Zucchini Ground Beef Casserole

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Ground beef and zucchini casserole is about to become your new favorite easy, cheesy skillet beef meal! Ready in under 30 minutes using just one pan, it’s a dish your whole family is sure to love.

When it comes to busy weeknights, I’m all about simple dishes that are ready fast with minimal clean up. That’s one of the reasons I love skillet meals. Just like a one pot meal, using just one pan means I don’t have to stress about spending an hour after dinner cleaning up!

This ground beef zucchini casserole is so easy and filling. With ground beef, zucchini, diced tomatoes, onions, creamy sour cream and cream cheese, and topped with cheese, it cooks up quickly on the stovetop and is packed with flavor.

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Ground Beef Zucchini Recipe

Ground beef is such a versatile protein for so many meals. Our family loves to cook the vegetables from our garden. Every summer we have a ton of zucchini and tomatoes, and I’m always searching for creative, kid-friendly ways to use them.

This is also a recipe that is really easy to follow for even beginners. With just a little bit of prep, this yummy meal is ready to serve in less than 30 minutes!

Ingredients Needed for Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

Ground beef
Minced garlic cloves
Diced onions
Sliced zucchini
Diced tomatoes
Chicken or beef broth
Cream cheese
Sour cream
Worcestershire sauce
Shredded cheese
Sea salt or kosher salt
Ground black pepper
Red pepper flakes

You’ll also need a large skillet. I own and love this cast iron skillet.

When it comes to the lean ground beef, I recommend using 80/20 beef, as having a little more fat adds to the flavor of the dish. You can also substitute other ground meat like ground turkey, ground chicken or ground pork!

Our family loves tomatoes, but if yours doesn’t you can totally leave this out. On the other hand, if you love veggies, add more! This recipe is great with diced green bell peppers and yellow squash, too. Whether you use a little zucchini or lots of zucchini, I do recommend that you use fresh zucchini as opposed to frozen.

For best results be sure that the zucchini slices aren’t too thick, or it will take too long to cook.

While I used cheddar cheese, you can use any kind of shredded cheese you would like with this recipe. Next time you can try:

• Sharp cheddar cheese
• Mozzarella cheeses
• Pepper jack cheese

For more of an Italian feel, try sprinkling a little parmesan cheese and adding Italian seasoning and tomato sauce or tomato paste.

You can also substitute plain Greek yogurt for the sour cream.

Red pepper flakes are optional. I like a little spice in this dish, but it still tastes great without it.

This zucchini ground beef casserole is a hearty meal on its own, but if you would like you can also serve it over pasta, white rice or brown rice, or even over zucchini noodles.

How to Make This Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole Recipe

This meaty zucchini casserole is perfect for weeknight dinners because it comes together fast!

First, brown the ground beef on medium heat in a cast iron skillet. Remove the meat and drain the grease, leaving about 1 tbsp of grease in the pan to sauté the veggies with. Set the meat aside.

In the same skillet you used to brown the meat, add the onions. Cook until they begin to soften (3-5 minutes), and add the garlic. Cook for an additional minute.

Add the tomatoes, zucchini and broth to the pan. Cook for about 5 minutes or until the zucchini is soften.

Turn the heat to medium-low. Add in the sour cream and cream cheese, stirring gently to combine with the zucchini mixture. Add back in the cooked beef as well as the Worcestershire sauce and seasonings. Mix gently.

Sprinkle the cheddar cheese over the top of the meat mixture. Place the entire dish in the oven and broil for 3 minutes until the cheese is melty and bubbly.

Don’t have a cast iron skillet? No problem! You can also place a cover on the pan you’re using and let the cheese melt on the stovetop, or transfer the ingredients to a casserole dish first before placing in the oven.

Store any leftovers of this easy zucchini ground beef casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

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I hope you and your family love this delicious casserole. The cheesy beef is my boys’ favorite part. This easy recipe is so yummy, and also simple to customize for picky eaters!

Did you try this recipe? Let me know with a comment and rating! 🤩 Your 5 star ratings and sweet comments help to support our family business, and help other readers as they create their dishes, too! Don’t forget to tag me on Instagram @funfamilymeals if you try this!