Meatloaf Zucchini Melts
As much as I love to create healthy, yet tasty foods, zucchini is definitely not one of my favorite vegetables. Just like Brussels sprouts, I have to force myself to create food with zucchini. While I do love the flavor of zucchini, it is the texture I have a hard time with. However I prepare it, it must always have a crisp bite to it. If it is mushy in any way, I cannot eat it.
That being said, I have snuck zucchini in many recipes, grated into the ground meat or into the sauce. For this recipe though, I thought it would be fun to add one of my husband’s favorite meals, meatloaf, and add a healthy spin on it.
Meatloaf Zucchini Melts
Ingredients
- 1 lb ground beef
- ¼ cup shallots diced
- ⅓ cup zucchini diced
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp brown sugar
- 2 tsp stone ground mustard
- 1 tbsp ketchup
- 1 large egg
- 1 tbsp avocado oil
- ¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
- ¼ cup Colby Jack cheese shredded
Instructions
- Prepare the zucchini by cutting in half lengthwise and spooning out the center of each zucchini half. Reserve the centers of the zucchini.
- In a bowl, add in the ground beef, garlic powder, shallot, diced zucchini, brown sugar, egg, stone ground mustard, ketchup, and Panko bread crumbs. Using your hands, mix the ingredients together until combined.
- Spoon the beef mixture into the prepared zucchini halves. Bake in a 375° oven for 20-25 minutes or until the beef mixture is cooked thoroughly.
- Add the Colby Jack cheese over the top of each zucchini half and place back in the oven for another minute or two so the cheese melts.
- Serve immediately with favorite meatloaf toppings. We prefer BBQ sauce, but whatever your family loves will be perfect.
Nutrition
This recipe is perfect for a keto meal, as well as anyone who needs to be on a low carb diet. If you need dairy free, just omit the cheese, or use dairy free cheese. Another way to prepare this recipe is to dice or shred 2 whole zucchini in with the ground beef and bake in a glass baking dish instead of making zucchini boats. If you aren’t a huge fan of zucchini this way to prepare is perfect.
Hope y’all are having an amazing week. Stay safe, be kind, and hug your loved ones.
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