Go Back
+ servings
Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta - Tasty

Creamy High Protein Beef Pasta

This recipe creates a hearty, protein-packed pasta dish using ground beef and shells. It incorporates Greek yogurt for creaminess and is designed to be a satisfying meal for health-conscious cooks.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Course: Dinner, Lunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 545

Ingredients
  

Meat and Seasoning
  • 1 pound ground beef or turkey
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning Divided into 2 portions; 1 teaspoon each
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 cup onions
  • to taste salt and pepper
Pasta and Liquid
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 6 oz shells pasta
  • 3 cups broth
Finishing Ingredients
  • 2 cups fresh spinach
  • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
  • 1 1/2 cups plain Greek yogurt Room temperature.

Equipment

  • 12 inch Cast Iron Skillet
  • Cast iron skillet
  • Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Method
 

  1. Heat a skillet on medium heat. Add the ground beef. Break down the beef and cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until it is fully cooked and no longer pink.
  2. Drain any excess fat from the pan. Add the Worcestershire sauce, onions, 1 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir and cook until the onions are fragrant.
  3. Add the tomato paste, shells pasta, broth, and the remaining 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning to the pan. Make sure the noodles are covered by the liquid. Add more broth or water if needed so the noodles can soften.
  4. Set the heat on the pan to Low. Cover the pan and cook for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the noodles soften. While the dish simmers, remove the lid and stir every 4 to 5 minutes to stop scorching at the bottom of the pan. If the dish looks dry, add more broth or water and stir.
  5. Once the shells have softened, remove the lid and add the grated cheddar cheese and spinach. Stir and cook until the cheese melts and the spinach wilts.
  6. Remove the pan from the heat and let it cool for 5 to 10 minutes. Add the Greek yogurt and stir it in. Serve the pasta.

Nutrition

Calories: 545kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 41gFat: 29g

Notes

You can skip the Worcestershire sauce or substitute it with soy sauce if you prefer. If you wish, you can boil your noodles separately and add them to the simmered ground beef mixture when they are cooked.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!