Ground Beef and Zucchini Skillet Recipe

Zucchini and ground beef combine with simple ingredients to make the most delicious skillet dinner. Fresh, healthy and a total crowd pleaser. Try it today!

Got a zucchini problem? Yeah, me too! In fact, anybody who grew zucchini plants this year is probably looking around right now for the next neighbor who will take a few zucchini off their hands.

Zucchini is an incredible producer, which I love. Just one plant will give you a great harvest. And if you didn’t grow a zucchini, rest assured that they are very inexpensive and easy to find at the grocery store. (By the way – if you say you kill everything you try to grow – try a zucchini! I can almost guarantee your luck will change. 😉 )

I love me some zucchini bread, zucchini muffins, zucchini brownies and all the other zucchini treats. But after making all of that, there is still zucchini everywhere! Not to mention it’s time for something savory instead of sweet.

Enter the zucchini and ground beef skillet dinner. With it’s Mexican-inspired flavors, this baby is fresh, tasty, healthy and loved by all. Zucchini skillet is wonderfully low carb and low calorie. It’s full of fiber and protein. Plus, it’s a quick and easy dish that’ll also put those extra zucchini to good use!

Zucchini Skillet Ingredients

Let’s get dinner started! To make this tasty skillet meal you will need:

• 1 pound ground beef
• 1/2 cup chopped onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/3 teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 can (14.5 oz.) undrained diced tomatoes
• 1 cup frozen or canned corn
• 1 can (15 oz) black beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 can (4 oz) undrained diced green chilies
• 4 cups finely chopped zucchini (approximately 2 medium zucchinis)
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano or 1/4 cup fresh
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1-2 cups grated cheese of your choice

Some of my favorite toppings for this meal include:

• Chips (can be used as a chip dip or crumble chips on top)
• Sour cream
• Cilantro or parsley
• Avocados
• Salsa
• Olives

How to Make Zucchini Skillet

I use a large skillet (12 inches) for this recipe as it gets very full by the end.

On medium heat, saute the onions and garlic in about a tablespoon of oil. Add the ground beef and brown until cooked through. Strain out the grease, if needed.

Return drained beef to the pan. Add in the corn, tomatoes, beans, chiles, cumin, chili powder, oregano and paprika. Stir it all to combine.

Once everything is warmed through, add in the diced zucchini and stir. Simmer all the ingredients until the zucchini is fork tender or cooked to your liking. I like to slightly undercook my zucchini as it will continue to soften with the heat.

Remove skillet from heat and sprinkle the top with cheese.

Put in the oven on broil until the cheese is bubbly and slightly browning.

Serve with any toppings of your choice or as a delicious chip dip. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.

Printable Zucchini Skillet Recipe Card

How to Cook Zucchini without Making it Soggy/Mushy?

Zucchini is like pasta in that it will continue to soften the longer it cooks. Everyone has their own preference about how tender/firm they like it to be. I add my zucchini to this recipe last, after the beef has been browned and drained and the other veggies and seasonings have been added and warmed.

Once I’ve added the zucchini, I simmer and check on the texture until I like the tenderness of the zucchini. Another tip is to slightly under cook the zucchini since it will continue to soften up a bit once the zucchini skillet has been transferred to the oven to melt the cheese.

Mix it Up! Zucchini Skillet Recipe Variations

This recipe is incredibly adaptable! Here are just a few ways you can make this dish your own:

• Try using sausage, ground turkey or even diced chicken instead of ground beef.
• Throw in some peppers, squash or other vegetables that you have on hand.
• Use herbs from your garden or your own special seasoning blend to make it unique.

If you’ve got picky eaters, you’re not alone! Luckily, this recipe goes over well, even with my pickiest kids. The flavor is so great that they dig in without complaint. Here are a few tips if you’re struggling to get kids on board:

• Dice the zucchini very small. I find most kids don’t bat an eye if the chunks are small enough.
• Use this zucchini skillet as a dip. My kids love scooping it up with some crunchy tortilla chips! You can also dish this skillet up and crumble chips over it for a crunchy topping – yum!
• Try using this zucchini skillet as taco filling. With the beef, corn, tomatoes and beans, it makes the perfect filling for any taco or burrito.
• Provide lots of topping options. Toppings make everything better!

More Delicious Recipes

Thanks for being here today!

Do you have a favorite zucchini recipe? I’d love to hear it! Comment below and let me know how you like to use zucchini.

If you need more delicious dinner ideas, here are a few to get you going:

• DIY Mongolian Grill
• Creamy Enchilada Soup | Pressure Cooker Recipe
• Mexican Stuffed Bell Peppers with Chipotle Lime Sauce | Pressure Cooker Recipe
• Pressure Cooker Teriyaki Salmon
• Pressure Cooker Cauliflower Fettuccine Alfredo
• Pressure Cooker Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Potatoes
• Healthy Chicken Salad Recipe with Yogurt Dressing
• Pressure Cooker Whole Grain Creamy Mac and Cheese
• What to Make with Fresh Basil | 10 Brilliant Ideas
• The Best Recipe for Pesto with Basil
• Healthy, Fast and Easy Ideas for Dinner
• The Best Tomato Soup with Fresh Tomatoes