ItalianMedium · Hot
Hollowed eggplant halves hold seasoned ground beef in garlicky tomato sauce, then mozzarella seals the top and bubbles in the oven until properly molten. It's the spirit of a baked pasta — layered, hearty, and cheesy — without anything that will spike your blood sugar.
15 min
35 min
5 min
55 min
Nutri-Score
Fair balance
A–E · lower is better · score 4
Calories
913
per serving
Protein
60g
Carbs
15g
Fat
70g
Sat. fat
26g
Fiber
3g
Sugar
8g
Sodium
1450mg
Nutri-Score is a general nutritional-balance guide, not medical or dietary advice.
Environmental impact
Very high impact
A–E · lower is better · includes estimates
kg CO2e
13
per serving
Water
0.9m³
Land
295Pt
Runoff
0.3g P
ground-beef drives 90% of this recipe’s estimated footprint.
Carbon from Poore & Nemecek 2018; water, land & runoff from Agribalyse — modelled averages for comparing recipes, not a measurement of your groceries.
Flavor Profile
Umami
Sweet
Salty
Sour
Bitter
Spicy
Textures
Aromas
Kitchen Equipment
Primary Tool
Baking SheetSafety & Storage
Cooking Temperature
Ground beef must reach an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) to ensure food safety before adding to the eggplant.
Cross Contamination
Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw ground beef and vegetables like onion and garlic.
Handling
When scooping eggplant flesh, ensure hands and tools are clean to prevent bacterial transfer to the edible shells.
Storage
Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. The dairy-based filling with meat should be stored in airtight containers and consumed within 3 days.
High Risk Population
Ensure all dairy ingredients are fresh and within expiration date, as immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to dairy-related contamination.
Allergen Warning
This dish contains multiple dairy sources (cream, mozzarella, cream cheese). Verify all dairy products are lactose-free or suitable for recipients with dairy allergies.
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Pro Tips
Technique
Make sure to scoop out enough flesh to create a generous well for the filling; the more space you make, the more delicious beef and cheese you can pack in.
Substitution
If you don’t have ground beef on hand, turkey, chicken, or Italian sausage work just as well and keep the dish low‑carb.
Make Ahead
You can brown the meat filling a day ahead and store it in the fridge; just stuff and bake when you’re ready to eat.
From the chef
Eggplant halves roasted until tender become the ideal vessel — firm enough to hold their shape, soft enough to absorb the garlicky tomato sauce that coats the seasoned ground beef. Mozzarella goes on last and melts into every crevice, giving you that pull and bubble you want from something baked. It has the structure of a stuffed pasta dish without any of it — layers of beef, sauce, and cheese, all inside something that actually adds flavor instead of just carrying it.
Source: generated · May 30, 2026