Ground Beef Zucchini Bake: A Delicious Weeknight Delight
A hearty and flavorful Ground Beef Zucchini Bake that's perfect for a quick weeknight meal. This recipe combines tender zucchini with seasoned ground beef and marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella for a comforting and satisfying dish.
Equipment
- large skillet
- 9x13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs zucchini cut into rounds, salted and patted dry
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 8 oz mushrooms diced
- 0.5 tsp salt for vegetables
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder for vegetables
- 0.5 tsp onion powder for vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 0.5 tsp salt for meat
- 0.5 tsp garlic powder for meat
- 0.5 tsp onion powder for meat
- 0.5 tsp paprika for meat
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional Toppings
- extra mozzarella cheese
- fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare the zucchini by slicing it into rounds, salting them, and patting them dry to remove excess moisture.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and mushrooms and sauté until softened, about 5-7 minutes. Season with salt, garlic powder, and onion powder.
- Add the ground beef to the skillet with the vegetables. Break it up with a spoon and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease. Season the meat with salt, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika.
- Stir in the marinara sauce and cook for another 2 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld. Remove the skillet from the heat.
- In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer half of the prepared zucchini rounds. Spoon the ground beef and marinara mixture evenly over the zucchini. Top with the remaining zucchini rounds.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top layer of zucchini. If desired, add extra mozzarella cheese for a cheesier topping.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh parsley if desired before serving.
Tips
- For a firmer bake, you can lightly pre-cook the zucchini rounds in a skillet for a few minutes before layering them in the dish.
- Feel free to add other vegetables like bell peppers or spinach to the meat mixture for added flavor and nutrients.
Notes
Ensure zucchini is well-drained after salting to prevent a watery bake. This dish reheats well, making it great for meal prep.