Description
Zucchini Pizza Casserole brings all the comfort of pizza into a lighter, veggie-packed dinner that will have your family asking for seconds. Packed with cheesy goodness and classic pizza flavors, this casserole delivers a delicious meal that sneaks extra vegetables onto your plate without sacrificing taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 medium zucchinis, sliced
- 1 pound ground turkey or beef
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Supporting Ingredients:
- 1 onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup pepperoni slices
Seasonings and Garnish:
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Grab your zucchini and slice them into thin, uniform rounds about ¼-inch thick. This ensures even cooking and a consistent texture throughout your casserole.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 pound of ground turkey. Break the meat into small crumbles as it cooks for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains.
- Dice 1 whole onion and mince 2 garlic cloves. Add these to the browned meat and sauté for another 2-3 minutes until the onions become translucent and fragrant.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, a pinch of salt, and a dash of black pepper into the meat mixture. Stir thoroughly to distribute the seasonings evenly.
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce (about ½ cup) across the bottom of a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking.
- Arrange your zucchini slices in a single, overlapping layer across the sauce, covering the entire bottom of the dish.
- Pour the seasoned meat mixture directly over the zucchini, spreading it evenly to create a uniform layer.
- Top the meat with another ½ cup marinara sauce, ensuring complete coverage.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese across the top, making sure to distribute it evenly.
- Optional: Arrange pepperoni slices across the cheese for extra flavor and crunch.
- Slide the casserole into a preheated 375°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with fresh basil leaves if desired before serving.
Notes
- Grate zucchini carefully and squeeze out excess moisture to prevent a watery casserole, which could make your dish soggy.
- For extra flavor, experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella, parmesan, or a Mexican cheese mix to match your taste preferences.
- When using ground meat, choose lean options like turkey or chicken to keep the dish lighter and healthier.
- If watching carbs, swap traditional pizza sauce for a low-sugar marinara or homemade tomato sauce with fresh herbs.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 28 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 363 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 14 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg