Description
The Mexican Zucchini and Ground Beef Skillet is a quick, flavorful, and nutritious one-pan meal combining tender zucchini, lean ground beef, and authentic Mexican spices. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s perfect for busy weeknights, offering a fresh, low-carb, and budget-friendly dinner option that can be easily adapted to suit various dietary needs.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes with juices
- 2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh cilantro, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Ingredients: Wash and slice the zucchinis into bite-sized pieces. Dice the onion and mince the garlic to have all ingredients ready for cooking.
- Brown the Ground Beef: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spatula. Drain excess fat if necessary to keep the dish lighter.
- Sauté Onion and Garlic: Add diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the beef. Cook for about 3 minutes until softened and fragrant, stirring occasionally to prevent burning.
- Add Zucchini and Spices: Stir in zucchini slices along with chili powder, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to evenly coat the veggies with spices, and cook for about 5 minutes until zucchini begins to soften but remains crisp.
- Incorporate Tomatoes and Simmer: Pour in the diced tomatoes with their juices. Reduce heat to medium-low and let the mixture simmer for 5 to 7 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and zucchini to become tender yet not mushy.
- Finish with Fresh Cilantro: Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle freshly chopped cilantro on top. Stir once more, and the dish is ready to serve.
Notes
- Use medium heat to avoid overcooking zucchini and maintain texture.
- Drain excess fat from ground beef to prevent greasiness.
- Use freshly ground chili powder and cumin for more vibrant flavors.
- Cook in batches if the skillet is small to brown the beef better.
- Add cilantro and any fresh toppings last to keep them bright and fresh.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Skillet Cooking
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/4 recipe)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Mexican, zucchini, ground beef, quick dinner, low carb, easy skillet meal, weeknight dinner