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4.84 from 25 votes

High Protein Hamburger Helper

One-pot weeknight dinner: High Protein Hamburger Helper. Extra veggies added to the sauce & blended with cottage cheese for a protein boost.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cottage cheese, ground beef, high protein, meal prep, pasta, weeknight dinner
Servings: 6 servings (1.25 cups per serving)
Calories: 437kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 lb 93/7 ground beef
  • 10 oz Wegmans Italian Classics Organic Pipette Rigate Pasta (284 grams)
  • 8 oz Hunt's Tomato Sauce, Basil, Garlic & Oregano (217 grams)
  • 1 medium carrot, cleaned and shredded (75 grams)
  • 1 medium zucchini, trimmed and shredded (180 grams)
  • 2 1/4 cups low sodium beef broth (18 fl oz)
  • 1 cup fat free cottage cheese (8 fl oz)
  • 1 cup Fairlife Skim Ultra Filtered Milk (8 fl oz)
  • 1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese (90 grams)
  • 1 medium sweet onion, chopped (110 grams)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced (12 grams)
  • 2 tsp olive oil, divided
  • 3/4 tsp smoked paprika
  • 3/4 tsp oregano
  • 3/4 tsp ground mustard
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
  • salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Heat 1 tsp olive oil in a large, deep skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Once the oil is shimmery, add shredded zucchini and carrot, onion, and garlic and sauté until tender. Remove veggies to a bowl and add tomato sauce and cottage cheese, then blend with an immersion blender until smooth. This can also be done in a food processor or blender. Set aside.
  • Add remaining olive oil to skillet or pot over medium-high heat. Once shimmery, add ground beef and season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking, breaking apart until cooked through. Season with smoked paprika, oregano, ground mustard, and red pepper flakes.
  • Add the blended veggie and cottage cheese sauce, milk, and broth to the cooked ground beef. Stir until combined, then add pasta and stir until the noodles are covered with liquid.
  • Cover the skillet or pot and bring to a gentle boil for 8-11 minutes, or until the pasta is cooked very al dente, and remove from heat. The pasta will continue to cook in the sauce after being removed from the heat.
  • Stir in the cheese until melted, then serve.

Notes

Total recipe yield is about 7 1/2 cups.
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Nutrition

Serving: 346grams | Calories: 437kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 63mg | Sodium: 510mg | Potassium: 377mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 7g