Beef and Zucchini Marinara Bake

Name: Beef and Zucchini Marinara Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean); 2 clove garlic (minced); 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried); 0.5 teaspoon salt; 0.25 teaspoon black pepper (ground); 2 zucchinis (medium, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds); 1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz jar); 8 ounce shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim); 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Lean seasoned ground beef layered with tender sliced zucchini, robust marinara, and melted mozzarella for a satisfying, low-effort casserole.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 25 min
Total: 40 min
Servings: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Difficulty: Easy
Cost: $5.11/serving

Dietary

Gluten-Free
High-Protein
Low-Carb
Nut-Free
Egg-Free

Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound lean ground beef (93% lean)
2 clove garlic (minced)
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (dried)
0.5 teaspoon salt
0.25 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
2 zucchinis (medium, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds)
1 jar marinara sauce (24 oz jar)
8 ounce shredded mozzarella cheese (part-skim)
0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F and lightly grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add lean ground beef, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes, breaking meat apart with a spoon until fully browned and reaching an internal temperature of 160°F, then remove from heat.
Spread 1/2 cup of marinara sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Arrange half of the sliced zucchini in an even layer over the sauce.
Layer all of the cooked ground beef mixture over the zucchini, then pour the remaining marinara sauce evenly over the beef.
Top with the remaining sliced zucchini, then evenly scatter shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese over the top.
Bake uncovered at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until the zucchini is fork-tender and the cheese is melted and golden brown around the edges. Let rest 5 minutes before slicing into 4 portions.

Notes

Store leftover portions in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 2 minutes until hot throughout.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 526
Protein: 47.4 g
Carbohydrates: 20.5 g
Fat: 30 g
Fiber: 4.2 g
Sodium: 1654 mg
Saturated Fat: 13.7 g
Sugar: 10.9 g
Cholesterol: 116 mg