Description
A delicious and hearty Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole featuring layers of tender zucchini, savory ground beef in a flavorful tomato sauce, and melted mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. This easy, baked casserole is perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce and Seasonings
- 1 can (15 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Cheeses
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Other
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the casserole.
- Sauté Aromatics: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat, then add the chopped onion and minced garlic. Sauté until the onion is translucent and fragrant, about 3-4 minutes.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, roughly 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess fat to keep the dish from being greasy.
- Simmer Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper to the beef mixture. Let it simmer for about 5 minutes to meld the flavors together.
- Layer Zucchini: Grease a baking dish and arrange half of the sliced zucchini in an even layer on the bottom.
- Add Meat Layer: Pour half of the meat sauce mixture evenly over the zucchini layer.
- Sprinkle Cheese: Evenly sprinkle half of the mozzarella and Parmesan cheese over the meat layer.
- Repeat Layers: Repeat with the remaining zucchini slices, followed by the remaining meat sauce and cheeses.
- Bake Covered: Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 25 minutes to cook through and meld flavors.
- Bake Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Rest and Serve: Allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving to let it set and enhance the flavors.
Notes
- For a keto-friendly version, use low-carb tomato sauce without added sugars.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a leaner option.
- If zucchinis are very watery, consider salting and draining them before layering to prevent excess moisture.
- This casserole can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to baking time if baking from cold.
- Leftovers store well in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking, Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/6 of casserole)
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: ground beef casserole, zucchini casserole, baked beef casserole, healthy ground beef recipe, comfort food casserole
