High-Protein Big Mac Pasta Skillet
High-protein pasta with beef, cheese, and special sauce — ready in 25 minutes
This high-protein Big Mac pasta skillet cooks Kaizen or similar low-carb high-protein shell pasta with browned ground beef and cheese, then tops it with shredded lettuce, diced pickles, onion, and a sugar-free special sauce, like the skillet. Each serving has 50 g of protein and 12 g net carbs.
Low carb, sugar-free, and no regular pasta.
Why you’ll love this skillet
- 50g protein per serving
- 12g net carbs
- Beef and pasta
- Ready in about 25 minutes
- Special sauce
- One skillet
Health notes
- Protein: Ground beef and high-protein pasta.
- Low carb: Kaizen or similar pasta. No regular pasta or sugar.
- Sugar-free: Sugar-free special sauce.
- Keto-friendly: Each serving stays around 12g net carbs if the pasta is measured.
Key element — use high-protein low-carb pasta
Regular pasta is not in the 12g number. Use Kaizen or a similar high-protein low-carb pasta so the macros hold, like the box.
Ingredients
Skillet (4 servings)
- 8 oz Kaizen Lumache or similar high-protein low-carb shell pasta
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup shredded cheddar
- 2 cups shredded lettuce
- ½ cup diced dill pickles
- ¼ cup diced onion
- Special sauce: ½ cup mayonnaise, 1 Tbsp mustard, 1 Tbsp sugar-free ketchup or relish, 1 tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Swaps
- Regular pasta or a sugar sauce: Not in the 12g number.
- Ground turkey: Same amount. Protein stays high.
- No cheese: Protein drops a little.
- Extra lettuce: Carbs stay low.
Instructions
| 1 | Pasta. Cook the high-protein pasta according to the package. Drain and set aside. |
| 2 | Beef. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef over medium-high heat. Drain excess fat. Season with salt and pepper. |
| 3 | Combine. Add the cooked pasta and shredded cheddar to the skillet. Stir until the cheese melts. |
| 4 | Top. Stir the special sauce ingredients together. Spoon the skillet into bowls. Top with lettuce, pickles, onion, and a drizzle of the sauce, like the photo. This batch makes 4 servings. |
Pro tips
- Use high-protein low-carb pasta. Regular pasta is not in these numbers.
- A sugar sauce is not in the 12g number.
- Drain the beef if it is greasy so the skillet stays thick.
- Add the toppings right before serving so the lettuce stays crisp.
- Macros are per serving, 4 from this skillet.
Nutrition
| Nutrient | Per serving |
|---|---|
| Calories | 460 |
| Protein | 50g |
| Net carbohydrates | 12g |
| Total carbohydrates | 15g |
| Fiber | 3g |
| Total fat | 22g |
| Sodium | 890mg |
Estimates based on Kaizen or similar high-protein low-carb pasta, ground beef, cheese, and sugar-free special sauce, divided into 4 servings. Regular pasta and a sugar sauce are not included.
Variations
Turkey
Same amount of ground turkey. Protein stays high.
No cheese
Skip it. Protein drops a little.
Extra sauce
More special sauce on top. Calories rise a little.
Spicy
A pinch of cayenne in the sauce.
Storage
| Method | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | Up to 3 days | Store toppings separate |
| Reheat | 2 min | Skillet or microwave |
| Freezer | Up to 1 month | Cool fully. Thaw in the fridge |
FAQ
Test your knowledge
5 quick questions about this Big Mac pasta skillet
1. Protein per serving?
2. Net carbs per serving?
3. What keeps the carbs at 12g?
4. About how long does this take?
5. What is not in the 12g number?
