Description
A quick, high-protein weeknight dinner featuring lean ground beef, rotini or penne pasta, and a velvety sauce made with cream cheese and tomato sauce. It’s rich, satisfying, and ready in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb (450g) Lean Ground Beef (90/10 or 93/7)
- 8 oz (225g) Pasta (Rotini or Penne)
- 4 oz (115g) Full-fat Cream Cheese, softened
- 3 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 cup (240ml) Tomato Sauce or Marinara
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- Salt and Black Pepper to taste
- Grated Parmesan Cheese (optional, for serving)
- Olive Oil (optional, if using very lean beef)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve 1/2 cup of starchy pasta water, then drain pasta and set aside.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess grease if necessary, leaving a little for flavor.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic to the beef and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
- Pour in tomato sauce and sprinkle Italian seasoning over the beef. Stir to combine and simmer for 2-3 minutes to let flavors meld.
- Turn off the heat. Add softened cream cheese to the skillet. Stir continuously until the cream cheese is completely melted and incorporated into the sauce, creating a thick, glossy texture. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Add the drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss everything together until every noodle is coated. Add more pasta water if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Serve immediately, topped with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
Ensure cream cheese is softened before adding to prevent clumping. Keep heat off or very low when melting cream cheese to avoid separation. Reserve pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. For a spicy kick, add red pepper flakes with the garlic. Can be substituted with ground turkey or chicken for a leaner option.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/4
- Calories: 475
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 11
- Carbohydrates: 45
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: high protein beef pasta, creamy beef pasta, quick dinner, healthy comfort food, meal prep, gluten-free option, 5 ingredient dinner