Summer time means lots of zucchini and squash. My mom’s garden was overflowing with zucchini, now it’s too hot in AZ. I’m always looking for new ways to enjoy zucchini. We love my zucchini goulash recipe but it’s nice to try something new. Today, I’m sharing a delicious recipe for Baked Zucchini Pinwheels. They’ve even got a little spice for some added Mexican flair.

Baked Zucchini Pinwheels

 

Author:

Ashley Whipple

Serves: 8

Prep time: 20 mins

Cook time: 40 mins

Total time: 1 hour

Save Print

 

Ingredients

• 3 Zucchini Squash
• 12 oz. Ground Beef
• 8 oz. Cream Cheese
• ⅓ cup Mexican Blend Shredded Cheese
• ⅓ cup White Onion
• 2 stalks Fresh Chives
• ¼ cup Tomato
• 3 Garlic Cloves
• 1 tbsp. Fresh Lemon Juice
• 1 tbsp. Butter
• 2 tbsp. Olive Oil
• 1 tsp. Ground Cayenne Red Pepper
• ½ tsp. Onion Powder
• ½ tsp. Garlic Powder
• ½ cup Water

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
2. Heat stove top skillet medium to high. Add ground beef with water. Cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally and chopping beef into small pieces.
3. Add butter, finely chopped garlic cloves, chopped white onion, finely chopped tomato, freshly squeezed lemon juice, ground cayenne red pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder to beef. Stir. Cook at medium heat for another 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and cook for another 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Add Mexican blend shredded cheese to beef mixture. Stir. Remove from heat.
5. Using the slicer side of a cheese grater (the side that looks like wide smiley faces) slice zucchini into long, thin strips.
6. Add olive oil to foiled baking sheet. Place zucchini slices onto sheet. Salt and pepper. Make sure both sides of zucchini have been evenly coated. Bake in oven for 8 minutes. Flip. Bake for another 8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
7. Add room temperature cream cheese and finely chopped chives to medium mixing bowl. Stir. Heat in microwave for 30 seconds if necessary. Stir.
8. Spread cream cheese mixture onto zucchini slices. Sprinkle beef mixture atop spread. Roll zucchini slices. Optional: use toothpicks to secure for serving.

3.2.2925

These would be perfect for a party. They look so pretty laid out on a tray. What’s your favorite way to eat zucchini? Leave me a comment!

Need some zucchini inspiration? Check out this round-up of zucchini recipes, like this grilled zucchini pizza.

Recommended Reading:

Zucchini Goulash Tortilla Soup Baked Potato and Ham Soup