Description
Zucchini pizza casserole combines the best of pizza and casserole worlds in one delightful dish that’ll make your dinner table smile. Hearty, cheesy, and packed with garden-fresh zucchini, this comfort meal delivers a crowd-pleasing twist that turns weeknight dinners into something special.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 zucchinis
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- ½ cup onion
- 2 cloves garlic
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Warm your oven to 375F and coat a 9×9-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Chop ½ cup onions and mince 2 garlic cloves. Heat skillet and brown 1 lb ground beef with onions and garlic.
- Drain excess fat from beef. Stir 1 cup marinara sauce, 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, and ½ tsp red pepper flakes into meat mixture.
- Slice 4 medium zucchinis into thin rounds. Sprinkle with salt and let sit 10 minutes, then pat completely dry with paper towels.
- Create first layer in baking dish: spread half the zucchini rounds, top with half the beef mixture, then sprinkle 1 cup mozzarella and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat layering process with remaining zucchini, beef, 1 cup mozzarella, and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.
- Cover dish with foil and bake at 375F for 20 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 5 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.
- Remove from oven and let casserole rest 5 minutes before serving. Sprinkle extra Parmesan on top if desired.
Notes
- Reducing moisture is key to preventing a soggy casserole, so take time to salt and pat dry the zucchini slices thoroughly.
- For a lighter version, swap ground beef with ground turkey or use a plant-based meat alternative to make the dish vegetarian.
- Experiment with additional herbs like fresh basil or thyme to enhance the flavor profile and add more depth to the casserole.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes after baking, which helps the layers set and makes cutting and serving easier.
- Prep Time: 20-25 minutes
- Cook Time: 30-37 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 370 kcal
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg