Description

This Ground Beef Zucchini Bake is a flavorful low-carb casserole combining sautéed vegetables, seasoned ground beef, and melted cheeses for a hearty and healthy meal. With layers of zucchini, mushrooms, and a zesty marinara sauce, it’s baked to golden perfection and perfect for family dinners or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale

Vegetables

1½ lbs zucchini, cut into rounds, salted and patted dry
1 medium onion, diced
8 oz mushrooms, diced

Meat and Seasonings

1 lb ground beef
½ tsp salt (divided)
1 tsp garlic powder (divided)
1 tsp onion powder (divided)
½ tsp paprika
2 tsp Italian herb blend

Other Ingredients

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 cup marinara sauce
1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 400℉ (200℃) to warm up while you prepare the ingredients.
Sauté Vegetables: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onions and sauté for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add the diced mushrooms and continue cooking for 4-5 minutes, letting them release their moisture and brown slightly. Season with ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, and ½ tsp onion powder, stirring well to coat the veggies evenly. Remove from heat and transfer vegetables to a plate.
Cook Ground Beef: Using the same skillet, add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Cook until no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Season with ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp garlic powder, ½ tsp onion powder, and ½ tsp paprika, stirring to combine. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
Assemble the Bake: In a 9×13 inch baking dish, combine the salted and dried zucchini rounds, sautéed vegetables, cooked ground beef, marinara sauce, 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese, Italian herb blend, and additional salt and pepper to taste. Mix everything gently but thoroughly until evenly distributed.
Add Parmesan and Bake: Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese evenly over the top of the mixture. Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes.
Top with Remaining Mozzarella: After 30 minutes, remove the bake from the oven and sprinkle the remaining ½ cup mozzarella cheese evenly on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 5-10 minutes or until the cheese is fully melted and bubbly.

Notes

Salt the zucchini and pat dry to remove excess moisture which helps prevent a soggy bake.
Use a good quality marinara sauce for better depth of flavor.
Feel free to substitute ground turkey or chicken for a leaner version.
This dish can be prepared in advance and reheated for easy meal prep.
Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be frozen for longer storage.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Category: Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: ground beef zucchini bake, low carb casserole, healthy ground beef recipe, low carb dinner, zucchini bake with ground beef, easy casserole recipes