We’ve all been there — the kids are asking what’s for dinner, the day has been long, and honestly, the last thing you want to do is cook. That’s exactly when I pull out my go-to High Protein Pasta Recipe. It’s quick, hearty, and protein-packed, but still feels like comfort food. Best part? It’s ready in under 30 minutes and uses ingredients I almost always have on hand.

I tend to gravitate to this recipe when I forget to make dinner. Whoops. That never happens. We always have protein pasta, pasta sauce, ground beef, and a bag of salad. And a majority of the time, I can whip up some impromptu garlic bread or toast some bread and add butter and garlic salt. It’s not always pretty, but it is always delicious!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

High in protein – thanks to protein pasta and lean ground meat.
Quick & easy – from stovetop to table in about 25 minutes.
Kid-approved – pasta night never fails!
Customizable – add veggies, swap the meat, or spice it up.
Perfect for busy weeknights – when you need something filling and fuss-free.
Reheatable – Make a larger batch, and use the leftovers for meal preps

Ingredients You’ll Need

12 oz protein pasta (chickpea, lentil, or high-protein wheat pasta)
2 lbs ground beef, turkey, or chicken
minced garlic
1 jar (about 24 oz) marinara sauce
Mozzarella Cheese
Parmesan Cheese
Italian Seasoning
Kinders The Blend Seasoning
Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Fresh basil + parmesan cheese, for garnish

Optional add-ins: chopped spinach, mushrooms, zucchini, or bell peppers for extra veggies.

Protein Pasta With Meat Sauce

The perfect weeknight meal, when you don't want to cook, but want to feed your family a protein-packed, delicious meal.

5 from 16 votes

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Prep Time 10

Cook Time 15

Total Time 25

Course Main Course

Cuisine Italian

Servings 8

Equipment

1 large skillet
1 sauce pan

Ingredients

2 lbs ground beef
1/2 pkg protein pasta
italian seasoning
kinders the blend seasoning
marinara or favorite pasta sauce
minced garlic
parmesan cheese
mozzarella cheese (shredded) (optional)

Instructions

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook protein pasta per directions on the package.
While your pasta is cooking, brown your ground beef, add some minced garlic and sprinkle with Kinders the blend while you cook.
Once the meat is fully cooked, drain the beef, and add your seasoning. Italian and Kinders The Blend to taste. Make sure it is well seasoned. (I scoop out a little taste and add more until it is FLAVORFUL)
Once the meat is well seasoned, add in your pasta sauce and your cooked pasta and stir until combined.
Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over top, cover, and let melt.
Serve with side salad and garlic bread, and make sure to grate some fresh parmesan over top.

Notes

You can add vegetables to this meal, OF COURSE. But sometimes you don’t have time for that slicing and dicing, and that is okay. I make it like this 9 times out of 10, and my kids and husband still love it.

Those Caesar bag salads are so good with this, and they are effortless to whip up, or even better, have one of your kids help you make them. 🙂

**You can substitute the ground beef for ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a leaner option. **

Keyword healthy dinners, meal prep, weeknight dinners

Tips & Variations

Use ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
Toss in a handful of spinach right before serving — it wilts perfectly into the sauce.
Spice it up with red pepper flakes.
Put more seasoning than you think you need. If you can’t see the seasoning on your meat, you don’t have enough and need to add more. Don’t go crazy off the bat, though – you can always add MORE seasoning, but you can’t take it away. So add little by little and taste it until its to your liking.

What to Serve With It

A crisp green salad. My favorite is the Ceasar bag salad from Costco (pictured)
Garlic bread (store-bought or homemade).
Roasted veggies for extra balance.

The Perfect “I Don’t Feel Like Cooking” Dinner

This Protein Pasta with Meat Sauce is a lifesaver on those nights when takeout is calling but you want something a little more wholesome. It’s fast, flavorful, and makes everyone at the table happy (which, let’s be real, is a major mom win).

✨ If you make this recipe, save it to Pinterest or tag me on Instagram @sweetswithjules — I’d love to see your version!

Looking for more delicious ground beef recipes? Check out Quick, Simple, Healthy Dinner – Taco Bowls or Make Your Own Burger Bowls.