Description
High-Protein Creamy Philly Cheesesteak Mac & Cheese combines classic Philly flavors with protein-packed comfort food in one-skillet wonder. Lean ground beef, sautéed peppers, creamy cheese sauce, and tender macaroni create satisfying meal ready in just 30 minutes for easy weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
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- 8 oz dry macaroni (whole wheat or chickpea pasta)
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- 1 lb lean ground beef (or turkey or chickpeas)
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- 1 cup chopped white onion
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- 2 cloves garlic, minced
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- 2 cups bell peppers (red, green, yellow), diced
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- 2 tbsp butter
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- 8 oz light cream cheese
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- 1 cup shredded mozzarella
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- 4 slices light cheese slices
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- 1 tsp salt
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- 1 tsp black pepper
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- 1 tsp paprika
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- 1/2 tsp chili flakes
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- 1/4 cup fresh parsley
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- 125ml reserved pasta water
Instructions
Bring large pot of salted water to rolling boil. Add macaroni and cook until al dente, about 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Before draining, scoop out and reserve 125ml pasta water in measuring cup for later use in sauce.
Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat until bubbling. Add minced garlic, chopped onion, and diced bell peppers. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until vegetables become tender and onions turn translucent with sweet aroma filling kitchen.
Crumble lean ground beef into skillet with sautéed vegetables, stirring to break meat apart as it cooks. Cook for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains and beef is browned throughout. Drain any excess fat, then season generously with salt, pepper, paprika, and chili flakes.
Reduce heat to low and add cream cheese, shredded mozzarella, and cheese slices to skillet. Stir constantly until all cheese melts together smoothly, creating rich, creamy sauce that coats spoon. This takes about 3-4 minutes – be patient for velvety texture.
Add cooked macaroni along with reserved pasta water to skillet with creamy sauce. Mix thoroughly until every piece of pasta gets evenly coated in sauce. If sauce seems too thick, gradually add more pasta water tablespoon at a time until reaching desired consistency.
Remove from heat and garnish with fresh chopped parsley for pop of color and fresh flavor. Serve hot immediately while cheese is still melty and gooey for ultimate comfort food experience.
Notes
Whole wheat or chickpea pasta boosts protein content significantly over regular pasta. Ground turkey or chickpeas make excellent lean protein alternatives to beef.
Keep heat low when melting cheese to prevent grainy, separated sauce texture.
Reserved pasta water helps sauce cling to macaroni and adds perfect creaminess. Store leftovers refrigerated up to 3 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently with splash of milk to restore creamy consistency.
Add jalapeños or hot sauce for spicy kick if you like heat. Try different cheese varieties like pepper jack or cheddar for flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 60g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg