Ground beef and rice bowls with zucchini is a great way to use up all that zucchini that keeps showing up in your garden and at your doorstep from generous friends and neighbors! This is one of our favorite ways to use this vegetable that is yummy, healthy, and easy!
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You can only eat so much zucchini bread and I love coming up with different ways to use it that doesn’t involve bread. Thankfully it is a very versatile vegetable and can be added, and even easily hidden at times, in many different dishes. It seems zucchini plants are always over the top prolific in their production and everyone always has too much of it so it shouldn’t be too hard to get a hold of some during the summer months.
Whats so great about zucchini?…
- It is a great filler and absorbs the flavor of whatever it’s being cooked or baked with.
- It is easy to grow.
- It grows fast!
- There are endless possibilities on recipes to make with it!
- Can be used in both sweet and savory recipes!
- Great for bulking up meals such as stir-fries and casseroles to make your meat/protein stretch farther.
What size of zucchini should I use for this recipe?…
It is best to use zucchini that is small to medium in size for this recipe. If they get too large they are more watery, have less flavor, and are much softer with bigger seeds. However if all you have are huge zucchini that you forgot about or were hiding in all the leaves, don’t worry! You can still use those too! Just cut or slice the center of the zucchini out to remove all the seeds and softer flesh. Discard the center and seeds and only use the remainder of the zucchini which is more firm.
Ingredients:
- rice – white, brown, basmati, jasmine, etc. Whatever rice you love!
- water – for cooking the rice
- ground beef (1 lb) – any percentage of leanness vs. fat will work for this meal. I usually use organic ground beef or locally raised whenever possible
- beef broth or stock (1/2 cup) – use store bought or make your own!
- garlic cloves (3) – I like to use organic garlic. It has a better flavor in my opinion.
- carrots (2 medium) – grated or thinly sliced
- zucchini (1 small/medium) – you can add more or less depending on how much you want to bulk it up. Using more zucchini will make your beef stretch farther.
- salt (1/2 Tbs.) – himalayan pink salt or sea salt
- pepper (to taste)
- mayonnaise – for serving. I like to use avocado oil mayo or homemade.
- sriracha sauce – for serving if you like spice.
- freshly minced garlic for garnish
Instructions for ground beef and rice with zucchini:
- Start your rice. Cook the rice according to package directions. The amount of rice to water varies based on what type of rice you use. While the rice is cooking make the beef and veggies!
PIN it for later!
Ground Beef and Rice Bowls with Zucchini
Ground beef and rice bowls with zucchini is a great way to use up all that zucchini that keeps showing up in your garden and at your doorstep from generous friends and neighbors! This is one of our favorite ways to use this vegetable that is yummy, healthy, and easy!
Ingredients
- rice
- water
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup beef broth or stock
- 3 garlic cloves (minced)
- 2 medium carrots (peeled and grated)
- 1 small/medium zucchini (chopped small)
- 1/2 Tbs. salt
- pepper to taste
- mayonnaise
- sriracha sauce
- fresh minced garlic for garnish
Instructions
1. Start your rice. Cook the rice according to package directions. The amount of rice to water varies based on what type of rice you use. While the rice is cooking make the beef and veggies!
2. In a medium saucepan cook the ground beef over medium heat until browned through. Once brown add the minced garlic (3 cloves), salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
3. Remove the center from zucchini if needed, and chop the zucchini small. No need to peel it unless you really prefer it that way! Set aside to be used in a minute.
4. Peel the carrots (if desired) and grate them. Add them to the ground beef.
5. Pour in the beef broth or stock (1/2 cup). Stir well.
6. Add the chopped zucchini and stir well to combine. Cook over medium heat until the carrots and zucchini are tender but not mushy.
7. To serve, first scoop your rice into a soup bowl then place the beef mixture on top. Garnish with mayo, sriracha sauce, and freshly minced garlic.
This is one our family favorite dinners that is often requested! Leave me any questions below in the comments and I’ll be sure to respond to you as soon as I am able! 🙂