Oven-Baked Zucchini Beef

Layered ground beef, sliced zucchini, and melted cheese baked to perfection with a rich tomato base, creating a flavorful and satisfying low-carb casserole.

• Prep: 20 min
• Cook: 30 min
• Total: 50 min
• Servings: 4
• Cuisine: Latin
• Difficulty: Medium
• Cost: $4.03/serving

Dietary

• Keto
• Gluten-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• High-Protein
• Low-Carb

Tags

• bake
• comfort food
• savory
• rich
• healthy
• crowd-pleaser

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound ground beef (85/15 lean)
• 1 yellow onion (chopped)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 teaspoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 can diced tomatoes (14.5 ounce, undrained)
• 0.25 cup tomato paste (sugar-free)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 zucchinis (medium, thinly sliced into rounds)
• 1 cup Monterey Jack cheese (shredded)
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat.
3. Add chopped yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in minced garlic, ground cumin, dried oregano, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Stir in diced tomatoes and sugar-free tomato paste. Bring to a simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken. Season with 3/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Remove from heat.
5. Assemble the casserole: Spread half of the beef mixture in the bottom of an 8x8 inch baking dish. Arrange half of the thinly sliced zucchini over the beef. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
6. Repeat layers with the remaining beef mixture, zucchini, and then top with the remaining 1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese.
7. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and cheese is bubbly and lightly browned.
8. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired.

Notes

This casserole holds up well as leftovers for up to 4 days and can be easily reheated in the oven or microwave. Consider adding a pinch of smoked paprika to the beef mixture for an extra layer of flavor.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 480
• Protein: 38 g
• Carbohydrates: 14 g
• Fat: 32 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Sodium: 790 mg
• Saturated Fat: 15 g
• Sugar: 7 g
• Cholesterol: 130 mg