Better Than Pizza? Zucchini Beef Bake 🔥 Always a Hit!

ground beef

🥗Healthier: ground turkey

💰Cheaper: ground pork

Ground turkey is leaner, while ground pork is often less expensive.

cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: cottage cheese

Nutritional yeast is dairy-free, while cottage cheese is a lower-cost dairy option.

Slice 1 and 1/2 lb zucchini into rounds.

Transfer the zucchini rounds into a colander.

Sprinkle about 3/4 of a teaspoon of table salt or 1 and 1/4 teaspoon of kosher salt over the zucchini and toss to coat.

Let the zucchini sit for about 30 minutes to release excess moisture.

Dice one medium yellow onion.

Warm one tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.

Add the diced onions to the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes until they start to soften.

Slice 8 oz of mushrooms.

Add the mushrooms to the pan and cook until golden and the liquid has evaporated.

Season the mushrooms with half a teaspoon of onion powder, half a teaspoon of garlic powder, and half a teaspoon of salt. Toss well to coat.

Remove the mushrooms from the pan and set them aside.

Add 1 lb of ground beef to the same skillet and cook until it's no longer pink, crumbling it with a spatula.

Season the meat with half a teaspoon of salt, half a teaspoon of garlic powder, half a teaspoon of onion powder, and paprika. Stir well to coat the meat evenly.

Rinse the zucchini well to remove the excess salt and pat it dry with paper towels.

Add the onion and mushroom mixture back into the skillet with the ground beef.

Add the zucchini and 1 cup of marinara sauce to the skillet.

Add 1 and 1/2 cups of shredded mozzarella, reserving half a cup for topping.

Add a tiny pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.

Sprinkle in two heaping teaspoons of Italian herb blend and toss everything together until well combined.

Transfer the mixture to a 9 by 13 inch baking dish and evenly spread it, pressing down gently with a spatula.

Top the mixture with two tablespoons of grated Parmesan.

Bake in a preheated oven at 400° F (200° C) for 30 minutes.

When done baking, top with the remaining mozzarella and return to the oven until the cheese melts, broiling for a minute or two if needed.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens