Ground Beef Zucchini Bake (Low Carb)
This cheesy ground beef, zucchini, and mushroom bake is precisely that culinary marvel. It transforms simple, wholesome ingredients into a profoundly satisfying meal that feels incredibly indulgent, yet keeps your health goals in check.

Then comes the layer of gooey, melted cheese, creating that irresistible pull and flavor that instantly evokes the best parts of a pizza. This combination results in a harmonious blend of familiar comfort food sensations.

This baked dish is not only a flavor powerhouse, but it’s also remarkably filling. The generous protein from the beef, coupled with the fiber from the vegetables and the healthy fats from the cheese, ensures you feel completely satisfied without the need for heavy grains or starches.

You can switch this recipe up with ground chicken, turkey, lamb or pork. You can also make this dish vegetarian and leave out the ground meat!

If you like this recipe, you will also love this Chicken Zucchini Bake or this High Protein Italian Pasta Bake.

Thank you for stopping by Hungry Happens! If you decide to make this or any other dish from our site, we would greatly appreciate you taking the time to comment and rate the recipe! LOVE YOUR LIFE!

Ground Beef Zucchini Bake (Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 1½ lbs zucchini, cut into rounds, salted + pat dry
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 8 oz mushrooms, diced
- 1/2 tsp each salt, garlic powder + onion powder
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 tsp each salt, garlic powder, onion powder + paprika
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tsp Italian herb blend
- 2 tbs grated parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes. Add in the mushrooms and sauté for 4-5 minutes. Add in the salt, garlic powder, onion powder and stir to coat. Transfer to a plate and set aside.
- Next, in the same skillet add in the ground meat and use a wooden spoon to break up the meat until no longer pink. Add in the salt, garlic powder, onion powder and paprika and stir to coat. Taste and adjust if needed.
Assembly:
- In a 9×13 inch baking dish, add in the zucchini, sauteed vegetables, cooked ground beef, marinara sauce, 1 cup mozzarella, Italian herb blend, salt and pepper to taste, and mix until combined. Top with parmesan cheese. Bake for 30 minutes, remove from the oven and top with remaining mozzarella and bake until melted.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- If you don’t have ground beef, you can also use ground chicken, turkey, pork or lamb.
Flavor was amazing… and even though I salted and “sweated” my zucchini for almost two hours, the dish came out almost like soup. (I grated my own cheese and drained the meat. etc.) I’m sure the leftovers will be better because I drained off a ton of liquid, but I was surprised by this as I make zucchini noodles/lasagna all the time! Still tasted great and looked beautiful. 🙂
Hi Jenna, Yes there was liquid in mine as well. I just drained it as you said!
My family & I love this recipe. I make it every week! Thanks for an amazing recipe!
I used plant-based cheese for this recipe and it was still a winner. Delicious and filling!
I followed the recipe except I substituted Italian sausage for the ground beef (and left out the Italian seasoning since the sausage was seasoned). I also followed another review’s suggestion and I ‘baked’ this over indirect heat on my gas grill – since I don’t like to use my oven when it is 100 degrees outside. The meal was delicious! I loved the idea of an Italian type meal without the pasta. Putting this recipe in the general rotation. Try it. You will NOT be disappointed.
Thank you Heather for the glowing rating!
What side dish would you serve with this dish? I’m making this tonight!
This was fantastic! I mixed the sauce, sauteed veggies, and meat together and layered it in between the zucchini, layering cheese also. Pecorino cheese and a little mozzarella on top, broiled it for about 5 minutes to get it really nice and brown. Took another readers advice and added just a little seasoned breadcrumbs on the bottom of the dish. Salted the zucchini and let it sit for 30 minutes then patted dry. Cane out perfect! Thank you so much!