Description
A comforting yet light meal that balances lean protein from ground beef with fiber-rich chickpea pasta, fresh vegetables, and a creamy dressing.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb 96% lean ground beef
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 8 oz dry chickpea pasta
- 1 cup grape tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1/3 cup red onion, diced
- 1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded or cubed
- 1/3 cup dill pickles, diced
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- White sesame seeds (optional)
- For the dressing:
- 3/4 cup nonfat plain Greek yogurt
- 1/4 cup light mayonnaise
- 4 tbsp no sugar added ketchup
- 1 1/2 tbsp yellow mustard
- 1 1/2 tbsp dill pickle juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- Optional add-ons:
- Chopped fresh parsley or dill
- Roasted red peppers
- Toasted sunflower seeds or chopped almonds
- Squeeze of lemon
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Organize and prep your ingredients: dice tomatoes, red onion, pickles, cheese, and lettuce.
- Heat a skillet over medium heat, add ground beef, and cook until browned (7–9 minutes). Stir in Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat and let cool slightly.
- In a pot of salted boiling water, cook chickpea pasta according to package instructions. Drain and rinse under cold water.
- In a small bowl, whisk together dressing ingredients: Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, ketchup, mustard, pickle juice, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- In a large bowl, combine cooled pasta and ground beef, then add tomatoes, pickles, red onion, and cheese. Pour dressing over and toss gently.
- Add romaine lettuce right before serving for freshness. Garnish with sesame seeds if desired.
Notes
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. Keep lettuce separate if meal prepping.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 8g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: salad, ground beef, chickpea pasta, meal prep, high protein