Skillet Ground Beef Meatballs with Zucchini Ribbons

Flavorful lean ground beef meatballs gently simmered in a rich, low-sugar tomato sauce, served alongside fresh zucchini ribbons for a light yet satisfying meal.

• Prep: 10 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 7
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $2.59/serving

Dietary

• Gluten-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• Kosher
• Low-Carb
• Low-Sugar
• High-Protein

Tags

• quick
• healthy
• comfort food
• savory
• one-pot
• classic

Ingredients

• 1.5 pound ground beef (lean)
• 0.5 cup yellow onion (finely diced)
• 2 clove garlic (minced)
• 0.25 cup fresh parsley (chopped)
• 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
• 0.5 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 can crushed tomatoes (no sugar added)
• 2 zucchinis (made into ribbons or spiraled)

Instructions

1. In a medium bowl, gently mix together the ground beef, finely diced yellow onion, 1 clove minced garlic, 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, dried oregano, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper. Form into 1-inch meatballs.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add meatballs and brown on all sides, about 5-7 minutes. Remove meatballs from skillet and set aside.
3. Add remaining minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Pour in the crushed tomatoes. Stir in remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon black pepper.
5. Return meatballs to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 10-12 minutes, or until meatballs are cooked through.
6. While meatballs simmer, quickly sauté the zucchini ribbons in a separate pan with a splash of olive oil for 2-3 minutes, until tender-crisp. Alternatively, you can use a spiralizer to create zucchini noodles and serve them raw or lightly steamed.
7. Serve the skillet ground beef meatballs with the zucchini ribbons. Garnish with remaining fresh parsley, if desired.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 395
• Protein: 36 g
• Carbohydrates: 16 g
• Fat: 20 g
• Fiber: 5 g
• Sodium: 320 mg
• Saturated Fat: 7.5 g
• Sugar: 5 g
• Cholesterol: 90 mg