Description
This Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole is a savory, comforting dish combining lean ground beef, fresh zucchini, and melted mozzarella cheese baked to perfection. The layers of seasoned meat sauce, tender zucchini slices, and gooey cheese make it a wholesome, delicious meal perfect for family dinners or meal prepping.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 pounds zucchini, sliced into ½” rounds
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
Meat & Dairy
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
Pantry & Seasonings
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, drained
Instructions
- Prep Zucchini: Slice zucchini into ½” rounds. Place in a colander, toss with salt, and let sit for 15 minutes to draw out excess water. Rinse and pat dry thoroughly to prevent watery casserole.
- Cook Aromatics & Beef: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Sauté diced onions until slightly softened, about 2 minutes. Add minced garlic and ground beef. Cook, breaking the beef apart, until fully browned with no pink remaining, about 5 minutes.
- Build Sauce: Stir Italian seasoning, drained diced tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper into the browned beef mixture. Cook for another minute to combine flavors, then remove from heat to let the sauce meld.
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) so it is ready for baking when you assemble the casserole.
- Assemble Casserole: In an 8×8-inch baking dish, spread half of the meat sauce evenly across the bottom. Layer half of the zucchini slices on top, followed by half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat with remaining meat sauce, zucchini slices, and mozzarella cheese forming a second layer.
- Bake Casserole: Place the assembled casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden on top. Remove from oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Salting and rinsing the zucchini reduces excess moisture, helping prevent a soggy casserole.
- Use lean ground beef to reduce fat content and keep the casserole healthy.
- Draining the diced tomatoes also helps avoid excess liquid in the casserole.
- Feel free to add fresh herbs like basil or oregano for extra flavor.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead and refrigerated before baking.
