Mexican Zucchini and Floor Beef Skillet

Why you will love this Mexican zucchini recipe

• It is a one-skillet surprise: Fewer dishes to clean means extra time spent having fun with your meal and fewer time cleansing up afterward.
• Excellent for busy weeknights: This dish comes collectively in simply half-hour, making it an amazing choice for these hectic days if you need one thing tasty and filling with out spending hours within the kitchen.
• Low-carb and keto-friendly: Zucchini is a superb low-carb different to conventional pasta, and this dish is filled with protein from the bottom beef, making it a high-fat satisfying meal for these following a keto or low-carb life-style.
• Versatile and customizable: This Mexican meals recipe could be tailored to fit your preferences and food regimen. You should use floor turkey or rooster as an alternative of beef or make it vegetarian through the use of tofu as a protein supply. Add your favourite keto salsa and prime with some shredded cheddar cheese – this tastes like an unstuffed pepper!
• Finances-friendly: This meal is made with easy, reasonably priced substances which might be simple to seek out at any grocery retailer. Plus, you will seemingly have leftovers for lunch the subsequent day!

Substances wanted for floor beef skillet recipe

Making a Mexican floor beef skillet is straightforward and requires solely a handful of substances.

Here is every little thing it’s worthwhile to make it:

Zucchini

Have an abundance of zucchini? This dish is a good way to make use of them up! It is like a deconstructed model of zucchini boats with floor beef.

You want two medium zucchini for this recipe, however you would possibly solely want one in case your veggie is on the big facet. You may as well use or swap summer time squash (use your leftovers out of your summer time squash taco casserole) into this dish in order for you.

Meat

When making this Mexican beef skillet, I used a lean 90/10 floor beef. When you choose, you possibly can swap it out for floor turkey, pork, or rooster. You may additionally use beef strips, diced rooster breast, and seasoned shrimp if most popular.

Diced tomatoes

In case you are questioning if you need to use canned diced tomatoes, the reply is a convincing YES. It is a good way to get some extra veggies in with out having to cut them your self.

I like grabbing just a few of the cans which have chopped inexperienced chiles to present it that Mexican taste. If you cannot discover canned tomatoes with inexperienced chilis, a can of normal or fire-roasted diced tomatoes will do. You’ll be able to moreover throw in just a few diced jalapeño peppers in case you have some available.

Contemporary diced tomatoes will work nice right here too! You’ll be able to substitute 2 cups of recent chopped tomatoes for one 14.5-ounce can of canned diced tomatoes. Add a little bit of tomato paste or tomato sauce to thicken the sauce if wanted.

Spices

Lastly, you want all the standard spices to make it style like the perfect Mexican zucchini dish you may have ever had!

Now, you need to use your favourite store-bought Mexican seasoning, however I often keep away from these as they often have some hidden sugars and are tremendous excessive in sodium. I choose to make use of my do-it-yourself taco seasoning or chili seasoning!

Fajita seasoning can also be an amazing addition.

Skillet ideas

Whereas this simple Mexican floor beef and zucchini skillet recipe is de facto simple, there are just a few tricks to make the dish completely:

• A cast-iron skillet is right for cooking this dish because it distributes warmth evenly and helps create that scrumptious golden crust on the meat. Plus, you possibly can simply switch it from the stovetop to the oven if you wish to soften some cheese on prime.
• In case your zucchini may be very watery, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the lower items and allow them to sit for about quarter-hour earlier than cooking. It will assist draw out the surplus moisture, leading to a much less watery dish.
• Keep away from overcrowding the skillet when browning the meat, as this will trigger the meat to steam as an alternative of browning correctly.
• Add your favourite veggies to make this recipe style much more scrumptious, like mushrooms, bell peppers, and pink onions.

The best way to make Mexican beef skillet with zucchini

Prepared to present this low-carb zucchini and floor beef skillet a strive? Here is tips on how to make it:

Step 1: Put together the zucchini

First, lower the recent zucchini into bite-size items, about ½ to 1″ inch vast. I prefer to slice the zucchini after which lower every spherical slice into quarters to get the right bite-sized piece.

Tip: You’ll be able to lower them into smaller diced items when you choose, however I would not go any bigger.

Step 2: Prepare dinner the bottom beef

Brown the minced garlic and floor beef in a big skillet over medium-high warmth. Sauté it till all of the pink is gone, and it begins to brown. The browned bits add an additional depth of taste.

Step 3: Add in spices and tomatoes

As soon as the bottom beef is cooked via, add tomatoes and your taco seasoning.

Tip: If you do not have a seasoning, be at liberty so as to add a wide range of your favourite species. I extremely suggest onion powder, garlic powder (when you pass over minced garlic), cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and pepper.

Scale back the warmth, then cowl and simmer on low warmth for about 10 minutes, stirring often.

Step 4: Add within the diced zucchini

Lastly, add the chopped zucchini, cowl, and cook dinner for an additional 10 minutes. When the zucchini is tender, this dish is finished and able to take pleasure in!

The best way to serve Mexican zucchini dish

This flavorful Mexican zucchini and floor beef skillet is superb by itself, however there are just a few methods to make it much more scrumptious:

• Add some toppings: Prime with shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican mix), chopped recent cilantro, diced avocado, and a few bitter cream. I additionally love so as to add a bit of additional salsa and recent lime juice for an added burst of taste.
• Make it a meal: Serve the Mexican floor beef together with your favourite low-carb tortillas or tortilla chips (I make mine within the air fryer!) for a scrumptious and filling lunch or dinner tonight. You may as well serve it over cauliflower rice for a low-carb choice. You may make common rice or Mexican cauliflower rice. Each are nice choices!
• Use leftovers in different dishes: Use any leftover Mexican beef and zucchini skillet to make burrito bowls, tacos, and even as a filling for stuffed peppers or zucchini boats.

FAQs

Listed here are essentially the most requested questions on my scrumptious Mexican beef skillet. When you have any extra questions, please depart them for me within the feedback down beneath!