Ground Beef Zucchini Bake
A healthy and comforting casserole made with lean ground beef, zucchini, and gooey cheese.
Equipment
- Oven Preheat to 375°F (190°C)
- Casserole Dish 9x13 inch dish
- Large Pan For cooking meat and vegetables
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 cup dry quinoa, cooked Cooked according to package instructions
- 2 tablespoons olive oil Divided for cooking
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 3 cloves garlic Minced
- 1 cup yellow onion Diced
- 2 cups low-sugar tomato sauce (marinara sauce)
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup cottage cheese (ricotta cheese will also work)
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese Shredded
- 2 tablespoons parmesan cheese
- fresh basil For topping
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and grease a 9x13 inch casserole dish to prevent sticking.
- Cook the quinoa according to the package instructions while you prepare the other ingredients.
- In a large pan over medium-high heat, add half of the olive oil (1 tablespoon). Once hot, add the ground beef, garlic, and yellow onions. Cook until the meat is no longer pink and the onions are translucent. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Drain any excess oil before transferring the mixture to the casserole dish. Set aside.
- In the same pan (without cleaning it), add the remaining olive oil (1 tablespoon). Once hot, add the sliced zucchini along with additional salt and pepper. Cover and cook for about 5 minutes until the zucchini is tender.
- To the casserole dish with the cooked meat, add the cooked zucchini, spices, cottage cheese, cooked quinoa, tomato sauce, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Stir everything together using a spatula, ensuring everything is well mixed. Spread the mixture into an even layer in the dish. Top with the remaining mozzarella and the parmesan cheese.
- Bake in the preheated oven for approximately 30 minutes. For the last 5 minutes, set the oven to broil to achieve a golden-brown cheese topping. Once done, remove from the oven and top with fresh basil before serving.
Notes
You can customize this casserole by adding other vegetables like bell peppers or mushrooms. Feel free to substitute ricotta cheese for cottage cheese for a different flavor profile.