Description
This Mexican Zucchini and Ground Beef Skillet is a flavorful one-pan meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with zesty Mexican-inspired spices, tender zucchini, and hearty ground beef, this dish is sure to become a family favorite.
Ingredients
Scale
Ground Beef Mixture:
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 2 medium zucchinis, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) fire-roasted diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
- 1 cup corn kernels (fresh, canned, or frozen)
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Finishing Touches:
- 1 cup shredded cheddar or Mexican blend cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped
- Lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Brown the Beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 6 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add onion and garlic, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes until softened.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings: Stir in zucchini and bell pepper, cooking until just tender, about 5 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, corn, chili powder, cumin, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Stir well and simmer for 8 to 10 minutes until flavors meld and sauce thickens slightly.
- Top with Cheese: Sprinkle cheese over the top, cover the skillet, and cook for 2 minutes until melted.
- Finish and Serve: Remove from heat, garnish with cilantro, and serve with lime wedges.
Notes
- Serve with warm tortillas, rice, or cauliflower rice for a complete meal.
- For a spicy kick, add diced jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce.
- This dish also works great for meal prep and reheats well.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course, Skillet Meal
- Method: Stovetop, Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mexican-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 7g
- Sodium: 680mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 17g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
