Craving a mouthwatering Italian dish that won't break your diet? Get ready to fall in love with our Baked Zucchini Spirals and Meatballs Parmesan - a game-changing recipe that transforms traditional pasta into a light, nutritious, and incredibly delicious meal. Imagine tender, juicy meatballs nestled on a bed of spiralized zucchini, smothered in rich marinara sauce and gooey melted mozzarella - all without the guilt of heavy carbohydrates. This recipe is about to become your new weeknight dinner superhero!
Prep Time: 20 mins
Cook Time: 30 mins
Total Time: 50 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 2 medium zucchinis, spiralized
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
- 1 egg
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with olive oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine ground beef, breadcrumbs, egg, salt, and pepper. Mix thoroughly using your hands until all ingredients are well incorporated.
- Form the meat mixture into uniform meatballs, approximately
- 5 inches in diameter. Aim to create about 12-14 meatballs.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and lightly brown the meatballs on all sides, about 3-4 minutes total. This step helps seal in the flavor and creates a nice exterior.
- Spiralize the zucchinis using a spiralizer, creating long, thin noodle-like strands. Pat the zucchini spirals dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
- Arrange the zucchini spirals evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Place the browned meatballs on top of the zucchini spirals.
- Pour marinara sauce evenly over the meatballs and zucchini spirals, ensuring good coverage.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the entire dish, covering meatballs and zucchini.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the meatballs are cooked through and cheese is melted and slightly golden.
- Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and sauce to slightly thicken.
- Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired, and serve hot directly from the baking dish.
Tips
- Pat zucchini spirals dry thoroughly to prevent excess moisture, ensuring a perfect texture.
- Use a medium-high heat when browning meatballs to lock in flavor and create a delicious exterior crust.
- Don't overcook the dish - 20-25 minutes is perfect to keep meatballs juicy and zucchini tender.
- For extra flavor, consider adding fresh herbs like basil or parsley as a final garnish.
- Use lean ground beef for a healthier version of this classic comfort food.
- If you don't have a spiralizer, you can slice zucchini into thin ribbons using a mandoline or vegetable peeler.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 420kcal
Carbohydrates: 15g
Protein: 35g
Fat: 25g
Saturated Fat: 10g
Cholesterol: 130mg
