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30-Minute Ground Beef Zucchini Bake

A quick and delicious low-carb casserole loaded with savory ground beef, tender zucchini, and gooey cheese, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 400

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef Lean ground beef works best.
  • 3 medium zucchinis, sliced thin Use medium zucchinis for the best texture.
  • 1 cup marinara sauce Choose your favorite marinara sauce.
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Can be substituted with cheddar or Italian cheese blend.
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • Pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. In a skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, then cook the ground beef until browned, typically about 5-7 minutes. Drain the excess fat.
  3. Mix in salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning, then stir in marinara sauce and let it simmer for a few minutes.
  4. In a 9x13 baking dish, layer half of the sliced zucchini on the bottom. Pour half of the ground beef mixture over the zucchini, then sprinkle a generous layer of mozzarella cheese on top.
  5. Add another layer of zucchini, followed by the remaining ground beef mixture and top with the rest of the mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
  6. Cover the baking dish with foil to prevent it from over-browning, and bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes, until the cheese is bubbly and golden.
  7. Let it cool for a few minutes, then slice and enjoy your delightful cheesy zucchini bake.

Notes

Feel free to mix up the cheeses and add toppings like spicy salsa for an extra kick. Leftovers freeze beautifully!