Description
This Ground Beef and Zucchini Skillet is a quick, wholesome, and flavorful one-pan meal perfect for busy weeknights. Combining lean ground beef and tender zucchini with fresh ingredients and simple seasonings, it delivers a balanced, nutrient-packed dinner that is family-friendly and easily customizable.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 medium zucchinis, diced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste or 1 cup diced tomatoes
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to preference)
Optional Fresh Herbs and Add-ins
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or basil
- Shredded mozzarella or Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Wash and dice the zucchini into bite-sized pieces, finely chop the onion and garlic, and have your ground beef ready.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and crumbly, about 5 to 7 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if desired.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: Add the chopped onion and garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook until softened and fragrant, approximately 3 to 4 minutes.
- Cook the Zucchini: Stir in the diced zucchini and cook until tender yet still crisp, about 5 minutes, to maintain texture and absorb flavors.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Mix in tomato paste or diced tomatoes along with salt, pepper, oregano, and chili flakes. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to blend all flavors.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat and stir in fresh herbs if using. Adjust seasoning to taste. Serve hot, optionally topped with shredded cheese or fresh parsley.
Notes
- Use lean ground beef to keep the dish lighter without losing juiciness.
- Do not overcook zucchini; maintaining slight firmness provides a nice texture contrast.
- Brown the beef well for deeper umami flavor.
- Add fresh herbs only at the end to preserve their brightness.
- Adjust seasonings gradually to avoid over-salting.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg