Description
How to make creamy high protein beef pasta with tender ground beef and rich cheese sauce that delivers 25g protein per serving.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 12 oz whole wheat penne pasta
- 1 lb lean ground beef (93/7)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce Components
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 8 oz cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
Seasonings & Flavor
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring large pot of salted water to boil and cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- Brown Beef: Heat olive oil in large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook 6-8 minutes, breaking up with spoon until browned and cooked through.
- Add Aromatics: Add diced onion to beef and cook 3-4 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant and golden.
- Build Sauce: Stir in tomato paste, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, onion powder, and red pepper flakes. Cook 1 minute to bloom the spices and deepen flavors.
- Create Cream: Reduce heat to low and slowly whisk in heavy cream and softened cream cheese. Stir constantly until smooth and no lumps remain, about 2-3 minutes.
- Finish Sauce: Add Greek yogurt and Parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and creamy. Season with salt and pepper to taste, adding pasta water if needed for consistency.
- Combine Everything: Add cooked pasta to sauce and toss until well coated. Garnish with fresh parsley and extra Parmesan cheese before serving immediately while hot.
Notes
- Don’t add cream on high heat or it will curdle and break the sauce.
- Store in airtight container in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for beef if preferred.
- Add pasta water gradually to achieve your desired sauce consistency.
- Fresh herbs like basil or oregano make excellent garnish alternatives.
- Double the recipe easily for larger families or meal prep purposes.
Allergy Information: Dairy, Gluten
Nutrition
- Calories: 485 calories
- Fat: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Protein: 28g