Description
High Protein Creamy Philly Cheesesteak Mac is an easy dinner option combining tender steak, melty cheese, and hearty pasta. This creamy mac and cheese is perfect for a family dinner or a quick weeknight meal with high protein dinner benefits.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz Dry Macaroni Whole wheat or chickpea pasta can be used
- 1 lb Lean Ground Beef Can be swapped with ground turkey or chickpeas
- 1 cup Chopped White Onion Yellow onion works well as a substitute
- 2 cloves Minced Garlic Use freshly minced for maximum flavor
- 2 cups Bell Peppers Red or Green or Yellow Use any mix based on preference
- 2 tablespoons Butter Olive oil can be used as a healthier alternative
- 8 oz Light Cream Cheese Regular cream cheese can be used for a richer sauce
- 1 cup Shredded Mozzarella Any favorite melting cheese can substitute
- 4 slices Light Cheese Slices Any good melting cheese slice will do
- 1 teaspoon Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon Chili Flakes Adjust to taste
- 1/4 cup Fresh Parsley Optional for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the dry macaroni until just tender, about 8 to 10 minutes. Save 125 ml of pasta water then drain the pasta.
- Heat butter in a big skillet over medium heat and add the minced garlic, chopped onion, and bell peppers. Cook them, stirring often, until they soften and become translucent, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the ground beef to the vegetables and cook while breaking it apart until it’s browned, about 5 to 7 minutes. Drain any fat and season the mixture with salt, pepper, paprika, and chili flakes.
- Lower the heat and stir in the light cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, and cheese slices. Keep stirring until everything melts into a smooth and creamy sauce, about 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add the cooked macaroni and reserved pasta water to the skillet and mix until the pasta is fully coated. Add more pasta water if the sauce needs thinning.
Notes
- For best results, keep the heat low while adding cheese to avoid a grainy texture
- Adjust seasoning to taste before serving
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 2 g + 8 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg