Quick & Healthy High Protein Garlic Steak Bites with Mac and Cheese

Introduction

Looking for a meal that delivers incredible flavor, high protein, and ultimate comfort in just 30 minutes? These Quick & Healthy High Protein Garlic Steak Bites with Mac and Cheese combine savory seared steak with creamy, cheesy pasta for a satisfying dish that’s as nutritious as it is delicious. Perfect for busy weeknights, family dinners, or meal prep, this recipe will quickly become a favorite in your easy healthy recipe rotation.

The Perfect Balance: High Protein Packed with Comfort

What sets this dish apart? It’s the mouthwatering combination of juicy, garlic-infused steak bites that are seared to perfection, paired with a creamy homemade mac and cheese. Each bite is loaded with protein and flavor, ensuring you get both the nutrients and comfort you crave. Plus, this recipe comes together quickly, making it ideal for when you need dinner on the table—fast.

Preparing Flavorful Garlic Steak Bites

Start by choosing a lean, tender cut of steak such as sirloin or strip steak. Cut into bite-sized pieces for optimal searing and flavor absorption. The steak is marinated briefly with olive oil and a bold garlic spice blend, then quickly cooked in a hot skillet for a golden-brown crust and juicy interior. A finishing splash of lemon juice or fresh herbs adds extra brightness.

Velvety, Healthy Mac and Cheese

While your steak marinates, whip up a lighter, protein-boosted mac and cheese. Using whole-wheat or protein pasta and a blend of reduced-fat cheese and Greek yogurt adds both creaminess and extra protein without a heavy feeling. The addition of spinach or steamed broccoli is optional, but it’s an easy way to sneak in extra greens.

Serving Suggestions for a Protein-Packed Crowd Pleaser

Serve the garlic steak bites over a bed of mac and cheese, garnished with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or chives for color and freshness. Add roasted broccoli, peas, or a crisp green salad on the side for a complete, balanced meal. This dish works for casual family dinners or as a meal prep solution for healthy, filling lunches.

Nutritional Information and Serving Size

This recipe yields about 4 hearty servings. Each serving provides roughly 450-500 calories, over 35g protein, and a good balance of healthy fats and carbs, depending on the cut of steak and cheese used. Swap in your preferred gluten-free or low-carb pasta for dietary needs.

Deliciously Simple High Protein Garlic Steak Bites with Mac and Cheese (Recap)

With the perfect mix of savory steak and creamy pasta, this dish offers everything you want in a weeknight dinner—big flavor, high protein, and comfort, ready in a flash.

💡Meal Planning Tip: Save this recipe to automatically generate an organized shopping list with all ingredients sorted by store section—perfect for efficient grocery trips and stress-free meal planning.

Instructions

1. Marinate the Steak: In a bowl, combine steak pieces with 1 tbsp olive oil, minced garlic, smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Toss to coat and let sit while you prepare the pasta.
2. Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
3. Make the Cheese Sauce: Return drained pasta to the pot. Add shredded cheddar, Greek yogurt, milk, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and creamy. Add reserved pasta water as needed. Fold in spinach or broccoli if desired.
4. Sear the Steak Bites: Heat remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Add steak in a single layer. Sear for 2-3 minutes undisturbed, flip, and cook another 1-2 minutes for medium-rare (work in batches as needed for best browning).
5. Finish and Serve: Remove from heat. Toss steak with chopped parsley and optional lemon juice. Plate mac and cheese, top with steak bites, and serve hot.

Weekly Meal Planning

This recipe is a meal prep hero—doubling easily for lunches and busy nights. Save and schedule this recipe to build your personalized weekly menu and generate smart shopping lists that consolidate all your planned meals by ingredient.

Planning Benefits:

• Automatically calculates total ingredient quantities for all your meals
• Organizes your grocery list by store section for fast shopping
• Prevents buying duplicates and forgetting key items
• Makes weekly meal prep seamless and stress-free

Pro tip: Schedule your recipes to see exactly how ingredients overlap—for example, if another meal this week needs cheddar or Greek yogurt, CookifyAI will tally the total amounts automatically for you!

Cook and Prep Times

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes