This easy Mexican zucchini and ground beef skillet is a flavorful and low-carb meal that combines the hearty texture of ground beef with the mild sweetness of zucchini. This recipe brings together the warmth of Mexican spices and the wholesome goodness of fresh ingredients, making it an excellent choice for a quick, keto dinner. Plus, it's all cooked in one skillet, making cleanup a breeze!
Why you'll love this Mexican zucchini recipe
- It's a one-skillet wonder: Fewer dishes to wash means more time spent enjoying your meal and less time cleaning up afterward.
- Perfect for busy weeknights: This dish comes together in just 30 minutes, making it a great option for those hectic days when you want something tasty and filling without spending hours in the kitchen.
- Low-carb and keto-friendly: Zucchini is a great low-carb alternative to traditional pasta, and this dish is packed with protein from the ground beef, making it a high-fat satisfying meal for those following a keto or low-carb lifestyle.
- Versatile and customizable: This Mexican food recipe can be adapted to suit your preferences and diet. You can use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef or make it vegetarian by using tofu as a protein source. Add your favorite keto salsa and top with some shredded cheddar cheese - this tastes like an unstuffed pepper!
- Budget-friendly: This meal is made with simple, affordable ingredients that are easy to find at any grocery store. Plus, you'll likely have leftovers for lunch the next day!
Ingredients needed for ground beef skillet recipe
Making a Mexican ground beef skillet is easy and requires only a handful of ingredients.
Here's everything you need to make it:
Zucchini
Have an abundance of zucchini? This dish is a great way to use them up! It's like a deconstructed version of zucchini boats with ground beef.
You need two medium zucchini for this recipe, but you might only need one if your veggie is on the large side. You can also use or swap summer squash (use your leftovers from your summer squash taco casserole) into this dish if you want.
Meat
When making this Mexican beef skillet, I used a lean 90/10 ground beef. If you prefer, you can swap it out for ground turkey, pork, or chicken. You could also use beef strips, diced chicken breast, and seasoned shrimp if preferred.
Diced tomatoes
If you are wondering if you can use canned diced tomatoes, the answer is a resounding YES. It's a great way to get some more veggies in without having to chop them yourself.
I love grabbing a few of the cans that have chopped green chiles to give it that Mexican flavor. If you can't find canned tomatoes with green chilis, a can of regular or fire-roasted diced tomatoes will do. You can additionally throw in a few diced jalapeño peppers if you have some on hand.
Fresh diced tomatoes will work great here too! You can substitute 2 cups of fresh chopped tomatoes for one 14.5-ounce can of canned diced tomatoes. Add a bit of tomato paste or tomato sauce to thicken the sauce if needed.
Spices
Finally, you need all the traditional spices to make it taste like the best Mexican zucchini dish you have ever had!
Now, you can use your favorite store-bought Mexican seasoning, but I usually avoid those as they sometimes have some hidden sugars and are super high in sodium. I prefer to use my homemade taco seasoning or chili seasoning!
Fajita seasoning is also a great addition.
Skillet tips
While this easy Mexican ground beef and zucchini skillet recipe is really straightforward, there are a few tips to make the dish perfectly:
- A cast-iron skillet is ideal for cooking this dish as it distributes heat evenly and helps create that delicious golden crust on the meat. Plus, you can easily transfer it from the stovetop to the oven if you want to melt some cheese on top.
- If your zucchini is very watery, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the cut pieces and let them sit for about 15 minutes before cooking. This will help draw out the excess moisture, resulting in a less watery dish.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning the beef, as this can cause the meat to steam instead of browning properly.
- Add your favorite veggies to make this recipe taste even more delicious, like mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onions.
How to make Mexican beef skillet with zucchini
Ready to give this low-carb zucchini and ground beef skillet a try? Here's how to make it:
Step 1: Prepare the zucchini
First, cut the fresh zucchini into bite-size pieces, about ½ to 1" inch wide. I like to slice the zucchini and then cut each round slice into quarters to get the perfect bite-sized piece.
Tip: You can cut them into smaller diced pieces if you prefer, but I wouldn't go any larger.
Step 2: Cook the ground beef
Brown the minced garlic and ground beef in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté it until all the pink is gone, and it begins to brown. The browned bits add an extra depth of flavor.
Step 3: Add in spices and tomatoes
Once the ground beef is cooked through, add tomatoes and your taco seasoning.
Tip: If you don't have a seasoning, feel free to add a variety of your favorite species. I highly recommend onion powder, garlic powder (if you leave out minced garlic), cayenne pepper, cumin, salt and pepper.
Reduce the heat, then cover and simmer on low heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Step 4: Add in the diced zucchini
Finally, add the chopped zucchini, cover, and cook for another 10 minutes. When the zucchini is tender, this dish is done and ready to enjoy!
How to serve Mexican zucchini dish
This flavorful Mexican zucchini and ground beef skillet is amazing on its own, but there are a few ways to make it even more delicious:
- Add some toppings: Top with shredded cheese (cheddar or Mexican blend), chopped fresh cilantro, diced avocado, and some sour cream. I also love to add a bit of extra salsa and fresh lime juice for an added burst of flavor.
- Make it a meal: Serve the Mexican ground beef with your favorite low-carb tortillas or tortilla chips (I make mine in the air fryer!) for a delicious and filling lunch or dinner tonight. You can also serve it over cauliflower rice for a low-carb option. You can make regular rice or Mexican cauliflower rice. Both are great options!
- Use leftovers in other dishes: Use any leftover Mexican beef and zucchini skillet to make burrito bowls, tacos, or even as a filling for stuffed peppers or zucchini boats.
This dish has so much flavor that even family and friends who don't eat keto will enjoy it!
FAQs
Here are the most asked questions about my delicious Mexican beef skillet. If you have any more questions, please leave them for me in the comments down below!
Zucchini tastes best when it's cooked al dente. If you cook it too long, it gets mushy, which isn't pleasant. Cooking the zucchini for five to ten minutes in the covered skillet should warm it up and still keep it firm.
This recipe is very versatile, and you can use any ground meat, such as ground chicken, turkey, chorizo, or even pork. You can even use something like some leftover rotisserie chicken and boneless pork ribs.
You could also make it vegetarian by using crumbled tofu or a plant-based meat substitute.
Yes, you can use frozen zucchini in this dish. Just make sure to thaw it before adding it to the skillet.
There is a vegetable called a Mexican squash. It has a mild flavor and a whiter and sweeter flesh than zucchini but is shaped similarly.
I named this recipe Mexican Zucchini and Beef because it is an easy skillet meal made with traditional Mexican flavors and spices, although not Mexican squash.
No, you don't have to peel zucchini. It has very soft and thin skin that is perfectly edible. You can see in my photos that I didn't peel it.
Plus, the skin has lots of fiber, so I encourage you to keep it on!
If your skillet turns out dry, it could be because you cooked the zucchini for too long, causing it to release more water. You can also try adding a splash of chicken or beef broth while cooking to add some moisture back into the dish.
Almost any other low-carb veggie will taste really good with the spices and meat in this Mexican zucchini recipe.
Chop up a bell pepper or add in a few cups of broccoli. If you are tracking your macros, keep in mind that every vegetable you add will increase how many carbs are in a serving.
The most time-consuming part of this recipe is chopping up the zucchini and browning the meat.
You might be tempted to do all your food prep on your day off and just store it in the fridge. The only downside to this is that after you cut the zucchini, it doesn't keep very well, and it will start to shrivel up.
You can fry your ground beef and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Then, when you are ready to make dinner, just chop your zucchini and add it to the skillet with the Mexican ground beef mixture.
Yes, you can freeze this recipe. Freezing it will save you prep time! All you have to do is grab it out of the freezer, let it thaw, and then reheat it on your skillet.
This recipe will stay fresh in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Love This Keto Mexican Zucchini Recipe? Try These!
Have a ton of zucchini leftover? You may want to try some of my other low-carb healthy recipes featuring this garden-fresh vegetable:
- Crockpot Zucchini includes yellow squash, seasonings, cheese, and a crunchy topping.
- Keto Zucchini Fritters is a crispy side dish made with coconut flour - it closely resembles hash browns.
- Squash Frittata can be made with any summer squash, but I like to use the yellow kind along with zucchini.
- Mexican Squash Casserole is an adaptation of a taco casserole but uses vegetable slices in place of the tortillas.
- Keto Apple Fritter Bread With Zucchini is a delicious way to serve zucchini in a sweet low-carb dessert.
Follow us on FACEBOOK, PINTEREST, and INSTAGRAM for even more tasty keto-friendly recipes!
Recipe
Mexican Zucchini and Ground Beef Skillet
Video
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchini sliced and quartered
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 10 ounces Mexican style diced tomatoes with green chilis (salsa or diced tomatoes could be used), canned
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black ground pepper
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Brown ground beef with minced garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook over medium heat until meat is browned.
- Add tomatoes and remaining spices. Cover and simmer on low heat for another 10 minutes.
- Add the zucchini. Cover and cook for about 10 more minutes until zucchini is cooked, but still firm.
Notes
- A cast-iron skillet is ideal for cooking this dish as it distributes heat evenly and helps create that delicious golden crust on the meat. Plus, you can easily transfer it from the stovetop to the oven if you want to melt some cheese on top.
- If your zucchini is very watery, sprinkle a pinch of salt over the cut pieces and let them sit for about 15 minutes before cooking. This will help draw out the excess moisture, resulting in a less watery dish.
- Avoid overcrowding the skillet when browning the beef, as this can cause the meat to steam instead of browning properly.
- Add your favorite veggies to make this recipe taste even more delicious, like mushrooms, bell peppers, and red onions.
Low Carb Sweeteners | Keto Sweetener Conversion Chart
Nutrition
Additional Info
Notes on Nutritional Information
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.
Copyright
© LowCarbYum.com - Unauthorized use of this material without written permission is strictly prohibited unless for personal offline purposes. Single photos may be used, provided that full credit is given to LowCarbYum.com along with a link back to the original content.
First Published: July 15, 2015... Last Updated: September 25, 2023, with new photos and additional recipe information.
Cecile
Was a big hit with the family. Easy to make as written and quite yummy. Thanks!
The Low Carb Cook
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading the comments and I have switched back to the original recipe after some more recipe testing. I'm glad to hear you all love the OG spices so much! If you take a look at the recipe card, it has been updated 🙂
Henry koning
We really enjoyed this dish
Bea
This dish is easy and delicious and is a way my family eats and enjoys zucchini! It has become a staple for us.
Lynn M
It may be freezing & snowy outside but the inside is toasty and warm with fantastic aroma. Followed each step precisely and my mouth and tummy are filled with joy. I will be making this again no matter the weather because its that good and so easy. Looking forward to using fresh garden vegs in the summer months. Also a good reason to buy a bigger cast iron skillet.
Lily Kindler
This recipe is a favorite for my family for over a year now. I recently pulled up the recipe and sadly saw that you’d changed it from the multiple spices to homemade taco seasoning. The homemade taco seasoning is different from your original recipe. Is the original posted elsewhere on your blog?
Julia S
I know how you feel!
I used the way back machine.
I tbsp chili powder
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper
Lisa
Agreed, I like this old recipe lots better. And my children even noticed. They liked the kick and noticed what the difference with taco seasoning… so I’ll continue to use the old recipe . I had hunted for it. So thanks to posting this to refer to.
The Low Carb Cook
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading the comments and I have switched back to the original recipe after some more recipe testing. I'm glad to hear you all love the OG spices so much! If you take a look at the recipe card, it has been updated 🙂
The Low Carb Cook
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading the comments and I have switched back to the original recipe after some more recipe testing. I'm glad to hear you all love the OG spices so much! If you take a look at the recipe card, it has been updated 🙂
Deanna
This was so good. I added a little bit more water to it and let it simmer with the zuchinni. Didn't do anything else different.
DeeDee
This is a very good Keto friendly meal. I, too, felt it needed mor liquid and added a small can of tomato sauce. My husband enjoyed this with some brown rice and I had cauliflower rice. I will make this again !
Pat
Is ground Turkey acceptable in place of ground beef?
The Low Carb Cook
Definitely!
Diana Shaw
Can I freeze the leftover?
Thanks!
DS
Sherry
Just had this for dinner and it was sooooo good. I used chopped sweet onion instead of onion powder. I added chopped fresh cilantro. Used yellow squash, zucchini, and tomatoes from the garden, and used sharp cheddar cheese on top and let melt on finished recipe! Yum!
Maria Pantano
Can this recipe be made in a slow cooker?
I loved making in skillet but now I need to make in a slow cooker.
Toni Waterman
My husband and I really enjoyed this “comfort food” recipe. It is kind of old fashioned but very good. I did not add red. Pepper flakes because it was spicy enough for us with the canned tomatoes you recommended. I did add some pre-cooked white rice for some filler. It worked very nicely. It is great to have this recipe as a way to utilize the abundance of zucchini we have from the garden.
Gen
Aw, a lil sad the original recipe is gone. I don't remember coriander in it and don't really want to make a batch of taco seasoning. Had to screenshot the seasonings and then adjust to two tablespoons.
The Low Carb Cook
Hi! I just wanted to let you know that I have been reading the comments and I have switched back to the original recipe after some more recipe testing. I'm glad to hear you all love the OG spices so much! If you take a look at the recipe card, it has been updated 🙂
Clara
Love this recipe! It’s delicious and on our regular rotation!
Tammy
Made this tonight and loved it! Substituted cubed chicken for the ground beef and it was fabulous! Definitely adding to my weeknight meals 😊
Cindy
Good but not enough liquid in that can of tomatoes. I added some. Like the others, I added onion and bell pepper. Great use of zucchini!
Maureen
I made this today and it was delicious! I added corn, onion, and carrots and topped with cheese.
Ashley Murphy
Delicious! Will definitely make again. I only had a pound of ground beef, so I subbed in some Italian ground sausage. I felt it needed a little something something, so I topped a serving with shredded cheddar. Top shelf recipe!
Greg Divine
This was delicious! I’m always in for Mexican Food but for it to be this wonderful and low carb is great . We’re starting the low carb/keto thing to loose some extra baggage if you will and we’ve made a few of your recipes and have certainly been impressed. I’ll be making this again with a doubt and will be looking for my next Low Carb Yum recipe to make next . Thank you for sharing your recipe with us.
Ellen Brown
this was absolutely phenomenal! I added a can of drain corn and then after it was all cooked I sprinkled the cheese on top and put the lid back on so that it would melt. I also made rice with it and then topped it with sour cream. it's definitely going to be worked into my dinner rotation!
Linda
Made this tonight using ground turkey! Delicious my fave recipe
Kim K
By any chance can you freeze this and eat later ?
Carmina Morrison
I have made this recipe (as is with no modifications) several times now and my whole family loves it. That is SUPER rare.
Gwen Anddess
My mom is on no salt, low carb and sugar diet due to an illness. I made this dish and she absolutely raved about it. When I brother went to warm it up, he say… this smell really good. Mom says, help yourself and he didn’t tarry. They both said it is a keeper. I take care of both my parents and I’m on the lookout for easy and healthy dishes . Thank you so much for sharing.
Denise
This dish is amazing!! So quick and easy to make too! Topped with a little sour cream and cheddar cheese takes it next level! Definitely will be in permanent rotation.
Phillipa
This is fantastic. My husband and sons used it as a filling for tortillas. My daughter and I paired it with a green salad. All the recipes we've tried never disappoint. Thanks 🙂
Kelly Kelley
I used fresh tomatoes and ended up with a lot of liquid. Any suggestions as to what to use to soak that up?
Lisa MarcAurele
You could just drain off some of the liquid or let it simmer down.
Odessa
So good! I used salsa and added extra garlic, a few Chipotle peppers in adobo, and Mexican oregano.
I think bell pepper would be good added in and top with shredded Oaxaca or Mozzarella cheese or crema.
Gloria
Tried it, very good and easy.
Becky
I substituted yellow squash for the zucchini. Added some onion while browning hamburger meat. Topped with sharp cheddar and sour cream. Yummy!
Karen
We enjoyed this meal.
Tammy
How many cups is 2 medium Zucchini?
Lisa MarcAurele
I usually get 2 to 2.5 cups
Alison McGee
We very much enjoyed this dish. I followed the recipe but I used half ground turkey and half ground beef. We had it with the Mexican riced cauliflower which was also delicious. We served it topped with a little sour cream and grated cheddar cheese. It was wonderful.
Sidney Patin
Very good. Try using Ro-Tel for the mexican chopped tomatoes with peppers in the recipe.
Tory
Yeah this sounds really good I'm going to make it tonight but I'm going to do some cauliflower rice to put it on top of once it's done.. just to give me the illusion that I'm eating a Mexican rice dish.
Thanks
Dan
I made this last night. I followed the directions to the letter except I added mushrooms because we love mushrooms. Loved your recipe and looking forward to making it again. Thank you !
Rick
Recipe was a little bland but I don't use real salt
Rosie
Delicious. Simple to make. Everybody in the family loved it. Served it with brown rice and black beans. Thank you.
Colleen
This has become one of my favorite keto meal-prep make-ahead breakfasts. I need to get in high protein and healthy veggies with my breakfasts. I adjusted the macros to 5 servings to get me through a work week, and I portion them out in 5 microwaveable containers. I reheat one each morning, and top with an over easy egg or top with scrambled eggs/egg whites depending on how much protein I need to hit for breakfast each day. This dish tastes great on its own, but it also tastes really good with eggs.
candace clark
I was curious if I changed the ground beef to ground turkey if you would be able to give me the calories per cup?
Lisa MarcAurele
Each serving would have about 30 fewer calories so it's not a big difference.
Christina Feyen
Wow I was impressed with this dish. The changes I had made was adding chopped onion with the beef and used a pack of taco seasoning before the zucchini. We put the meat blend on a bed of Spanish Rice topped with cheese and salsa! Will make again!
Jamie
This recipe is really good!! It’s on my meal rotation. Sometimes I add shredded mozzarella cheese. Could this recipe be canned to be enjoyed all year?
Lisa MarcAurele
I'm not sure about canning meat. I don't know a lot about the safety with canning.
Denise
I also love casseroles. I’ve made this one several times. Leftovers are also good for lunch or another dinner. Thank you for this recipe and I will check out your other ones!
Patricia Knapp
Quick, simple. I've made this quiet a few times. I started adding sweet frozen corn as well. One dish and done. Love it! can serve with tortillas, crackers or as a stand alone.
Katie
This was delish! I subbed ground turkey instead of the ground beef, and threw in some corn and chopped kale for extra veggies. Soooo good, and so easy! Will definitely be making this again 🙂
Phyllis Waechtler
Do you drain the tomatoes ?
Lisa MarcAurele
I don't drain the tomatoes.
Trisha
This turned out delicious! I didn't have onion powder so I subbed 1 small medium yellow onion diced. I had to use a little over 2 pounds of ground beef, so I ended up adding an additional can of diced tomatoes in addition to the Rotel. This was very good! I definitely will be making again. I also increased the amount of zucchini used ( I used 6 small zucchini) and it was perfect! Thank you for this simple and delicious low carb recipe ????
Sherry
I made this last night and it turned out really well. I made a couple changes, added beef broth because there wasn’t enough juice from the tomatoes and used taco seasoning instead of chili powder. Topped with cheese.
Lisa MarcAurele
Great additions! Thanks for sharing!
Jenny
Super delicious, quick and easy. Thanks for the awesome recipe.
Jess
I made this for dinner this evening, and it is delicious!! We are not low carb, so we put it on top of cornbread, and omg. Better than I thought it was going to be. I didn't have two zucchini, so i used one zucchini and two yellow squash, along with a can of plain diced tomatoes. It needed a bit more chili powder, cumin and garlic though, so i did add a bit more.
Thank you!!
Sidney Patin
Question about Zuchinni - We love to grow Zuks in the garden. In your article you said "However, I think some of the issue was due to us overwatering the plants in the evening. This year, there was a lot of rainy days so we didn’t bothering adding any additional water and the plants did amazing." Why would it make a difference whether the plants get water from the sky or from the hose? Any comments appreciated, we had some issues with powdery mildew last year.
Lisa MarcAurele
My husband does the gardening as I've always had a bit of a black thumb. I have read somewhere that zucchini plants only need about an inch of water every week. I also read that a little extra water is needed when they begin bearing fruit because the fruit needs more water to develop properly. Dry conditions and humid weather (which we can have a lot of here in New England) is said to be the primary cause of powdery mildew.
Michelle
I’ve fixed this recipe for supper several times. It’s an easy one skillet meal. I like to add sharp cheddar cheese and a small bit of sour cream to my plate. This is most definitely one of my favorites.
Dana Grilikhes
Delicious! Very quick and great work night dinner.
Janet
Easy healthy recipe that my family loves.
Leigh Jones
Easy, delicious and very flavorful!
Beth Hamilton
Awesome recipe- I added a yellow squash and a yellow and orange bell peppers. Next time will try the black beans
Beth Hamilton
I added yellow squash and I also put the meat mixture over jasmine rice. So yummy
Michelle
I’ve fixed this recipe several times, it’s one of my favorites. This is a 1 pan meal. Easy clean up. I use 1 zucchini and 1 squash. My husband and I can make 2 meals out of this recipe. I recommend this recipe.
Michelle
I’ve made this recipe several times. We love it. It’s a super easy, one skillet meal. We melt shredded cheese over the top and a bit of sour cream, it’s perfect. My husband and I get 2 meals out of this recipe.
Della Barber
How can I get the nutritional facts with using ground turkey instead of using beef?
Lisa MarcAurele
You can use a recipe analyzer like the one at My Fitness Pal.
Victoria
This tasted amazing and was so simple to make. Will definitely be making it over and over again!
Jennifer
I made the Mexican Zucchini and Beef Skillet and it was delicious! My husband liked it too. We added Parmesan cheese on top and that was really good. Also, I don’t usually do spicy food but this had just enough heat that I could handle. Highly recommended.
Thank you for the recipes!
Mal Edie
Made this keto dish tonight but omitted the canned tomatoes w chili cuz not into it. I added pizza sauce n also added some spinach w zucchini. I still used the spices above. I used 1 zucchini instead of 2 just cuz. I still enjoyed it. Twas tasty.
Sheila
This is wonderful!!! I added a few different ingredients like cauliflower rice and half and half! Yum
Shana
Turned out great and my family loved it!
Delores
I’m going to try this dish. The Keto lifestyle looks like something I can do if the recipes are this simple and economical.
Sheri
This has been a long time family favorite usually served with rice but now we eat it with cauliflower rice. Yummy!!!
Jennifer
This is delicious and quick to make. I made this a couple weeks ago. My family loved it. Tonight I'm trying it with adding black beans and corn. And I'll add 4cheese Mexican cheese to it again.
Tina
Sounds good! How did it turn out?
Jim
Made this last night and loved it. I added onion with beef and garlic and used salsa.
Beth Schnaufer
We loved this low fat recipe. It was easy and quick to make! So good!
Thank you Lisa!
Jennifer Holmes
Delicious! Such a quick easy delicious meal. I added some cheddar cheese on top. Thank you for sharing
Janice
Delicious and easy.
Mica Nitschke
I made this recipe for my family the other night with zuchinni from our garden and it was amazing!! Would you mind if I share it with our customers in our monthly newsletter? We have a grass-fed beef company and like to share yummy recipes with our customers. Thanks! Mica
Lisa MarcAurele
Mica, as long as it's a small community and credit is given, I'm okay with sharing in your newsletter. So glad you enjoy the recipe!
Jill
Very easy and delicious! I made just as instructed (used only 1 pound of ground beef) and topped with chopped avocado, sprinkle of cheese and a dollop of sour cream. I will definitely be making this again. Thank you for the recipe!
Carol C
This looked yummy from the first time I saw the recipe. I saved it until I could get to the store for the zucchini.
I chose to use ground beef like the recipe shows, but used plain diced tomatoes & the taco seasoning packet suggestion.
It is SO YUMMY! Bonus - it’s SO easy to make.
Sara
This was a winner! And we managed to use up zucchini from the garden in a new way that wasn’t boring! My kids don’t like the taste of green chiles, so I subbed a can of diced tomatoes with chipotle peppers and added some smoked paprika. We topped with sour cream, cilantro and some hot sauce. So yummy!
Karen
This is a keeper! Loved the taste and didn't change a thing. My family loved it too. Thanks!!
Jennifer
Very easy and inexpensive. The whole family loved it. We topped with cheese and hot sauce.
Jenny
This is so good! Will add to dinner rotation.
Jenny
This was so good and easy to make! I added some Cotija cheese at the end which added some nice flavor.
Rachel
GREAT recipe! It's amazing too if you add 1 oz of cream cheese for every serving. So 6 oz of cream cheese for the original recipe. I add it when I add the tomatoes and remaining spices. It also increases the fat content, which is lovely for keto.
Stacey
I only had regular diced tomatoes so I added a bouillon cube for flavor. And diced up 4 red potatoes. This is a delicious ‘twist’ on stir fry. Entire family loved it.
Ella
Super easy for a weeknight dinner, and very delicious. I had zucchini from the garden ready to use. I followed the recipe, except I used diced onion and red bell pepper instead of onion powder and red pepper flakes (cooked with the ground beef), and then because we also have an abundance of Swiss Chard from the garden, added some in the last few minutes of cooking. Thank you - we'll make this again!
Kathy
I made this tonight and it was a total hit and they want it again. I eat
low carb but not Keto. I made it with the rice for those who wanted it. I
thought it was delicious. I did not drain the grease. I also added some yellow squash with the zucchini but I prefer the zucchini. I checked out some of your other low carb recipes and planning for another meal. So glad I found this site.
Lisa
This easy beef skillet dish is so delicious!
Deanna
I tried this recipe & totally loved it! Lots of flavor & simple to make. Definitely one I’ll make again!
Sharon
You did not drain the fat grease from the beef?
Lisa MarcAurele
Draining the grease is optional. Those on keto prefer to keep the fat.
Cheryl
If she used venison, venison is much leaner than ground beef, so there isn’t much fat to drain. It also depends on how much fat your beef has. If you have a 70%/30% beef, your meat will be swimming in grease. If it’s 93%/7%, there won’t be much to drain.
Denise
I made this for a second time for dinner yesterday. Hubby and I both love it. I did add a little bit of cheddar this time. I did go a little heavy on the pepper when I cooked the beef so it was a bit hotter than we like but still good. We have leftovers for lunch or another dinner. Thanks for the recipe!
Ellen
Family favorite recipe! Can I use yellow squash instead of zucchini? I have lots of yellow squash in my garden.
Lisa MarcAurele
Yellow squash works great in place of zucchini in the recipe!
Tanya
I am eating this as I type this review and wow, it is seriously so good! I used ground turkey with zucchini, yellow squash and some onion. No chili flake, but used all the other spices. Added shredded mozzarella on top. I'm surprised by how good it is. I am starting a low carb diet, so this will definitely be a staple. Thank you.
Lauryn
Really quick and easy...I'm all about quick and easy! My husband is on Keto, I am not so I added a little brown rice to my plate. Delicious!
Cathy
It is my favorite Keto recipe!!! Can I freeze this ?
Lisa MarcAurele
The zucchini might get a little mushy if frozen, but if that doesn't bother you, it's fine to freeze.
Audrey C
Added some shredded cheese and DELISH!
Anne
Yum. This is an easy ‘use what you have’ recipe.
I made this with 1/2# each ground beef & turkey. Added onion and 3 sliced mini peppers. Used fire roasted diced tomato with garlic, maybe a tablespoon of water (just swished out the can)and taco seasoning, and only 1 zucchini since I only had 1# ground meat.
I also added a little medium shell pasta (cooked 5 minutes and added the last 5 minutes). I know this messed up the ‘low carb’ but it was a nice touch.
Nicole
I have made this recipe several times. It is simple and delicious. I add a handful or two if kale sometimes. I have also used it as a filling to a kinda shepherd’s pie with mashed cauliflower and cheese as topping. Delicious
Eden
Anyone have any ideas on what to replace the tomatoes in this recipe?
Lisa MarcAurele
You can probably just leave them out or use more squash.
)anelyn Jouett
This is a very good dish.
Kathleen
Added corn, should have done either or but not both pepper flakes and a can of Rotel . Still good though, enjoyed it.
Tammy
I’ve made this many times and it is so good. It’s a quick meal to make and my husband loves it with some keto cornbread .
Rita dixon
This is very good , added some venison and sausage, onion , and fresh tomatoes , fresh colored bell peppers, my husband loved it .
Irene
I cook zucchini with corn an fresh chili and one day i decided to add hamb. My family likes it. Then i saw your recipe and thought, huh, i already make that, nothing new
Beth
To me it’s basically the fixings that go inside of a taco. Nothing really special except the added zucchini.
Lynne Thomas
Yummy! Thanks. I used medium fresh salsa from the produce section instead of tomato and green chili. Added a yellow squash for fun. Great dinner for a picky 15 year old type1.
Denise Clapp
I didn't have the Mexican Style tomatoes so I used Salsa. I also shredded some pepper jack cheese on top. Delicious!
Jessica
I made this tonight for my family and they really liked it. I shredded the zucchini and mixed it in with the ground meat, just because my little guys don't like chunks of veggies. I used a medium spiced salsa instead of the mexican tomatoes and it was great. I think the tablespoon of chili powder may have been a bit too much so when I make it again, I'll lessen that up a bit. Other than that, great and easy meal!
Zandra
Delicious. A real keeper.
Jodie
Made this for dinner. Used 3 garden tomatoes with green pepper in our manual food processor instead of canned, the zucchini came from garden as well. very good.
Lizbeth
I’m always looking for new recipes to keep my low-carb diet plan interesting. I found your recipe 3 weeks ago, and I’ve already made it twice, which is a lot, since I live alone and get 4 meals out of the recipe. This satisfies my urge to eat more zucchini, but the hamburger makes it hearty, and who doesn’t love Mexican flavors?! I’m planning to try your stir fry with hamburger and green beans this week. Keep up the good work!
Michele
I made this tonight and it is delicious! I used 93% lean ground turkey to cut down the fat content. I also used a medium pico de gallo fresh salsa in addition to the 10 Oz can of rotel diced tomatoes with chilies to spice it up a tad. Will definitely keep this recipe.
Rhonda H.
This is delicious (and healthy)! Our whole family loved it! Making it tonight for the second time.
Lori
How many grams of sodium per serving? I'm thinking if it's a lot you can substitute fresh tomatoes and green peppers.
Lisa MarcAurele
I just recalculated and got about 500mg.
Jeff
I made this for my wife and I, we absolutely loved it. It reminded us of chili. Very surprised! A must try even if ur on the fence about liking zucchini
Valarie
I saw the zucchini sitting on the counter from the garden and thought “I should make a zucchini dinner of some sort." So I googled -zucchini hamburger dinner- and your recipe was the first thing to pop up and I’m so glad it did! It was fast and easy and so very delicious! Thank you!
Lisa MarcAurele
Yay! I'm happy to help make good use of that garden zucchini! I happen to have some on the counter and will likely make this dish tomorrow.
Amy
Wow-Made this last night due to a zucchini overload in the garden and we just loved it! I added in chopped onions, green pepper and mushrooms as well. My husband is not a huge zucchini fan but really loved this recipe. I will be making this a lot in the future to use up the abundant supply my garden is giving. Love that it is so easy to make!
Sidenote: I brought leftovers to work for my lunch, My co-workers loved it as well and copied down the recipe:)
Kim
How much is 1 serving?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's about a cup or so.
Allison Lowe
So yummy! I decided to add elbow macaroni to mine and it is so tasty!
Lynette
Loved this - whole family! Asked me to make it again this week. Some of them don’t like it quite as spicy, so I’ll have to tone that down a bit, but it will be on our regular rotation going forward. Thanks for sharing!!!
Jazmin
Does the whole recipe equals 272 calories?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's per serving when divided into 6 servings.
Janis
Great Recipe! We are just starting low carb eating, with more meals like this it will be more enjoyable. Thanks!
Bob
I will try this tonight thank you.
Jeremy
Found this just while googling “Zucchini Ground Beef” because that’s what I had on hand. I’ve made it a couple of times and it is a very good recipe. I have on occasion added a couple splashes of beef broth to help soften the zucchini but I think that just depends on the amount of juice in the canned tomatoes. I’m sure you could add onion, peppers, cooked rice or a variety of other things if you wanted but I’d recommend the recipe as listed first, it will probably exceed your expectations.
Deb Gleason
This is one of our new favorite recipes! Very easy to make. I used Ro-Tel Tomatoes with Green Chilis, the Original Version which had no salt added. I also used 1/2 teaspoon Chili Powder and 1/4 teaspoon ground Cayenne Pepper because I know we like those flavors, but not too strongly.
NVMom
Can you specify what a serving size is for this recipe?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's roughly a cup or so.
Jayne
Absolutely delish! I added red onion and mixed in penne pasta to mine and my whole fam loved it! It will be something I make regularly. Thank you!
Audrey O.
Thank you. I just started weight watchers and I made a meal similar to this, but used ground pork instead. It cost me a lot of “points” so I was trying to find a healthy but yummy side to add to it. My natural instincts wanted to add a baked potato, but your suggestion of cauliflower rice was exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much for the great pairing suggestion.
Lisa MarcAurele
So glad it worked out for you. Cauli rice is one of my go to low carb sides.
Angie
Strange combo but overall, pretty decent. I added cheese on top and threw it in the oven for a few minutes. That elevated it slightly. Also added some extra seasonings because it was slightly bland without them. But, decent recipe. My advice is to tweak to your liking.
Virginia Rapkin
Absolutely delicious, all the seasonings were perfect for this dish, definitely going to keep making this, I am full time keto and posted this to recipe to my instagram page 1bearcubgointadisney_keto, giving you full credit, thank you so much
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks for sharing with credit!
Virginia rapkin
You’re welcome, and thank you for permission to post
Tandra
Could you give me an idea on how many cups you think the squash is once cut up? Zucchini comes in so many sizes and I really don't want to use too much or too little. Thanks so much!
Lisa MarcAurele
The zucchini I use is about 2 cups when cut.
Kirstin
This was amazingly easy and quick to put together. The taste was outstanding. Thank you so much. Im a type 1 diabetic trying to eat less carbs so I made this thinking I would be ok with it. Once I tried it I thought it was one of the best meals I have had in a while regardless of ether or not it had carbs. I added onions and some cheese.
Lisa MarcAurele
Interesting. I never would have thought to add in cream cheese.
Diane butler
Very tasty ! This is a keeper Thanks for sharing
Kate
How large is a serving? One cup?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's about a cup or so.
Catina
Made it and liked it! I just started on Keto Diet, so have been looking for ways of making meals the kids will eat. Tonight, I made corn and quinoa sides and they didn’t complain about the zucchini which they don’t normally like. Score!
Maggie
Hi Lisa,
I really want to make this recipe but when I put it in my fitness pal and switch ground beef for Venison which is the only change which doesn’t have many carbs, the carb count per serving comes out to 38 grams compared to your 5 grams
HELP me understand please. I am new to all of this thank you
Lisa MarcAurele
You could have an inaccurate number on one of the ingredients. I've seem some high numbers for things like spices in MFP.
H R
This looks delicious! I was wondering if you have ever made it with turkey or chicken?
Lisa MarcAurele
Any ground meat should work out in the recipe. To be honest, I usually use ground venison as that's what we have a lot of in the freezer.
Olga
I’ve done it with chicken,delicious!
jaynie gamble
So happy to see your comments about making this with venison. I too have a good supply in our freezer and it is good to know that this recipe works well with venison. I will add onions, just because we love onions with just about everything.
Lisa MarcAurele
We have a freezer full of ground venison right now. I've been making this and a bunch of other ground beef recipes to use it up.
Christy
This was an amazing dish!! We added green pepper and red onion. Thank you for the recipe!!
Kelsey MacConell
I made this tonight to have for my lunches at work this week and it is DELISH!!! So much flavor! I bought an offbrand of tomatoes with chilies though and next time I wouldn't as there weren't many green chilies in it but other than that, it tastes amazing!! Thank you for the recipe! It will be in my rotation now. =D
Lisa MarcAurele
It's a regular for me too, especially in the summer when the produce is fresh.
Geri Schaudt
Hi Lisa this sounds really good and I can't wait to make it! I have a question though, since it's just hubby and myself do you think this would freeze well for another dinner?
Thanks,
Geri
Lisa MarcAurele
Cooked ground beef usually freezes well so it should be okay.
Ella
Made this for my family tonight for supper. I was worried the kids would not eat it because of it being a little on the spicy side. It was a hit with the whole family. Will definitely make this again. Thank you
Lisa MarcAurele
Yay! Great that it wasn't too spicy for the kids. I usually omit the crushed red pepper flakes if serving to kids.
Paula
Really good and easy to make! My husband hates zucchini but loved this!
Diana Hill
Ive had this quite a few times. I even added a little corn to it. Its been lunch a couple days a week a time or two ?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's a regular for me too, especially in summer when the garden is producing fresh veggies.
Scott
when you say ground beef should it be regular or lean?
Lisa MarcAurele
I often use ground venison which is very lean. But, you can use any amount of fat you prefer.
Jahna
This was delicious. I had to add a T of butter to hit my fat for the day, but amazing! This will be in regular rotation for me.
Lisa MarcAurele
I'm so glad you enjoyed this easy low carb skillet dish!
Jenny
I see the calories for a serving but what is the serving size?
Lisa MarcAurele
It's 1/6 of the recipe. I just divide the total into 6 even portions.
Samantha
Made this tonight. It was easy and delicious! Will be making again soon!
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks for giving this quick keto dish a try!
Bubbeof4
We love this dish. I seldom repeat recipes more than twice every month or so but this one is in regular rotation. I made it as written several times but one day our local grocery had in-house made chorizo sausage on special. I mixed the chorizo half and half with ground beef. It was absolutely delicious. A game changer. In fact, I’m making it again tonight. Thanks Lisa for sharing this dish!
Lisa MarcAurele
Thanks for sharing about the chorizo! I'm going to give that a try. Sounds delicious.
Cheryl
Turned out great!
Natalie
How much is a serving?
Lisa
It's roughly a cup and half or so.
Sharon
I just made this tonight! My husband really loved it, me too! I chopped up some red onion to saute with the ground beef. I didn't use the red pepper flakes and only put a little chili powder in because I don't like real spicy foods. I cut up a green pepper and put it in at the same time as the zucchini. I made some frozen cauliflower rice and then sauteed it with some olive oil, minced garlic and salt to put the meat and zucchini over. Definitely a keeper!
Lisa
I love serving this one over cauli rice too! So glad you guys enjoyed this simple recipe.
Katie
I browned the beef and combined all of the ingredients in my slow cooker. It took about 4 hours on low to cook. What a great recipe. I served this with mashed potatoes because we love them and aren't on a low carb diet. Thank-you!
Lisa
Good to know it works out well in the slow cooker!
Bee
are we supposed to dump out the liquid from the meat or the canned tomatoes at any time because mine came out super liquidy?
Lisa
I don't and it should reduce down if you cook it a little longer.
Jessica
This was absolutely delicious!!!!
Lisa
Glad you enjoyed it Jessica!
Lynne
So delicious! I just want to thank you for posting this recipe as it is so hard to find a dish that everyone in my family will eat. This accomplished it though! Made exactly as specified - although I dropped and broke my scale so I had to approximate the amount of ground beef - so flavorful and very versatile. Thanks!
Lisa
Glad the dish was a winner with the family!
Lynda StJames
So good! My system can’t handle chilis so I made it with chipotle seasoning and extra cumin and topped it with shredded cheddar. Yum!
Lisa
Great swap outs!
Susan Birch
Sounds great !! I will add cilantro. (is 1 bunch too much?) Could (Ortega) taco spice be used?
Do you have a recipe for making your own taco spice?
Lisa
I don't care for the ingredients in store bought taco mix so I have a homemade blend at https://lowcarbyum.com/low-carb-taco-seasoning/. I think a full bunch of cilantro would be too much. A tablespoon or two is usually enough.
Christie Taylor
This was sooo good and so easy!! My neighbors gave us loads of zucchini from their garden. I added black beans and we topped with some guacamole. A great recipe on it's own or to add your own favorites to. Thank you!
Lisa
You're welcome! This dish is a regular in our home.
Pallie
My 17yr old daughter and I just started trying to lose weight about two weeks ago. We are trying to eat healthier. She found this to try. We made it together about an hour ago. OMG so delicious! One thing we did that made us like it more, was use lettuce leaves like a taco shell. Warmness of the meat and the cool crunchiness of the lettuce was a great combo. Thanks for sharing the recipe.
Lisa
Nice idea using lettuce leaves!
Roslyn
I made this last evening. It was super easy and delicious. Can't wait to have the leftovers as the seasonings will be even better.
Lisa
So glad you enjoyed the recipe!
cajunpapamoose
Tried this quick and easy recipe last night. The only thing I changed was that I chopped 1/2 medium onion instead of onion powder. I cooked the onion until translucent (5 minutes), then added the ground beef.
It was REALLY good, and next time, (soon, I hope) I want to use Pallie's idea from 2 days ago, to wrap it in lettuce.
Thanks to you and Pallie!
Lisa
Thanks for the feedback!
Kim Main
I have made this several times, my husband and I love it. Thanks for a great recipe. Easy to throw together on a busy weeknight.
Lisa
You're welcome Kim!
Megan
Thank you so much for this recipe. I love this!!! It’s super easy after a busy day at work. I added canned corn, a small onion, a sprinkle Monterrey cheese when served, and some lemon to balance out the spices. Before I served it, I also put it over a little bit of rice since it “needed a carb” as my boyfriend said. It got him to eat his veggies! We will definitely be making this yummy recipe again soon!!
Talli
How much is one serving? (Like 1cup or 2cups)
Lisa
About 1.5 cups.
Deborah
Delicious! Ate our on a bed of lettuce, added cheese, sour cream and salsa on top?
tina
I have been making this weekly for the past few months. Depending on what I have the spices and add-ins change but I stick to the ground beef to zucchini ratio, always add the chili powder, garlic and onion (not a huge fan of cumin) and I follow the cooking instructions. I've never used the canned mexican tomatoes with chili, I add a can of chopped tomatoes with or without the juice depending on my mood. I've added freshly made salsa, chipotle in adobo sauce, cilantro, fresh onion, leftover green beans, etc etc. If I have avocado, I'll add that to my bowl right before eating or sometimes I'll top it off with a sunny side egg, or both.
I'm actually eating this right now. This batch I did ground beef, zucchini, fresh garlic, dried onion flakes, canned tomatoes sans juice and Frontier Co-op's chipotle powder (the best chili powder for mexican dishes!!) and it is pretty damn good, might just use this combo from now on since it's so easy. This dish is a lifesaver!! Thank you for sharing!! 🙂
Lisa
Thanks for sharing your experience with the recipe! I'm glad it's become such a staple for you.
Margo
I use fire roasted canned tomatoes, I add fresh spinach and cilantro. Then I top it with sour cream. It’s so easy, yummy and healthy, I make it regularly!
Jeannie
I’m going to try this with zoodles, fresh tomatoes, green chilies and low sodium v8 to reduce the sodium from canned tomatoes.
Lisa
Sounds like a good combination!
Davion Numa
I was wondering its says 272 kcal which is 272000 calories so then how big of a serving would that be if I needed to stay under my intake of 2478 calories.
Lisa
It's 272 calories.
Lori
I made the recipe with ground beef and used the habenaro and jalapeños tomatoes. We like spicy it was delicious. Loved it will definitely make it again.
Elishia
I make this over and over for my meal prep but replace with ground turkey, I add onions, jalapeño, fresh tomatoes instead of can. it's delicious!
Donna
So good! Only had ground turkey but still totally worked. The family loved it. Thanks!
Tiffany
What about using tomato paste instead?
Lisa
It's worth a try.
Melissa Pryse
I have made this often and my family LOVES it!!! It is for dinner tonight actually.
Happy New Year!!!
Lisa
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2018!
Andy
Is that a 10 oz can for the tomato can?
Lisa
Yes. The "oz" got cut off. Will fix.
Louis B
I tried it without the diced tomatoes with chilies and the red pepper flakes. I added a red bell pepper diced and added it to the mix with the zucchini. It was excellent. Many thanks
Kari
Served over rice, substituted a can of green beans for 1 of the zucchini and added cheese on top. Served with corn, although I think that could be added in the recipe too! This was delicious!
Margo Herrera
I made this recipe with rote tomatoes and green chilies. Way too spicy!! The next time, I used Del Monte Fire Roasted tomatoes. Much better. I love the ease and speed of this meal. Thank you for a great meal idea. I’m diabetic and always looking for ways to incorporate more veggies. Next time I will add fresh spinach and cilantro!
Lisa
You can definitely cut back on the spice. I make it milder for the kids and hubby.
Dawna C
I only had regular diced tomatoes, reduced the red pepper flakes and added cilantro. I liked it! My kids, not so much 😉
Lisa
I've made it with fresh tomatoes from the garden and really liked it. My kids don't care for the spices or fresh tomatoes.
Nadine
Making this right now! I only had stewed tomatoes, though, and I've added in some Velveeta and Jack cheese. Waiting for those to melt, and it'll be done. Putting it on top of lettuce and topping with sour cream and salsa, more like a taco salad. BTW, today is National Taco Day!
Lisa
Sounds like a great way to celebrate taco day. I always miss those food holidays.
Amie
I making this tonight, and I'm sure it's going to be excellent, but I want to pass along that the ads on this page are seriously ridiculous. Doing this on my mobile device, it's very difficult to navigate through the ads, and there are so very many of them. Most of them are a full-screen, and it takes several times trying to swipe to get the ad on the screen to move . I know you have to make money, but I just wanted to give you some feedback .
Lisa
Thanks! I'm sorry it was so bad for you. I'll look into that.
Jennifer
I made this for dinner tonight. Yum Yum. I did double the red pepper flakes just because I like it. I even sprinkle some on my eggs when I fry them. Lol. My son who normally is not a fan of zucchini ate 3 helpings. My 4 yr. old granddaughter was helping me and she just had to try a bite of raw zucchini as I was cutting it. She loved it. This was a hit for me! Added bonus of clearing my sinuses lol.
Lisa
That's awesome that the kids love it too. I like to be a little heavy handed on the pepper flakes as well.
Cindy
I had a half of an enormous home grown (someone else's garden) zucchini and didnt' want it to go to waste--i had some ground beef (which i only buy once a month) i just bought yesterday for something else, but decided to try this instead--a very easy and tasty meal--I loved it! Thanks, Lisa, I've bookmarked your website. I wasn't looking for low carb, but I've discovered recently I have reactive hypoglycemia and so have to cut down on carbs--so I'm glad I found your website. Thanks, Lisa!
p.s. i added cumin
Lisa
Thanks for the note on cumin. A little extra spice always enhances the taste. I made this one yesterday too with one huge zucchini from our garden. Cutting carbs should definitely help with your condition. I'm glad you stopped by!
Mary T
I made this tonight for a friend and she even had seconds. She thought it was so good. I did add salsa and cheese. Put in oven to melt cheese. It was great. Will make again.
Lisa
Cheese is always an excellent add!
Meaghan
Added a small diced onion when I browned the meat and omitted the onion powder. Added cauliflower florets since I had some on hand that were getting ready to go bad. I thought the cauliflower added a nice texture. Had a serving with cheese and one without. In a rare change of pace, I didn't feel like the cheese added anything. A good quick meal full of flavor
Lisa
Great idea adding in the cauliflower!
Mike
I added diced onion,bell pepper, green onion and Roma tomatoes. Drained the grease and water off of the meat and added shredded cheddar and baked in 350 for 20. Very good!
Lisa
Great add-ins for flavor! Thanks for sharing.
Charane
How much onion and bell pepper did you use?
Maria
Looks delicious, Can i use turkey ground meat instead of beef?
Lisa
Turkey works too.
Cari
My family LOVED THIS!
Lisa
That's awesome! It's become a regular for my family.
Yvonne
Hi Lisa I came across of your Mexican Zucchini Beef Skillet Recipe and I had to make it. I didn't change anything on your recipe. I have to say it's really good. Of course my hubby has to put shredded cheese on top of the skillet. Men need their cheese. Lol. Thank you again for sharing your recipe. I will be making this again.
Lisa
You're welcome Yvonne! I'll have to try it with cheese!
Kim
This is delish!!! Loved it!
Lisa
I'm so glad it worked out for you!
Cheri
It was delicious. I added corn and a couple tablespoons of V8 to give a little extra moisture. Turned out great.
Aarron
I made this last night. I cut up two boneless skinless chicken breasts to use in place of the ground beef. I also left out the red pepper flakes and sprinkled just a tine bit of shredded cheese on my serving before eating. It was SOOOOO yummy! Thank you!
Lisa
Thanks for sharing your version!
Pat Ibarra
Love this recipe. Make it every other week, it's quick and easy. I call it Calabasitas like what my mom use to make but with corn. I'm making this tomorrow. Thank you
Lisa
That is the name for sauteed squash so it fits perfect for the dish. We make this a lot too.
Sheila
Add Green Chile, preferably Hatch for CalabAnita's! Yumm!
Kate Ladd
Just made this dish - very good! Will definitely make again?
Lisa
Thanks so much Kate!
Aaron
Thanks Kate gotta love it!!
Natalia
Is there any other vegetables, or possibly greens, that you would recommend could be used in this dish?
Lisa
You can replace the zucchini with other vegetable if you wish. Kale or spinach may work or even green beans.
Bonnie
Hi, I wonder if you'd consider starting with onion and garlic and then adding the beef? Thanks! It's on the stove now and can't wait to try it as is first!
Lisa
You could start it that way, in fact, I often do cook onion and garlic first and then add meat.
kimberly
Ive made it and it tastes great even though i didnt have the diced tomatoes with green chiles i just used some cherry tomatoes but i still love the recipe i just have one question how much is the serving size?
Lisa
It's a pretty good size serving. I'd say one and a half cups or so.
Kelli
I love this recipe! I've made it using ground beef, ground turkey, and ground chicken. It was great everytime!
Lisa
Wow! I never thought to make it with the other ground meats. I'll have to try that.
Nick Morgan
The wife and I are going to use ground bison meat.
Sherri
We used ground deer.. homemade salsa, and my homemade taco seasoning.... and frozen zucchini that I chopped up from my harvest!!! Turned out awesome! Thank you
Lisa
I always use deer meat in mine!
Ana
Well, aren't you Ms. One Upper
Mia
Lisa is the one that shared the recipe. So I think she was just mentioning as a common thought and plus she put it in her article.
Raquel
Very delicious and thank you so much
Lisa
You're welcome. I'm so glad it worked out for you.
Mary
I made this but subbed out a 15 ounce can of diced petite tomatoes, juice included, and a 7 ounce can of diced green chilies, it was delightful. We also did the exact same thing but instead of ground beef we used diced chicken breast and my teenager love that version the best.
Lisa
Never thought to use chicken. Great idea!
Applejacks21
What would be the weight on the "2 medium zucchinis"? Thanks
Lisa
I'll try to remember to weigh next time, but it doesn't need to be a very accurate measurement.
Peggy
Yummy. I have an Italian version: https://buttoni.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/unstuffed-zucchini/
Lisa
Sounds delicious Peggy!
Ben
Ben, Waiting for my wife and Grandson to get home...had some ground beef and all the ingredients put it together in a snap. Even added a layer of Monterey jack on top.
Lisa
The cheese topping is genius!
Nina
That's what I was thinking would be a great idea! Glad to know it was good!
Deborah
Oh and adding chopped avocado gives more fat (healthier than sour cream) and the creamy texture and mild flavor are so delightful.
Lisa
Thanks for this one too!
Deborah
I had to add cilantro before serving! SO glad I did.
Lisa
That is a great tip! Cilantro is perfect for Mexican dishes.
Roshelle
Made the mexican zucchini and beef for dinner last night and I added srirracha sauce to it. My family loved it and I will be making this again.
Thanks for the recipe.
Lisa
You're welcome! Love the added srirracha sauce!
Mel
I made this last night but skipped the red peppers and it was fabulous will make again!
Lisa
It is less spicy without them. Glad you liked it!
Diane
Made this for dinner tonight using can tomatoes and it was a hit! Will be adding this to my Low Carb recipe file 🙂 Ty so much for sharing !
Lisa
Yea! Glad you liked it!
April
My family really likes this recipe, including my picky 9 & 12 year olds. I make it with a can of fire roasted tomatoes in place of the tomatoes with green chilies or salsa and I leave out the red pepper flakes so the kids will eat it. It's a great quick meal. Thanks for the recipe.
Lisa
Great tips for getting the kids to eat a less spicy meal! 🙂
Melissa Schurer
Loved the mexican zucchini and beef. I put my own twist on it by adding 2 tblsp of butter and 2 tblsp of sour cream to add more fat to it for my low carb high fat diet.
Lisa
Great changes!
Karen
I don't have a food scale and am on a low carb diet. So how do I know how much 1 serving is?
Lisa
Just divide the total amount into 6 equal servings. Nutritional data is approximate anyway.
Justbrit
Low carb, high fat? Is that what it is supposed to say?
Cindy Cahanin
I added a 1/2 can of enchilada sauce and 1/4 cup of salsa so it would be a little saucy and put it over rice. It was really good.
Lisa
Great idea! The extra sauce is perfect for pouring over cauli rice!
Joanna
I just started a low-carb diet and found your recipe on Pinterest. I made a single serving for myself, so I didn't really measure the ingredients, but it still turned out delicious! Will definitely be making this again! Love some of the comments about adding cheese and sour cream. I'll try that next time!
Lisa
The added cheese and sour cream are good with this. Thanks for stopping in!
Amy Brown
Served it over rice with cheese and sour cream on top. Cut the spice nicely for my spice-phobic husband. 🙂
Lisa
It must be a guy thing. My husband also dislikes too much spice.
Kristi
Soo good. We addd some cheese and some sour cream and I added some fresh cilantro I have popping up!
Lisa
The added cilantro and sour cream sounds terrific!
Nelda
I made zucchini noodles in place of the quartered zucchini.
It's fun and tasty! Great recipe.
Lisa
Cool change. I love zoodles!
Nelda
I did the zucchini noodles in the recipe plus added some corn.
Great recipe!!!
K
Tasty & simple. The second time I made it, I went Italian. Change out the spices and use plain tomato sauce. Voila! Oh, wait, that's a French word....
Lisa
Nice that a simple change makes it Italian. Will give that a try!
Sarah
I am so glad I found your blog! This recipe was fantastic. I had a ton of zucchini and hamburger to use up so I simply did a layered dish after I cooked the ingredients topped with cheese and pop it in the oven for a bit . I can't wait to share this with my low-carb friends on Facebook . Thanks!
Lisa
Love the added cheese. Yum!
Susan
Holy cow was this spicy! My dear hubby was unable to eat it! Recommend the"mild" Rotel tomatoes and perhaps cutting back on the red pepper flakes? However, the flavor was great. It would be good with corn added, sour cream or cottage cheese, tortilla chips on the side. Loved it -- just be prepared for the heat!
Lisa
Good point! Definitely adjust the spice to suit! Hot spice doesn't bother me, but my husband is not a fan.
Chelsea Wong
Hi Lisa! I meal prepped this today to have for lunches this week! It smelled wonderful while cooking and I'm so excited to eat this for lunch this week. Thanks for sharing such a simple yet tasty recipe! I actually shared your recipe on my blog as well and would love for you to check it out some time. Thanks again!
Lisa
Glad you enjoyed the recipe. I'll certainly check out your site!
Malissa H
Our family loved this. I diced up a medium onion and used that in place of the onion powder. I also used 2 lbs of ground beef and 3 medium zucchini. My daughter complained about the spiciness of it, so we spooned some cottage cheese over the top of our serving, and it was OMG great! Thank you so much for sharing!
Lisa
Never would have thought to add cottage cheese, but any cheese or sour cream will kill some of the spiciness.
kim
I love this recipe. So convenient and delicious. I've made this recipe twice, the second time I substituted lean ground turkey and added corn. Thank you for sharing!
Lisa
Corn is a great addition! My daughter would love it that way.
Loyda
This is a VERY old recipe.... Actually a recipe from New Mexico but its called calabacitas. My Parents always made this and I made it for my family growing up. Always served with fresh homemade tortillas. Although I never added tomatoes, and corn was used instead.
Lisa
Great to know it has withstood the test of time! It's one of those keeper recipes.
Stephanie
Will this store well if prepared ahead of time for the week?
Lisa
I make on the weekend and use for lunch during the week so yes it's fine to prepare ahead.
Susan
Do you drain the ground beef?
Lisa
I used very lean meat and didn't need to. If there is a lot of fat, you probably will want to spoon some of it out.
Mary
Has anyone tried this with ground turkey?
Mary
Made this tonight with organic ground turkey and it was delicious!
Lisa
So glad you liked it!
Sara
Made this tonight. Used the Rotel tomatoes with green chilies. Super easy and had lots of flavor!
Lisa
So glad you liked it! 🙂
Ria
Hello,
Whats the serving size ?
Lisa
I'd say about 1 cup or a little more. I didn't measure, but I was taking it to work in a 2 cup container that was a little more than half full.
Denise
How many people would you say this recipe serves?
Lisa
I'd say 6.
Karly F
I made this last night. It was beyond delicious! I also added a little brown rice. Oh and my husband even liked it and he's the one who usually doesn't want to try my healthy dishes! Yummy, I will defiantly be making this dish again!
Lisa
That's great! So happy that you and your husband liked this one!
christina
Made this last night it was a huge hit! We used mexican chili poweder and added a little pablano pepper for some heat. I ate it with brown rice and hubby had soft tacos.
Lisa
Yay! Thanks for giving it a try and writing in!
Anonymous
Made it tonight and everyone loved it!! Will make again for sure.
Lisa
Perfect! Thanks for the comment!
Kelsey
love this recipe ! I add sriracha sauce to it to add more spice !
Lisa
Great add! The spicier the better!
Linda
Great use of zucchini!
My usual question- leftovers freezable?
Lisa
I'm not sure how this would be frozen. I've tried freezing cooked squash before and it was mushy after.
Aggie
This looks and sounds delicious! I'm loving zucchini right now and love that you paired it up with beef. My family would dig this 🙂
Lisa
I'm sure you and your family will enjoy this simple dish!
Joan McCallum
You say to add jarred salsa to this recipe but is not mentioned in the ingredients...do you mean just the other spices mentioned?
Lisa
Fixed. I've used both Rotel and jarred salsa in this recipe. In the one pictured, I used Rotel, but any kind of diced tomatoes can be used. Thanks for catching that. Fixed!
Tom
Awesome recipe my wife and i botb work late and this is a great meal in no time thanks.
Lisa
Quick and easy is the only way to do it after a long work day!
Sharon whitman
Made this tonight fir first time. Added portable lo mushrooms. Was going to add corn didn't have any. Would have popped with color. Loved it will do again