High Protein Cheeseburger Mac

High-protein cheeseburger mac combines lean ground beef, protein pasta, cheddar, milk, and mustard in an easy 30-minute stovetop dinner.

Prep: 5 min · Cook: 25 min · Yield: 4 · Method: Stovetop

Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 8 oz protein pasta
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup cheddar cheese
• 1 tbsp yellow mustard
• 0.5 small yellow onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 0.5 tsp kosher salt
• 0.25 tsp black pepper

Cooking instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the protein pasta according to package directions until just tender. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain. (about 10 min)
2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the beef and onion, breaking the beef into crumbles. Cook until no pink remains and the beef reaches 160°F, about 7 to 9 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed. (about 9 min) — 160°F
3. Add the garlic, salt, and pepper to the skillet. Stir for 30 seconds, until fragrant. (about 1 min)
4. Reduce the heat to low. Add the milk, cheddar, mustard, and drained pasta. Stir continuously until the cheese melts and the sauce coats the pasta, 2 to 3 minutes. Add reserved pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time if needed. (about 3 min)
5. Remove from the heat and let the mac rest for 2 minutes before serving. (about 2 min)