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Lentil beef protein bowl with roasted cherry tomatoes, zucchini, baby spinach, and garlic yogurt drizzle in a ceramic bowl

Lentil Beef Protein Bowls

A one-skillet beef and lentil bowl with roasted vegetables and garlic yogurt. High-protein, meal-prep friendly, ready in 40 minutes.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 520

Ingredients
  

Lentil and Beef Base
  • 200 g green or brown lentils, rinsed dry, rinsed
  • 600 ml beef broth for cooking lentils
  • 450 g ground beef (80/20)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1.5 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 0.5 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp salt divided
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
Roasted Vegetables
  • 250 g cherry tomatoes halved
  • 1 medium zucchini, diced into 2 cm cubes
  • 1 large red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1.5 tbsp olive oil
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
Garlic Yogurt Drizzle
  • 180 g full-fat Greek yogurt
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced or grated
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 tsp olive oil
  • 0.25 tsp salt
To Assemble
  • 80 g baby spinach fresh
  • 2 tbsp fresh parsley, roughly chopped optional garnish
  • 4 lemon wedges to serve

Method
 

Cook the Lentils
  1. Combine rinsed lentils, beef broth, and 0.25 tsp salt in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat.
  2. Reduce heat to a steady simmer and cook uncovered for 18 to 20 minutes, until lentils are just tender but still hold their shape. Drain through a fine-mesh sieve and set aside.
Roast the Vegetables
  1. Heat oven to 220 C / 425 F. Spread cherry tomatoes, zucchini, and red bell pepper on a rimmed sheet pan in a single layer.
  2. Drizzle with 1.5 tbsp olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat. Roast for 20 to 22 minutes, until edges are caramelized and tomatoes are blistered.
Make the Garlic Yogurt
  1. Stir together Greek yogurt, grated garlic, lemon juice, olive oil, and salt in a small bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust lemon or salt. Set aside or refrigerate until serving.
Cook the Beef Base
  1. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add diced onion and cook for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened and lightly golden.
  2. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add ground beef and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes, without stirring too much, until beef is fully browned with no pink remaining.
  3. Drain excess fat if needed, leaving about 1 tbsp in the pan. Add smoked paprika, cumin, coriander, remaining salt, and black pepper. Stir and cook for 1 minute until spices are fragrant.
  4. Add drained lentils to the skillet and stir to combine with the beef. Cook together for 2 to 3 minutes over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the mixture is hot and the flavors have merged.
Assemble the Bowls
  1. Divide fresh baby spinach across four bowls as a base. Spoon a generous portion of the beef and lentil mixture over the spinach.
  2. Top each bowl with roasted vegetables, then drizzle with garlic yogurt. Garnish with chopped parsley and a lemon wedge on the side. Serve immediately.

Notes

The beef and lentil base tastes even better the next day once the spices have had time to settle. Make a double batch on Sunday and you've got four to five days of easy lunches covered.