One Skillet Simple Ground Beef Recipe with Zucchini and Spices

This one-skillet simple ground beef recipe checks all the boxes when I’m looking for a weeknight meal. Quick? Check. Delicious? Check. Good for leftovers? Check. This dish will have everyone’s mouth watering even before the pan hits the table, I promise.

A Versatile Ground Beef Recipe

I like to use this one skillet (cast iron is my favorite) ground beef recipe as a filling for pita wraps–I think of it as a “Mediterranean taco skillet”. I make the same type of filling for tacos using tortillas, and for this I just switched up the spices, and used flatbread for wraps. Instead of being chili powder based, I use turmeric, paprika, and oregano in equal amounts. The result is a savory, aromatic dish that will have your family sniffing the air and asking what’s for dinner! I almost always keep grass-fed ground beef in the freezer, so I can pull it out and cook it on a moment’s notice.

Recipes for Dinner

My favorite toppings for this one-skillet dish are diced tomatoes and plain yogurt. Feel free to use fresh herbs as well, such as parsley or cilantro. Or get creative and add feta cheese, harissa, or even a tahini sauce. It also makes a great topping for a salad, roasted cauliflower, or use lettuce wraps for a low-carb option.

One-Skillet Ground Beef Recipe with Zucchini and Spices

A super simple and tasty meal to pull together fast. Enjoy with a salad, or use as a filling for pita wraps. 

5 from 3 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keyword: easy weeknight dinner, ground beef dinner

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes

Servings: 4

Calories: 374kcal

Author: Aliye Aydin

Ingredients

• 1 small onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 1 medium zucchini or summer squash
• 1 medium tomato or 1 Tablespoon tomato paste
• 2 Tablespoons olive oil or unsalted butter
• 1 pound grass-fed ground beef
• 1 teaspoon oregano
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon turmeric
• 1/2 teaspoon cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 3/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
• Plain yogurt for garnish
• parsley for garnish
• chopped tomato for garnish

Instructions

• Dice onion and mince garlic. Cut zucchini un half lengthwise then into 1/2-inch slices. Dice tomato. Set aside.
• Heat olive oil in a 10-inch cast iron or other high-sided skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef, breaking up with a spoon, and cook until brown.
• Add onion, garlic, and zucchini, and cook, stirring occasionally for 5 minutes. Add spices, salt, 1/4 cup water, and diced tomato. Cover and simmer for 10 minutes, to allow flavors to combine. Garnish with chopped tomato and serve directly from skillet.

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