Mexican Ground Beef and Zucchini Skillet
Flavorful seasoned ground beef and tender zucchini cooked together in one pan and topped with melted cheese. A quick, low-carb comfort meal that is gentle on digestion and effortless to make.
Prep
5 min
Cook
12 min
Total
17 min
Makes
1 serving
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Heather + Lila
Heather created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
12 min
Total
17 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 6 steps complete
Next: Heat 1 tsp (5 ml) of olive…
- 01
Heat 1 tsp (5 ml) of olive…
Heat 1 tsp (5 ml) of olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat at 350°F (175°C) for 1 minute.
Allow: 1 minute
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add 150g of ground beef to the…
Add 150g of ground beef to the skillet and break it apart with a spatula. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until no longer pink and browned throughout.
Look for: no longer pink and browned throughout
Tap card to mark done - 03
Add 0
Add 0.5 pcs of zucchini and 1 tbsp of taco seasoning to the pan. Stir well to distribute spices.
Tap card to mark done - 04
Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until…
Cook for 4 to 5 minutes until the zucchini becomes tender and translucent around the edges.
Look for: the zucchini becomes tender and translucent around the edges
Tap card to mark done - 05
Sprinkle 30g of mexican cheese blend evenly…
Sprinkle 30g of mexican cheese blend evenly over the beef and zucchini mixture. Turn off the heat and cover the pan for 2 minutes until the cheese is completely melted.
Look for: the cheese is completely melted
Tap card to mark done - 06
Plate immediately and enjoy warm
Plate immediately and enjoy warm. Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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