From stovetop to table in under half an hour, this Cheesy Ground Beef Zucchini Skillet always hits the spot! Boldly seasoned with fire roasted tomatoes, garlic, and lots of gooey mozzarella cheese, it’s a low-carb dinner you’ll make again and again.
Ellen’s Notes
This is one of my very favorite high-portion and low-carb weeknight dinners. It’s so cheesy and always hits the spot!
Cooked together all in one-skillet, the juicy browned ground beef is infused with zesty garlic, fire-roasted tomatoes, chopped onion and spices. Then we toss in fresh zucchini that soaks up all the sauce and cook it just until it’s tender. Then we top it with lots of gooey melted cheese and dinner is done.
I made this meal on the fly – as a way to use up my zucchini before it went bad. I used what I had in the fridge, threw it together, and voila! This cheesy Ground Beef Zucchini Skillet was born! I knew I had something good on my hands when we didn’t end up with any leftovers.
Key Ingredient Notes
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Ground Beef: Ground turkey or any ground meat will work! If you choose a fattier cut of meat, make sure to drain off some of the excess grease if needed.
- Zucchinis: Buy smaller zucchini! Smaller zucchini (about 5-6 inches long) tends to be less watery and with less seeds. I also find them to be more flavorful!
- Fire Roasted Tomatoes: I like using fire roasted tomatoes (as opposed to plain) for extra flavor. Use whatever you have on hand – fresh diced tomatoes or regular canned tomatoes will work as well.
- Beef Better than Bouillon: You can skip this, or add regular beef bouillon, but it really punches up the beefy flavor. I highly recommend trying it! If you don’t use any kind of bouillon, you will need to add additional salt to taste.
- Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Add more or less to adjust the heat level. When I’m making this for the kids, I usually omit it entirely, and just sprinkle them on when serving.
- Mozzarella Cheese: You can swap this with any shredded cheese you prefer. Pepper jack would add a nice kick!
Tips for Making This Ground Beef Zucchini Skillet
Quick, easy, and comforting, you will love how simple it is to make this cheesy ground beef and zucchini skillet. Below are a few helpful tips – scroll down to the printable recipe card for the full instructions!
Allow your ground beef to become nice and browned. I like to leave mine undisturbed for a couple of minutes to develop that rich, caramelized beefy flavor.
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Don’t overcook the zucchini. Cook the zucchini just until tender, where it’s still got a little bite/texture left to it. If you cook the zucchini longer, it will release more water and can make your final dish soggy.
Melt the cheese on the stovetop or in the oven. I sprinkle the cheese on top and then cover the skillet with a lid to let the cheese melt. However, as long as you are using an oven-safe skillet, you could also broil the cheese to melt it and have some crispy edges.
Variations To Try
This skillet is super flexible and adapts well to whatever you have on hand. Toss in extra veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or corn for variety, or stir in a handful of fresh spinach or herbs right before serving.
Adding a can of black beans or some cooked rice (or cauliflower rice to keep it low carb) straight into the skillet will make it even heartier!
Cheesy Ground Beef Zucchini Skillet
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef, or turkey
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon beef better than bouillon
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 (14.5 oz) can petite fire roasted tomatoes
- 3-4 small zucchini, cut into quarter pieces
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
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Instructions
- In a large skillet over medium heat, brown the ground beef with the onion. Use a wooden spoon to break up and crumble the meat as it cooks until no longer pink. If you have a lot of excess grease, drain off the excess before continuing.
- Next, add the garlic, Worcestershire sauce, Italian seasoning, beef bullion, red pepper, and tomatoes (do not drain the tomatoes!). Bring to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the zucchini and simmer for 10 more minutes, just until the zucchini start to soften.
- Top with shredded mozzarella, turn heat to low, and cover with a lid for 3-5 minutes, until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
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Notes
Nutrition
More Easy Ground Beef Recipes to Try
- This easy ground beef stroganoff recipe is the ultimate comfort meal.
- Beef and noodles is a kid-favorite dinner that’s ready in 30 minutes!
- Quick and easy beef enchiladas are made with just 4 ingredients.
- Crockpot sloppy joes are ready whenever you walk in the door for dinner!
- This one-pot taco pasta recipe is packed with Tex-Mex flavor.
