I needed an easy dinner recipe, and my brain pulled Hamburger Helper from the depths of my brain. But, alas, I signed and continued to think of something healthy I could make for dinner, since I assumed making Hamburger Helper from scratch would be laborious without the chemical-laden box to help out. (After all, helper is in the name, right?)

I couldn’t have been more wrong.

Turns out, making Hamburger Helper from scratch is literally faster and just as easy as making it from a box.

How to make homemade hamburger helper high protein?

Between the ground beef, Greek yogurt and cheese, bone broth and extra bone broth powder, this used-to-be-junk food turns into a healthy, high protein homemade hamburger helper recipe that my whole family loves.

If you want to get even more protein in, double the amount of meat to 2 pounds, and keep the noodle amount the same. You may need to adjust the spices to taste. Not only is this homemade hamburger helper recipe high protein, but the whole thing comes together in less than 15 minutes. What’s not to love?

Let’s break down all the high-protein ingredients in homemade hamburger helper to give you an idea of how much protein might be in each serving;

• Ground beef has about 70 grams of protein per pound . You can up that number by using this delicious Primal Beef Blend, which tastes delicious–your family won’t even taste the difference. (Save $30 off your first order with code SOULYRESTED!)
• Greek yogurt has about 17 grams of protein per cup, 8-9 grams per half cup.
• Mozzarella cheese has a whopping 25-35 grams of protein per cup.
• Real bone broth has 8-10 grams of protein per cup, making this recipe upwards of 30 grams of protein just in bone broth.
• Just Ingredients real bone broth powder has 9 grams of protein per scoop.
• A high-quality pasta will be a bit higher in protein than normal. My favorite Kamut pasta has 8 grams of protein per serving, roughly 32 grams per dish. (Bonus points if you have time to make your own egg pasta, it’ll be even higher in protein!)

=That means this whole dish has 195 grams of protein total (depending on a few variables, of course). With this meal making four generous servings, that equals 48.75 grams of protein per serving. Not too shabby!

One of my favorite (bonus!) ways to add protein and extra nutrients to my meals is to use an ancestorial blend for my ground meat. A pound of ground been with organ meats added can be over 90 grams of protein! Plus you’re getting the amazing added benefits of organ meat.

My favorite meat company sells a regenerative, grassfed ground beef & organ meat blend that’s amazing. Plenty of organs packed in, but you can’t even tell! It just tastes like good ground beef. PLUS my code “soulyrested” will save you cash on your first order. Hard to beat that!

Why make homemade hamburger helper instead of a box?

Well, besides the fact that homemade hamburger helper is just as quick and easy as the boxed kind, making your own allows you to control the ingredients (no preservatives, colors and thickeners here, please!), but it also allows you to add good stuff in.

Nourishing bone broth, high-protein Greek yogurt, salt/spices rich in minerals, organic cheese, and organic Kamut or Durum noodles turn a would-be boxed dinner into a nourishing meal that will keep you full and satisfied for a long time. Not to mention it offers all the comfort and nostalgia of the boxed version.

The boxed hamburger helper is also really high in low-quality sodium. If you’re making your own, you can use high-quality salt that’s high in minerals.

Boxed hamburger helper also contains plenty of other ingredients that I prefer to avoid, such as;

• artificial flavors and colors
• hydrogenated oils
• refined, white pasta
• preservatives and thickeners
• sneaky added sugars

Making your own allows you to not only avoid those pesky ingredients, but also add in better ingredients that will benefit your health.

How to make hamburger helper healthier

Making your own is a great option to make hamburger helper healthier already. If you’re looking to add more fiber or veggies into your homemade hamburger helper, feel free to add veggies into the mix (I like broccoli or green beans, or a salad on the side!). The addition of bone broth also helps up the nutrition factor of hamburger helper. Also substituting whole wheat pasta for traditional pasta (if you want to make your own noodles, here’s my go-to recipe) will up the fiber and overall nutrition of your hamburger helper.

Some healthy add-ins for hamburger helper include;

1. Veggies. I really love broccoli mixed in or tomatoes on top of the dish.
2. Wholegrain pasta. So much more nutritious than refined, white pasta.
3. Real cheese. No fake, gummy cheese powders here, please. (If you’re really looking to up your protein, parmesan cheese is one of the highest-in-protein cheeses!)
4. Real herbs and spices. No artificial flavors needed. (This is my favorite real seasoning blend to use in my hamburger helper!)
5. Organ meat flavor blends. Blends like these utilize dehydrated organ mean powder for a nutrient and protein boost, but also taste good.
6. Adding a REAL bone broth powder can up the nutrients and add extra protein, too.
7. Or–the easiest way–substitute ground beef with this delicious Primal Beef Blend adds ultra-nutritious organ meat, ups your protein, and your family won’t even notice the difference. Mine never does. (Use code SOULYRESTED to save $30 on your first order.)

What makes a good weeknight dinner recipe?

In my opinion, there are several factors that equal a good, healthy weeknight dinner.

I want a weeknight dinner to be quick to make. (Check, this comes together in literally 15 minutes!)

I want a weeknight dinner to be healthy and high protein. (Check, and check!)

I want a weeknight dinner to be high fiber. (Check, using wholegrain pasta makes this a great source of fiber!)

I want a weeknight dinner to not require a lot of clean up. (CHECK! This literally uses ONE skillet!)

I want a weeknight dinner to be cozy and comforting. (Check for nostalgia, and check for general deliciousness!)

I want a weeknight dinner to be customizable, so I can easily make exactly what I’m craving. (Check, super customizable!)

This homemade, high protein hamburger helper checks all the weeknight dinner boxes. It’s on an almost-weekly rotation at our house, because it’s just that good, easy, and comforting.

Homemade Hamburger helper recipe–high protein:

Makes four generous servings

What you need:

1 pound ground beef, pork, or turkey

3 cups bone broth (or water)

1.5 cups noodles of any kind (my favorite is fresh milled einkorn fusilli)

1 tablespoon ketchup or tomato paste

1 teaspoon mustard

1 teaspoon season salt (my favorite is linked below)

1 scoop bone broth powder (optional, but adds extra flavor and protein)

A sprinkle of dried basil or other herbs, to taste

sprinkle of salt and pepper, as needed

1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (or sour cream)

Cheese, for garnish

What to do:

In a large cast iron skillet, brown your meat. When it’s cooked, add in your noodles of choice and stock or water.

As the noodles start to cook, add in all the other ingredients except the yogurt and cheese.

Simmer on med-high heat for about 10 minutes, or until noodles are fully cooked. If you happen to run out of liquid before your noodles are cooked, add extra water or stock.

When the noodles are soft, stir in the greek yogurt, and garnish each serving with cheese, if desired.

Enjoy!

More like high protein hamburger helper recipe:

• Easy and yummy Country Style pork ribs
• New England style chicken pot pie (biscuit top)
• Sourdough bread made with fresh flour
• Double chocolate energy bar recipe

P.s. Want to get more protein in? This is my favorite clean, nutritious protein powder that’s super easy to add to anything–yogurt, coffee, lasagna, you name it. Use code “SOULYRESTED”

The post From scratch Hamburger Helper – high protein! first appeared on Souly Rested.

When I started realizing I wasn’t eating enough protein, breakfast was a meal I struggled to add protein to the most.

Until I realized how quick and easy protein French toast is. Now it’s my go-to breakfast, packed with protein and, if you’re using bread made with fresh flour, you’re also getting tons of fiber, enzymes, antioxidants, and all kinds of vitamins as well.

Why add protein to French toast?

Well, simply put, our bodies need protein. Given that protein is very hyped up right now, I’m sure you’ve heard most of the classic reasons to eat more protein. Feel more full, build and maintain muscle, loose weight, all typical answers.

But, for me, the reason I try to eat more protein is because I feel really good when I do. When I’m not eating enough protein? I’m more sluggish, irritable, don’t sleep as well, and the list goes on.

For me, adding protein to my French toast (or any breakfast, really) is about feeling good. Or, the reverse of feeling sluggish when I don’t get my protein in.

Protein breakfast ideas (aside from protein French toast)

While protein French toast is one of my favorite high-protein breakfasts, I don’t make it every day. Here are some other high-protein breakfast ideas. Also see 17 creative ways to use protein powder.

1. Add protein powder to your coffee, latte, or oatmeal to pair with your breakfast.
2. Make a cheesy egg souffle the night before and cook it when you wake. Serve with kielbasa or sausage for extra protein.
3.  Enjoy a Greek yogurt parfait, with protein powder mixed in for extra protein. (Lemon protein is my favorite yogurt mix-in!)
4. Make an omelette with anything you have leftover in your fridge from steak or porkchop to chopped peppers, onions, and/or spinach.
5. Eat lunch/dinner leftovers for breakfast. I’ve surprisingly become a savory breakfast person, and I’ve found that leftovers from the day before often hit the spot for breakfast.

These are just a few high-protein breakfasts that are in my regular rotation. Remember to be creative, find foods you actually enjoy eating, and change it up often to keep healthy eating interesting.

Can I make protein French toast ahead of time?

I’ve often stored leftover (pre-mixed) French toast batter in the fridge for a few days. So if it helps or saves you time, feel free to mix together the batter ingredients the night before, cover, and store in the fridge to use the next day.

If you’re looking to save time in the morning, you can also slice and set aside the amount of bread you’ll need for your French toast the next morning.

Any leftover (cooked) French toast also makes great breakfasts for the week. So feel free to batch cook a bunch of French toast, store it in the fridge, and heat it up throughout the week. Boom. Easy. High protein. Yummy. Breakfast is served.

What flavors can I make my protein French toast?

The combinations of flavors you can make are almost endless. Who knew protein French toast was so customizable?

Some of my favorite mix-ins for protein French toast include:

• Ground cinnamon (about 1 teaspoon per batch)
• Vanilla extract, powder, or paste
• Cacao powder (for chocolate flavor and extra nutrients!)
• Peanut butter (I like about 1 tablespoon per batch)
• Maple syrup OR maple extract (syrup in the batter and served on the finished product never hurt anyone, did it?)
• Kale or Spinach powder (for green color and a nutrient boost!)

Another simple way to mix up the flavor of your French toast is by changing what flavor of protein powder you’re using. Classic Vanilla Bean is usually my go-to French toast protein powder. But my favorite brand of protein powder also sells a Chai flavor that makes a deliciously warm, cozy, comforting Chai French toast. Other favorite flavored protein powders to use in French toast are Strawberries & cream, Salted Caramel, Snickerdoodle, chocolate, and more.

Is French toast healthy?

French toast can be a healthy, well-rounded breakfast. If you’re adding protein to your French toast, or enjoying it with a protein source, you’re enjoying a delicious, healthy breakfast also packed with protein. But there are always ways to beef your French toast up to get as much nutrients out of it as you can.

We’re all trying to get more nutrients into our diet, no? And if there are simple ways to eat more nutrition in one serving of French toast that we were going to eat anyways, why not, right?

1. Add dehydrated spinach or kale powder to your French toast batter.
2. Add adaptogens like Ashwagandha, Lions Mane, or Macha root.
3. Use fresh milled, homemade bread for your French toast. (Did you know that fresh flour contains 40 out of 44 of the essential nutrients your body needs to survive and thrive?)
4. Serve your French toast with high-quality butter for healthy fats, and berries for extra fiber.
5. Enjoy your French toast with real maple syrup–which is actually rich in antioxidants. (skip “sugar free” syrups, and other chemical-laden sugar products!)
6. Add extra eggs to your French toast batter for extra protein.

Best bread to use for protein French toast

While any bread can be used for French toast, there are some that work better.

The healthiest bread choice would be fresh milled, homemade bread. This is the recipe I use for my brioche bread perfect for French toast. I simply shape the dough into sandwich loaves instead of rolls and it works beautifully. I often slice and freeze and leftover bread I have sitting around going stale, and save it up until I have enough for a batch of French toast.

My all-time favorite French toast is made with cinnamon raisin bread, sliced thick. I simply make the dough recipe linked above with raisins added into the dough, spread the dough with cinnamon/sugar/butter mixture before rolling into a loaf and letting rise and cooking. Perfect for cinnamon swirl raisin French toast.

But pretty much any bread with work for yummy French toast.

How to make protein French toast

Making protein French toast is so simple, quick, and easy. In fact, I can whip up a batch of protein French toast even when I’m half asleep on a Monday morning. It’s that simple.

1. Crack and egg into a bowl.
2. Pour roughly 2 tablespoons of milk overtop.
3. Add your protein powder.
4. Whisk together.
5. Dip your bread into the mixture and cook on a preheated skillet.
6. Enjoy your easy, high-protein French toast.

Even typing that into 6 steps makes it look harder than it really is. The great thing about this recipe is that it’s also super customizable to taste and number of servings. This general recipe will usually feed 1-2 people, depending on how hungry you are. If you need to feed 2-3 people, just make this recipe with 2 eggs instead of one, and 2 scoops of protein powder. Honestly, not needing to do math in order to customize this recipe is another bonus.

How to add protein powder to French toast

Adding protein powder to French toast is a great way to up your protein intake, and take a healthy breakfast to the next level.

And adding protein powder to French toast is as simple as mixing it into your milk and egg. I like to add one scoop of protein powder (22 grams of protein from the scoop of powder I use!) to each 1 egg and 1-2 tablespoons of milk I use. I find that 1 egg, 2 tablespoons of milk, and 1 scoop of protein powder make either 1 large serving or two small servings. Perfect for one person on a hungry weekend, or two people on a faster-paced weekday.

The flavor of protein powder you can add to French toast are pretty much endless. My personal favorites are vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or chai.

Print

Protein French Toast

Servings 1 large serving

Ingredients

• 1 large egg
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 scoop protein powder* about 3 tablespoons

Instructions

• Whisk together all three ingredients until a smooth batter is formed.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over med-high heat.
• Dip your bread of choice into the batter, letting it sit for a second to soak.
• Grease your hot skillet and cook each French toast slice until cooked through and golden brown on both sides.
• Enjoy hot with toppings of choice.

Notes

*One scoop of my favorite protein powder is roughly 3 tablespoons. Use code "soulyrested" to save $$ if you place an order.

Depending on how hungry you are, this might make two servings. You can easily double, triple, or quadruple this recipe to feed more people.

Protein powder to use in French toast:

More like protein French toast:

• Protein latte recipe
• 17 creative ways to use protein powder
• Country style pork ribs recipe
• Homemade tortillas with fresh milled flour

The post Protein French Toast Recipe first appeared on Souly Rested.