Smoky Chipotle Ground Beef and Zucchini Skillet

Savory lean ground beef simmered with tender zucchini, bell peppers, and fire-roasted tomatoes over a bed of wilted baby spinach.

• Prep: 15 min
• Cook: 20 min
• Total: 35 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: Mexican
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $4.05/serving

Dietary

• Gluten-Free
• Dairy-Free
• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• Low-Carb
• Low-Sugar
• Low-Calorie
• High-Protein
• Paleo
• Whole30
• Keto

Tags

• one-pot
• sauté
• healthy
• comfort food
• smoky

Ingredients

• 2 pound ground beef (90% lean)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
• 1 yellow onion (medium, diced)
• 1 red bell pepper (large, diced)
• 2 zucchinis (medium, diced)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 can fire roasted diced tomatoes (undrained)
• 1 tablespoon chili powder
• 1 tablespoon ground cumin
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper (ground)
• 6 cup baby spinach (fresh)
• 0.25 cup fresh cilantro (chopped)

Instructions

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced yellow onion and red bell pepper, cooking for 4 minutes until softened.
2. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until thoroughly browned and reaching an internal temperature of 160°F. Drain any excess grease.
3. Stir in the minced garlic, chili powder, ground cumin, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Add the diced zucchini and canned fire-roasted diced tomatoes with their juices. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 6 minutes until the zucchini is tender-crisp.
5. Divide fresh baby spinach evenly among serving plates and spoon the hot picadillo beef skillet directly over the greens to gently wilt them. Garnish with fresh cilantro before serving.

Notes

Leftovers reheat exceptionally well in a covered skillet or microwave for quick lunches.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 356
• Protein: 33.4 g
• Carbohydrates: 13.1 g
• Fat: 17.5 g
• Fiber: 3.9 g
• Sodium: 782 mg
• Saturated Fat: 6.4 g
• Sugar: 6.4 g
• Cholesterol: 97 mg