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High Protein Creamy Beef Pasta

High Protein Creamy Beef Pasta Recipe

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 470
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 lb lean ground beef (93/7)
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp salt, plus more for pasta water
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 8 oz dry short pasta (chickpea, lentil, or whole wheat)
  • 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
  • 1/2 cup whole milk
  • 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
  • Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish

Method
 

  1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Crumble in the beef and cook until no pink remains, about 5 to 6 minutes.
  2. Push beef aside and cook the onion until softened, about 3 minutes. Stir in garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper; cook 1 minute more.
  3. Meanwhile, boil pasta in salted water until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
  4. Blend cottage cheese, milk, Parmesan, and a pinch of salt until completely smooth.
  5. Pour the sauce into the skillet with the beef. Add the drained pasta and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water. Cook over medium heat, tossing, for 2 minutes until the sauce thickens and coats everything. Adjust with more pasta water if needed.
  6. Divide into bowls and top with extra Parmesan and fresh parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

If you use legume pasta, undercook it by a minute so it does not get mushy in the sauce. The sauce will thicken as it sits, so add a small splash of milk when reheating. This recipe works just as well with ground chicken or turkey.