Ground beef protein bowl – an easy, high-protein meal that’s hearty, healthy, and delicious. Cottage cheese bowls are incredibly versatile and can easily fit into gluten-free, dairy-free, and low-carb lifestyles with some simple ingredient swaps.
This is a quick and easy meal for one and one of my favorite savory cottage cheese recipes. It takes less than 10 minutes to assemble and is a great way to turn leftover ground beef into a high-protein, high-fiber meal that’s quick to prepare and budget-friendly.
One of my favorite strategies for pulling together meals quickly is to have ingredients prepped and ready to go. I recently shared my process for ingredient prepping, and I created this ground beef protein bowl using some of those ingredients, making it incredibly quick and easy!
This provides 66 grams of protein, depending on the products you use. It also has fantastic textures! Cottage cheese is savory, salty, and creamy, making a perfect base. The beef is chewy, and a light sauté on the peppers maintains some of their texture and sweetness. A generous sprinkling of my favorite bagel seasoning adds crunch and a pop of garlic and onion flavor!
Ground Beef Protein Bowl Instructions
Another thing to love about this ground beef protein bowl is that everything cooks in one pan. As always, detailed instructions are included in the recipe card below.
- Start by sautéing bell peppers and scallions in a medium-sized nonstick skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes or until they are just softened and remove.
- Add the ground beef to the same pan with a bit of oregano, Aleppo pepper, and a pinch of Redmond Real Sea salt.
- When I make this bowl, I’m almost always using leftover ground beef from my weekly ingredient prep, which reheats very quickly. To make this go even quicker, you could warm it in the microwave with the seasonings while the veggies are cooking.
- When the ground beef is heated through, add the spinach to the same pan and cook until it is just wilted, which will only take about 60 seconds.
- To assemble the bowl. Spread the cottage cheese on the bottom and spoon the ground beef mixture on one side, and the vegetable mixture on the other. Sprinkle with the tops of the scallions and bagel seasoning. Keep in mind that the cottage cheese and bagel seasoning are a little salty. I typically don’t need any more, but add salt to your taste.
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Recipe Tips & Suggestions
- If the texture of cottage cheese bothers you, a quick blend in a small blender or food processor makes it smooth and creamy. In my opinion, a NutriBullet works the best for this. A Magic Bullet is more affordable and would be as effective.
- To make these ground beef protein bowls as part of your weekly meal prep, cook extra beef and veggies, and assemble the bowl when you’re ready to eat.
- Changing the seasonings changes the bowl’s flavor profile completely. Instead of oregano and Aleppo pepper, try adding garlic, ginger, and soy sauce for an Asian flavor profile. Add cumin, garlic, and chili powder to the ground beef for a Southwest flavor profile.
Ways To Add More Protein
Here are some high-protein foods you can add to pump up the protein!
- 6 ounces of ground cooked chicken = 20 grams of protein.
- 6 ounces of cooked ground turkey = 27 grams of protein.
- One cup of quinoa = 8 grams of complete vegetarian protein.
- One cup of cooked lentils = 17 grams of protein.
- One cup of cooked beans = 9 to 15 grams of protein. (black beans being the highest)
- One serving of high-quality Greek yogurt or skyr = 18 to 22 grams of protein
- One half cup of edamame = 8 grams of protein.
- One small avocado = 2 grams of protein plus a ton of healthy fats and fiber.
If you’ve tried my ground beef protein bowl or any recipe on my site, please leave a comment below!
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Ground Beef Protein Bowl | Easy High Protein Meal
Ingredients
- 6 ounces cooked, lean ground beef
- 1 cup 2% fat cottage cheese
- 1 cup diced bell peppers
- A big handful of fresh spinach
- 1 scallion, sliced and separated
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
- Salt to taste
Instructions
- Place a medium-sized nonstick skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
- Add olive oil, bell peppers, and scallions when the pan is hot.
- Cook the bell peppers for 3 to 4 minutes or until they begin to soften.
- When the peppers are done, remove them from the pan.
- Add the ground beef and seasonings to the same pan.
- Cook the ground beef for a few minutes or until heated through.
- Add the spinach to the beef and cook for one minute or until just wilted.
- To assemble the bowl:
- Spread the cottage cheese on the bottom.
- Spoon the ground beef and bell peppers on top.
- Sprinkle with the top of the scallions and bagel seasoning, and enjoy!
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