Ground Beef Zucchini Bake (Low Carb) (Print version)

A cheesy low-carb ground beef and zucchini bake with marinara, peppers, and a golden melted cheese topping.

# Ingredients:

For the zucchini

01 - 3 medium zucchini, about 1 1/2 lb (680 g), sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
02 - 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, divided
03 - 1 tablespoon olive oil

For the beef sauce

04 - 1 lb (450 g) lean ground beef
05 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
06 - 1 small red bell pepper, diced
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
09 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
10 - 1 1/4 cups (300 ml) no-sugar-added marinara sauce
11 - 2 oz (55 g) cream cheese, cubed
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

For topping

13 - 1 cup (115 g) shredded low-moisture mozzarella
14 - 1/2 cup (55 g) shredded sharp cheddar
15 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan
16 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

# Instructions:

01 - Heat the oven to 375°F. Toss zucchini slices with 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt and let stand for 10-15 minutes. Pat very dry with paper towels.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through.
03 - Add onion, bell pepper, garlic, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, and black pepper. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onion softens.
04 - Stir in marinara and cream cheese. Simmer for 2-3 minutes, stirring until the cream cheese melts and the sauce looks thick.
05 - Spread a thin layer of beef sauce in a greased 9x13-inch baking dish. Add half the zucchini, half the remaining sauce, the rest of the zucchini, and the rest of the sauce.
06 - Top with mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan. Bake for 22-26 minutes until bubbling and the zucchini is tender. Broil for 1-2 minutes if you want more browning.
07 - Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes. Sprinkle with basil or parsley before serving.

# Good to know:

01 - Use no-sugar-added marinara to keep the carbs lower.
02 - Letting the zucchini rest with salt helps prevent a watery bake.
03 - Rest the casserole before serving so the layers set.

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