Healthy Philly Cheesesteak Pasta Recipe

A healthy one-pot dinner. This philly cheesesteak pasta recipe is a delicious and high-protein meal for busy weeknights. You’ll also love my healthy hamburger helper, balsamic chicken pasta, and one-pot salmon orzo.

This philly cheesesteak pasta recipe is one of my favorites as a Registered Dietitian. It tastes incredible (it’s seriously creamy and comforting), it’s super easy to make, and it’s loaded with protein and fiber to keep you full for hours.

This is one of my favorite low-fuss recipes when I want something extra delicious and cozy.

Why you’ll love this philly cheesesteak pasta recipe

• High protein (31 grams per serving)
• Lots of heart-healthy fiber
• Made in one pot
• Minimal, simple ingredients
• Absolutely delicious

What makes this pasta recipe healthy?

Healthy is subjective, of course. But as a dietitian, I’m always striving to build recipes with lots of protein, fiber, and colorful fruits and veggies. And within reason, I try to dial back the fat, sugar, and calories.

Here’s what’s healthy about this recipe:

• Whole wheat pasta = more protein and fiber
• Multiple colorful fruits and vegetables
• Extra lean mean for less saturated fats
• Milk instead of cream (or cream cheese) for fewer calories
• Less cheese than other recipes

Need more easy one-pan dinners? Try my chicken sausage orzo, broccoli cheddar orzo, or healthy hamburger helper.

Important ingredients

Scroll down for the full list of ingredients in this recipe for philly cheesesteak pasta with ground beef. Here’s a few notes and swaps you should know about in the meantime:

• Extra lean ground beef: We’re using ground beef in this recipe to keep things easy, and extra-lean for more protein and less fat. You can substitute ground chicken or turkey if you’d prefer, but I think beef tastes best.
• Yellow onion: Feel free to swap with white or red onion. Use what you have available.
• Bell peppers: I used a mix of green and red bell peppers, but use whatever colors you prefer.
• Beef broth: I like using water mixed with Better Than Bouillon Roasted Beef Base for the best flavor. You could also use regular beef broth.
• Whole wheat rotini: I recommend whole wheat pasta instead of white for the extra protein and fiber. You could use other similarly-sized pasta shapes if you’d prefer, like fussili or penne. Don’t use particularly big or small pasta shapes, because it will change the required liquid substantially.
• Parmesan and mozzarella: You can use any mix of cheese you like! I like the mix of parmesan and mozzarella because they provide great flavor with some nice creaminess. I think pepperjack or provolone would be great too.

Want an extra nutrition boost? Stir in a few big handfuls of baby spinach at the end.

How to make philly cheesesteak pasta with ground beef

Heat your pot to medium.

Add beef and break it up with a spatula. Season with 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper. Cook until you have browned crumbles with no pink remaining. Remove beef from the pot and set aside. Drain some excess fat in the pot if desired.

Add onions and peppers and season with remaining 1/2 tsp salt, more black pepper, and cayenne pepper. Cook for 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.

Add garlic to the pot and cook for 1-2 minutes or until just fragrant. Stir frequently to prevent burning.

Add cooked ground beef back to the pot with beef broth, milk, Worcestershire, and uncooked pasta. Stir, and gently press your ingredients down with a spatula until everything is mostly submerged in the broth.

Cook for 10-15 minutes, uncovered, or until pasta is cooked and most liquid has been absorbed. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. The exact amount of liquid and cooking time depends on your pasta brand and pot size. Make sure noodles stay mostly submerged and watch things closely. Reduce heat if needed to maintain a gentle boil.

Turn off the heat. Stir in both cheeses and cover. Let your pasta rest for 5-minutes and stir again. If there’s excess liquid, let rest for another 5-minutes.

Transfer to serving dishes and top with freshly cracked pepper, more parmesan, and/or crushed red pepper flakes.

Helpful tools

• My Dutch oven
• A more affordable Dutch oven
• Meat masher

Top tips for success

• Adjust liquid as needed. One-pot pasta recipes like this can take some getting used to. You want to make sure there’s enough liquid to submerge most noodles, but not so much that you accidentally make soup. Watching things closely as you’re cooking, and add additional liquid as needed in 1/2 cup increments.
• Don’t use super big or super small pasta. This will change cooking time and the amount of liquid you need too substantially. I recommend using rotini or a similar pasta shape.
• Let it rest. Your one-pot philly cheesesteak pasta will look liquidy right after cooking. It’s important to cover and let it rest for 5-10 minutes, and give it a few good stirs. It will set-up as it cools.

More easy dinner recipes

Taco baked potato
Ground turkey vegetable soup
Baked feta pasta with extra veggies
Gluten-free chicken meatballs
Salmon rice cooker bowls
High protein chili
White bean and chicken soup