THE SPLIT PLATE / RECIPE

Frozen Queso Mac + Steak Upgrade

An already high-protein frozen dinner, with a little extra help. No meal prep, 15 minutes, and no ordering out.

YIELD1 serving
TOTAL TIME15 min
COOK METHODSee method
EST. / SERVING~490 cal | ~50g protein
KEY TO SUCCESS: Microwave the Counter Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese according to package instructions until bubbling and hot.

Ingredients

Shared

  • 1 Counter Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese frozen meal (284g)

Kid / Mild Portion

  • Optional sliced bread or fruit

Adult Upgraded Bowl

  • 1 pouch (91g) Fresh Additions steak bites
  • Crushed red chili flakes, to taste

You need dinner in 15 minutes with zero meal prep, 50 grams of protein, and no ordering takeout.

Method

Shared base

  1. 1.Microwave the frozen Counter meal according to instructions.

Adult Upgraded Bowl

  1. 2.Warm the steak bites and fold into the heated queso mac.
  2. 3.Dust with chili flakes for savory heat.

Kid / Mild Portion · Kid / Mild Portion

  1. 2.Portion out mild cheesy mac before adding chili flakes.
  2. 3.Serve alongside sliced bread or fresh fruit.

SPLIT PLATE SERVING

Adult Upgraded Bowl: Serve the adult portion as described above.

Kid / Mild Portion: Serve the kid portion as described above.

Keys to success

  • Warm the fully cooked steak bites according to package instructions (about 1 minute).
  • Stir the warm steak bites directly into the cheesy queso mac.

If something fails

Cheese sauce seems thick after heating: Stir thoroughly for 30 seconds; the sauce loosens and coats evenly as the residual heat melts the cheese.

Steak pieces dry out if reheated too long: Only warm the steak pouch for 45–60 seconds; since it is already fully cooked, it only needs to be warmed through.

Storage and reheating

Store: Best assembled and enjoyed immediately fresh from the freezer.

Reheat: Microwave in 30-second bursts if needed.

Lasts: Consume immediately after heating.

Estimated nutrition

~490 cal | ~50g protein.

Nutrition uses the filmed Counter label (370 cal, 30g protein, 10g fat, 36g carbs) and Fresh Additions U.S. steak bites pouch label (120 cal, 20g protein, 3g fat, 0g carbs) for a total of 490 calories and 50g protein before optional dry chili flakes. Bread shown at the family table is not included in adult-bowl macros.

thesplitplate.com/recipes/frozen-queso-mac-steak-upgrade

Frozen Queso Mac + Steak Upgrade
Split Cook Method™Fast MealsHigh-protein frozen meal upgrade with pre-cooked steak bites

Frozen Queso Mac + Steak Upgrade

By Tushar Sharma

An already high-protein frozen dinner, with a little extra help. No meal prep, 15 minutes, and no ordering out.

Make this when

You need dinner in 15 minutes with zero meal prep, 50 grams of protein, and no ordering takeout.

Total time
15 min
Yield
1 serving
Protein
~50g
Calories
~490
Adjust servings

Ingredients

Single serving
Original yield: 1. Ingredient quantities below and in print adjust automatically; check pan size and cooking time.

Shared

Adult Upgraded Bowl

Kid / Mild Portion

Method

Shared base

Cook once — this part works for everyone.

  1. 1

    Microwave the frozen Counter meal according to instructions.

Adult Upgraded Bowl

  1. 2

    Warm the steak bites and fold into the heated queso mac.

  2. 3

    Dust with chili flakes for savory heat.

Kid / Mild Portion

  1. 2

    Portion out mild cheesy mac before adding chili flakes.

  2. 3

    Serve alongside sliced bread or fresh fruit.

Adult plate | Kid plate

Adult plate

Adult Upgraded Bowl

Macros not published for this plate — portion it to their appetite.

What makes it different

  • 1 pouch (91g) Fresh Additions steak bites
  • Crushed red chili flakes, to taste
Kid plate

Kid / Mild Portion

Macros not published for this plate — portion it to their appetite.

What makes it different

  • Optional sliced bread or fruit

Three keys to success

  1. 1Microwave the Counter Queso Chicken Mac & Cheese according to package instructions until bubbling and hot.
  2. 2Warm the fully cooked steak bites according to package instructions (about 1 minute).
  3. 3Stir the warm steak bites directly into the cheesy queso mac.

Go deeper

Storage and nutrition

Storage: Best assembled and enjoyed immediately fresh from the freezer.

Reheat: Microwave in 30-second bursts if needed.

Lasts: Consume immediately after heating.

Watch the full cook

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