, restaurant-quality dinner that’s actually simple enough for any home cook.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb lean ground beef (93/7 or leaner)
- 8 oz whole wheat or protein pasta (like chickpea or lentil pasta)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup low-sodium beef broth
- 1 cup plain Greek yogurt (or light sour cream)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook your chosen pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining.
- Brown the Beef: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until well-browned, about 5-7 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Push the beef to one side of the skillet. Add the diced onion to the empty space and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add the minced garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute until fragrant. Mix everything together.
- Build the Sauce: Pour in the beef broth, using your spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in the dried oregano and smoked paprika. Let the mixture simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Create the Creaminess: Reduce the heat to low. Take the skillet off the direct heat and stir in the Greek yogurt and grated Parmesan until a smooth, creamy sauce forms.
- Combine and Serve: Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the creamy beef sauce. Toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if needed. Season generously with salt and black pepper. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Smart Swaps: For a dairy-free version, use a plain, unsweetened vegan yogurt and nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. You can also swap the ground beef for ground turkey or a plant-based crumble. If you don’t have beef broth, vegetable broth works well, too.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 485
- Fat: 18g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Protein: 38g