High-Protein Animal Style Cheeseburger Pasta Salad

High-Protein Animal Style Cheeseburger Pasta Salad

This High-Protein Animal Style Cheeseburger Pasta Salad takes all the best parts of an In-N-Out-inspired burger: savory beef, caramelized onions, tangy burger sauce, cheddar cheese, and lettuce, and turns it into a ridiculously satisfying high-protein meal.

The creamy sauce is made with blended cottage cheese instead of mayo-heavy dressing, while CRISP POWER Sesame Protein Pretzels and Legendary Foods Protein Pasta Plus help pack in the protein and crunch.

Each serving has approximately:

  • ~495 calories
  • ~45g protein
  • ~7g fiber

It’s creamy, crunchy, savory, tangy, and genuinely tastes like cheeseburger comfort food in pasta salad form.

Ingredients (serves 4)

  • Drizzle of olive oil
  • 1 yellow onion
  • 2 tsp salt, divided
  • 1 lb 93/7 ground beef
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
  • 1 tbsp mustard
  • 1/4 cup ketchup
  • 2 tbsp relish
  • 2 tsp white wine vinegar
  • 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2 packs Legendary Foods Protein Pasta Plus, cheese packets removed
  • 1 bag CRISP POWER Sesame Protein Pretzels, lightly crushed
  • 2 cups shredded lettuce

Extra CRISP POWER Protein Pretzels, for topping

Instructions

  1. Dice the onion and set aside 1/4 cup for the dressing.
  2. Add the remaining onion to a skillet over medium heat with a drizzle of olive oil and 1/2 tsp of the salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and deeply golden brown, about 10-15 minutes.
  3. Meanwhile, in a separate skillet, cook the ground beef with 1 tsp of the salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper until browned and cooked through. Set aside to cool slightly.
  4. Prepare the Legendary Foods Protein Pasta Plus according to package directions. You can either microwave it as directed or add boiling water to the fill line, cover, and let sit until tender.
  5. Lightly crush the CRISP POWER Sesame Protein Pretzels and set aside.
  6. To make the sauce, add the cottage cheese, ketchup, and mustard to a large bowl. Blend with an immersion blender until smooth and creamy.
  7. Stir in the relish, white wine vinegar, reserved diced onion, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt.
  8. Add the cooked beef, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese, prepared Protein Pasta Plus, crushed Protein Pretzels, and shredded lettuce.
  9. Stir until everything is evenly coated and combined.
  10. Serve topped with extra crushed Protein Pretzels for crunch.
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