High Protein Italian Beef Pasta (Printer-Friendly)

Hearty pasta bake with lean beef, vegetables, and cheese. Modified for high protein and lower calories.

# What You Need:

→ Pasta

01 - 10.5 oz whole wheat penne or rotini

→ Beef & Vegetables

02 - 1 lb extra-lean ground beef
03 - 1 medium onion, diced
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
06 - 3.5 oz mushrooms, sliced
07 - 3.5 oz baby spinach

→ Sauce

08 - 24 oz canned crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 1 tsp dried oregano
11 - 1 tsp dried basil
12 - ½ tsp chili flakes
13 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Cheese & Toppings

14 - 5 oz part-skim mozzarella cheese, shredded
15 - 1 oz grated Parmesan cheese
16 - 1 oz turkey pepperoni slices
17 - Fresh basil, for garnish

# How to Cook:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F.
02 - Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Drain and set aside.
03 - In a large nonstick skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
04 - Add onion, garlic, bell pepper, and mushrooms to the skillet. Sauté for 5–7 minutes until softened.
05 - Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, about 1 minute.
06 - Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, basil, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld.
07 - Combine the cooked pasta with the beef and vegetable sauce mixture.
08 - Transfer the mixture to a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish.
09 - Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan evenly over the top. Arrange turkey pepperoni slices if using.
10 - Bake for 20 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbly.
11 - Garnish with fresh basil before serving, if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You get all the comfort of a cheesy pasta bake with 33 grams of protein per serving, making it the kind of meal that actually keeps you full for hours
  • The whole wheat pasta and extra vegetables mean you can feel virtuous while still eating something that tastes like pure indulgence
02 -
  • The pasta MUST be cooked to al dente and not even a second longer, because it will continue cooking in the oven and I have ruined this dish before by starting with overcooked pasta
  • Drain the beef thoroughly after browning, because even extra-lean beef releases enough fat to make the final dish greasy if you skip this step
  • Let the baked dish rest for at least 5 minutes before serving, which I learned after cutting into it too early and having everything run together instead of holding its shape
03 -
  • Use freshly grated Parmesan instead of the pre-grated stuff from a tub, because the flavor difference is honestly shocking and worth the extra minute of effort
  • If your family is suspicious of whole wheat pasta, try half whole wheat and half regular pasta to ease them into it gradually
  • The turkey pepperoni gets crispy and amazing, but if you cannot find it, Canadian bacon works too and adds a nice smoky flavor
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