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Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole with Cheesy Crust

ground beef zucchini casserole - featured image
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A quick and easy weeknight dinner featuring savory ground beef, tender zucchini, and a golden, bubbly cheese crust. This comforting casserole comes together in about 35 minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground beef (80/20 works best)
  • 3 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch rounds (about 4 cups)
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon salt, divided (plus extra for salting zucchini)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, drained (fire-roasted preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 ½ cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Salt the zucchini: Place sliced zucchini in a colander, sprinkle with about 1 teaspoon salt, toss gently, and let sit for 10 minutes. Pat dry with paper towels.
  3. Brown the ground beef: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up, until browned and no longer pink (5-7 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
  4. Cook the aromatics: Push beef to one side. Add diced onion and cook for 3 minutes until softened. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir together.
  5. Build the sauce: Add drained diced tomatoes, tomato paste, oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), remaining ½ teaspoon salt, and ½ teaspoon black pepper. Stir and simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  6. Layer the casserole: Spread half of the beef mixture evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Top with half of the zucchini slices. Repeat with remaining beef and zucchini. Press down gently.
  7. Add the cheesy crust: In a small bowl, mix mozzarella, Parmesan, and panko breadcrumbs (if using). Sprinkle evenly over the top.
  8. Bake: Place in preheated oven and bake for 18-22 minutes, until cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown. For deeper color, broil for the last 2 minutes, watching closely.
  9. Rest and serve: Remove from oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve warm.

Notes

Don’t skip salting the zucchini to prevent a watery casserole. Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before cutting for clean slices. For a deeper golden crust, broil for the last 2 minutes but watch closely to avoid burning.

Nutrition

Keywords: ground beef zucchini casserole, cheesy zucchini casserole, easy weeknight dinner, ground beef casserole, zucchini recipe

Find it online: https://emacrave.com/easy-ground-beef-zucchini-casserole-with-cheesy-crust/