Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground beef (90% lean)
- 1 medium (110g) yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves (9g) garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp (15ml) olive oil
- 1 tsp (5g) salt
- ½ tsp (3g) cracked black pepper
- 1 tbsp (15ml) Worcestershire sauce
- 3 medium (600g) zucchinis, sliced into ¼ inch rounds
- ½ tsp (3g) salt
- 1 cup (240ml) beef broth, low sodium
- 1 cup (240g) sour cream or plain Greek yogurt
- 2 cups (225g) sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- ½ cup (50g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp (2g) smoked paprika
- ¼ cup (15g) fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and diced onion, cooking until the meat is browned and the onions are translucent.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 60 seconds until fragrant. Pour in the Worcestershire sauce, salt, and pepper, stirring until the mixture is glossy and deeply browned.
- Toss sliced zucchini with salt in a colander and let sit for 10 minutes. Pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture.
- In the same skillet used for the beef, quickly sear the zucchini slices for 2 minutes per side to soften them and incorporate beef juices.
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Spread half of the browned beef mixture across the bottom of a 9x13 inch baking dish.
- Layer half of the seared zucchini slices over the beef, then top with the remaining beef mixture and the remaining zucchini slices.
- In a mixing bowl, combine sour cream (or Greek yogurt), shredded cheddar, Parmesan, and smoked paprika. Spread this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Pour the beef broth around the edges of the dish. Bake for 30 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and mahogany-colored.
- Garnish with chopped fresh parsley before serving.