Ingredients:

  • 1 lb (450g) ground beef
  • 1 medium (110g) yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves (15g) garlic, minced
  • 2 cups (480ml) marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp (5g) dried Italian seasoning
  • ½ tsp (3g) salt
  • ¼ tsp (1g) black pepper
  • 3 medium (680g) zucchini, sliced into ¼ inch rounds
  • 2 tbsp (30ml) olive oil
  • ½ tsp (3g) salt
  • 2 cups (225g) shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup (25g) Pecorino Romano, grated
  • 1 tbsp (15ml) fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions:

  1. Heat the skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook until browned and slightly crispy.
  2. Add the diced onion to the beef and sauté for 5 minutes until translucent.
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Pour in the marinara sauce and simmer on low for 5 minutes to thicken.
  5. Toss zucchini slices with salt in a colander and let them sit for 10 minutes to evacuate excess moisture. Pat them dry with a paper towel.
  6. Quickly sear the zucchini in olive oil for 2 minutes per side until slightly softened.
  7. Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half of the meat sauce across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
  8. Layer half of the zucchini slices on top of the sauce, then sprinkle with half of the mozzarella.
  9. Repeat the layers with the remaining meat sauce and zucchini, then top with the remaining mozzarella, Parmesan, and Pecorino.
  10. Bake for 25–30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown. Garnish with fresh parsley.