High Protein Cheeseburger Pasta Salad
High Protein Cheeseburger Pasta Salad is a cold lunch or meal prep recipe with ground beef, cheddar cheese, pickles, tomatoes, and creamy dressing.
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces rotini pasta
- 1 pound 93% lean ground beef
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup tomatoes halved
- ¾ cup dill pickles chopped
- ½ cup red onion finely chopped
- ½ cup reduced-fat cheddar cheese shredded
- 2 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
For the Dressing:
- ½ cup plain nonfat greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon light Mayonnaise
- 3 tablespoon ketchup
- 1 tablespoon yellow mustard
- 1 tablespoon dill pickle juice
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
Instructions
- Cook the rotini pasta according to the package directions. Drain the pasta in a colander. Rinse the pasta under cold water. Drain the pasta well.
- Place a large skillet over medium heat. Add the ground beef to the skillet. Cook for 7 to 9 minutes, breaking the beef apart as it cooks.
- Drain any extra grease from the skillet.
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir until the beef is evenly seasoned.
- Remove the skillet from the heat. Cool the beef for 10 minutes.
- In a small mixing bowl, add the Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder. Using a wire whisk, mix until smooth.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the pasta, beef, tomatoes, pickles, red onion, cheddar cheese, and parsley.
- Pour the dressing over the pasta mixture. Stir until all of the ingredients are coated.
- Cover the bowl. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
- Stir before serving.
Notes
Serving Size: 1½ Cups
Tips and Tricks
Cool the beef before mixing - Warm beef can soften the vegetables and melt the cheese. Let it cool before adding it to the pasta. Save a little dressing - The pasta may absorb some dressing while it chills. Reserve a small amount and stir it into the salad before serving if needed. Check the texture after chilling - Add 1 tablespoon of pickle juice or water if the dressing becomes thicker than you prefer.Storing
Store in the Refrigerator - Place the pasta salad in a covered container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Stir Before Serving - The dressing may settle or absorb into the pasta during storage. Stir the salad before serving.Nutrition
Calories: 331kcalCarbohydrates: 35gProtein: 25gFat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 52mgSodium: 525mgPotassium: 508mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 498IUVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 98mgIron: 3mg
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