Ground beef zucchini bake is a hearty low-carb dinner made with layers of zucchini, ground beef, mushrooms, marinara, and cheese — all baked to bubbly perfection in just one dish.
Ingredients
• 1½ lbs zucchini, cut into rounds, salted and patted dry
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 8 oz mushrooms, diced
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp garlic powder
• ½ tsp onion powder
• 1 lb ground beef
• ½ tsp paprika
• 1 cup marinara sauce
• 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tsp Italian herb blend
• 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheeseCook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark
Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
2. Salt zucchini rounds and pat dry after 15 minutes.
3. Heat olive oil in a skillet and sauté onions for 2–3 minutes.
4. Add mushrooms and cook another 4–5 minutes; season with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
5. Transfer vegetables to a plate. In the same skillet, brown ground beef until no longer pink.
6. Stir in salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Taste and adjust if needed.
7. In a 9×13-inch baking dish, combine zucchini, cooked vegetables, ground beef, marinara, 1 cup mozzarella, Italian herbs, salt, and pepper.
8. Top with Parmesan and bake for 30 minutes.
9. Remove from oven, sprinkle remaining mozzarella, and bake until cheese is melted.
Notes
– Use a thick marinara sauce to avoid watery texture.
– Ground turkey or chicken can be used instead of beef.
– Let the bake rest 5–10 minutes before serving for best texture.
– Pairs well with garlic roasted vegetables or a side salad.
– Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Prep Time:Â 30
- Cook Time:Â 30
- Method:Â Baking
- Cuisine:Â American
