High Protein Italian Beef and Pasta Bake
This Italian beef and pasta bake is a delicious comfort food with all the pizza flavors. It is modified for high protein and less calories!
Equipment
- medium pot
- large skillet
Ingredients
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 lb ground beef
- salt + pepper, to taste
- 1/2 tsp each garlic powder, onion powder, paprika + Italian herb blend
- 1/3 cup low sodium chicken broth
Assembly:
- 12 oz protein pasta, cooked al denté
- 2 small zucchini, cut into half moons
- 1 cup cottage cheese
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan
- optional garnish: chili pepper flakes + fresh parsley
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375℉.
- Cook your pasta in salted water, al dente according to package directions.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high and add in the oil. Sauté the onions for a few minutes on medium heat. Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds. Next add in the ground beef in LARGE pieces.The goal is to sear the meat and get a nice brown crust on each chunk of ground beef. Flip the pieces over and proceed to break up the meat with a wooden spoon. Add in the seasonings and mix. Once meat is no longer pink add in the broth and cover with a lid. Lower the heat to a simmer and let meat cook for 5 minutes.
Assembly:
- In a 9x13 inch baking dish, add in the pasta, beef, cottage cheese, zucchini, marinara sauce, mozzarella, parmesan and mix with a wooden spoon until incorporated. Top with mozzarella and parmesan. Bake for 35-40 minutes or until golden on top.
Notes
You may also like my Baked Feta and Cauliflower Pasta
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- I used DanO's Red Pepper Cheesoning Seasoning (which I LOVE).
- Nutritional Info reflects regular pasta (not High Protein Pasta).. This is the brand I used: Brami Curly Macaroni Protein Pasta
- You can use any type of ground meat in this recipe.
- You can use any type of medium sized pasta in this recipe (like Penne, Bowtie or Fusilli).
Nutrition
Calories: 435kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 60mg | Sodium: 607mg | Potassium: 575mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 203mg | Iron: 3mg