High Protein Beef Shawarma Mac and Cheese

A bold fusion of Middle Eastern beef shawarma and creamy mac and cheese with over 60g of protein per serving, perfect for meal prep. Shawarma-spiced beef strips are served over creamy macaroni with a tangy red onion and sumac salad on the side.

download Extracted 2026-03-31

10m Prep

20m Cook

30m Total

4 Servings

high-protein shawarma beef mac-and-cheese meal-prep middle-eastern fusion

Ingredients

Beef Shawarma Marinade

800 g Lean Sirloin Beef (cut into thin strips)
2 serving Shawarma Spice Mix
2 tsp Olive Oil
1 whole Lemon (juiced)
20 g Light Butter (for cooking)

Mac and Cheese

240 g Macaroni (uncooked)
1 serving Shawarma Spice Mix
250 ml Light Evaporated Milk
150 g Light Cream Cheese
40 g Light Cheddar
60 ml Pasta Water (reserved)

Shawarma Spice Mix

1 tsp Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1 tsp Paprika
1 tsp Chilli Powder
1 tsp Cinnamon
1 tsp Nutmeg
1 tsp Cumin
1 tsp Ginger Powder

Sumac Onion Mix

2 large Red Onions (thinly sliced)
big handful Fresh Parsley (chopped)
1 tbsp Sumac Powder
1 whole Lemon (juiced)

Steps

Assembly

1

Plate the shawarma mac and cheese, top with the cooked beef, and finish with a generous portion of the sumac onion mix.

~2 min

Beef Shawarma

1

Slice the beef steaks into thin strips. Season generously with 2 servings of shawarma spice mix, olive oil, and lemon juice. Mix until well combined.

Tip: Mix until you lose patience — longer marinating means more intense flavour.

~8 min
2

Add light butter to a pan over high heat. Cook the beef strips for about 2 minutes until golden brown. Add more butter and fresh parsley, mix well, then set aside.

Tip: Cook in batches if needed to ensure a golden sear rather than steaming the meat.

~5 min

Mac and Cheese

1

Cook the macaroni according to package instructions. Reserve 60ml of pasta water before draining.

Tip: The starchy pasta water is key to achieving a creamy sauce.

~10 min
2

In the same pan used for the beef, add 1 serving of shawarma spice mix and let it toast briefly. Then add the light evaporated milk and cream cheese, stirring continuously until smooth and creamy.

Tip: Toasting the spices before adding the liquids deepens the flavour significantly.

~4 min
3

Add the cheddar and pasta water, stir until melted. Add the cooked macaroni and fold everything together until fully coated.

~3 min

Shawarma Spice Mix

1

Combine all spice mix ingredients — salt, black pepper, garlic powder, paprika, chilli powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, cumin, and ginger powder — and mix well.

Tip: Make multiple servings at once and store in an airtight container.

~3 min

Sumac Onion Mix

1

Combine the thinly sliced red onions with fresh chopped parsley, sumac powder, and lemon juice. Toss well.

Tip: Let the mix rest a few minutes so the sumac and lemon soften the onions slightly.

~3 min

Nutrition (per serving)

660

Calories

62g

Protein

54g

Carbs

18g

Fat

Fiber

Cultural Context

Shawarma is a beloved Middle Eastern street food of spiced meat cooked on a rotating spit. Here it is fused with American mac and cheese to create a high-protein fitness meal.