High-Protein Hot Honey Beef Cottage Bowl

Hot honey's sweet heat has become a signature American weeknight twist. This bowl glazes lean ground beef in that sticky sauce, then cools it with creamy cottage cheese over spinach and tomatoes.

Serves 4 · 12 min prep · 12 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 445 cal
• 48g protein
• 22g carbs
• 18g fat
• 3g fiber

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Ingredients

• 1 lb lean ground beef (93% lean)
• 2 cups cottage cheese (low-fat)
• 3 tbsp hot honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce or tamari
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp onion powder
• 3/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 4 cups baby spinach
• 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
• 1 cucumber, diced
• 3 green onions, sliced
• 1 tbsp toasted sesame seeds
• 2 cups cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice

Instructions

1. 1Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. When it shimmers, crumble in the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon.
2. 2Season the beef with garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Cook 6 to 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fully browned and no pink remains. Drain excess fat if needed.
3. 3Lower the heat to medium and stir in the soy sauce and hot honey. Simmer 1 to 2 minutes so the sauce thickens into a glossy, sticky glaze that coats every crumble. Taste and adjust heat or salt.
4. 4While the beef finishes, divide the cottage cheese among four bowls as the creamy high-protein base. Warm the quinoa or cauliflower rice if using and add a scoop to each bowl.
5. 5Wilt the baby spinach briefly in the residual heat of the skillet or leave it raw for crunch; pile it beside the cottage cheese.
6. 6Spoon the hot-honey glazed beef over the cottage cheese and greens so the heat slightly softens the dairy.
7. 7Top each bowl with halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber, sliced green onions, and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
8. 8Serve immediately while the beef is hot and the cottage cheese stays cool and creamy, or pack into meal-prep containers with toppings separate.