Meaty Zucchini Casserole
User Reviews
5
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Servings
8
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Calories
457 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
American
Meaty Zucchini Casserole
Description
The casserole’s foundation is shredded zucchini, salted to draw out moisture, then combined with eggs, Parmesan, and shredded cheeses to create a moist, tender base. Pressed into a greased 13x9 pan and baked, it sets as a crust for subsequent layers.
The meaty middle mixes a variety of ground meats—pork, sausage, chicken, turkey, ground beef, and a soy crumble for added texture—sautéed with onions, mushrooms, and bell peppers. This mixture is combined with Alfredo and tomato-based pasta sauces along with Italian seasoning for robust flavor.
Once the zucchini base has baked, the meat sauce is layered on top and covered with a generous portion of shredded cheese. The casserole is then baked to melt the cheese and integrate all layers, resulting in a rich and filling dish with a blend of creamy, savory, and cheesy elements.
Ingredients
- cooking spray
Zucchini Base
- 1 large zucchini Aim for approximately 2 cups. A little less will not matter. What I am trying to say is do not start to grate another zucchini if you are just under the 2 cup mark. Your base will still turn out great!, or 2 cups, shredded or grated
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 2 large egg
- ⅔ cup Parmesan Cheese grated or shredded
- 1 ½ cups cheese shredded
Meaty Middle Layer
- 1 ½ pounds ground beef sausage without casings
- 1 ½ pounds pork
- 1 ½ pounds sausage
- 1 ½ pounds chicken
- 1 ½ pounds turkey
- 1 ½ pounds soy crumble
- ¾ cup onion chopped
- 2 cups mushroom fresh, sliced
- ½ cup bell peppers green, orange, yellow or red, chopped
- 1 jar (26 oz) tomato sauce pasta or spaghetti sauce, your favorite brand or flavor
- 1 jar (26 oz) Alfredo sauce pasta or spaghetti sauce, your favorite brand or flavor
- 1-2 tablespoons Italian seasoning if desired
Topping
- 1 ½ cups cheese shredded, more or less to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
- Prepare a 13x9 pan lightly coated with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Get out and measure all of your ingredients.
Zucchini Base
- Place grated zucchini in a strainer, sprinkle with salt and toss. Let stand for 15 minutes.
- Add eggs, parmesan cheese and half of the shredded cheeses to a medium sized mixing bowl. Set aside.
- Stir until combined.
- Squeeze out moisture from zucchini with paper towel.
- Place dried zucchini in medium sized mixing bowl with eggs and cheeses.
- Stir to combine. After I squeeze out zucchini I just use my hands to combine zucchini mixture together.
- Press, as evenly as possible, into your prepared pan.
- Bake, uncovered, for 25 minutes.
- Remove from oven and set aside until needed.
Meaty Middle Layer
- In a large skillet or saucepan, sauté mushrooms and onion over medium heat until start to soften.
- Add ground meat of choice, break up and cook until no longer pink.
- Add peppers.
- Stir until blended. Drain if necessary.
- Add tomato, pasta or spaghetti sauce.
- Stir until combined.
- Dump on top of zucchini layer and adjust until as level as possible.
Topping
- Sprinkle with cheese and add more or less to taste.
- Bake for 20 minutes longer, until heated through.
- Allow to rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
- Serve.
- Enjoy every bite!
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 8Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 457 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 457kcal | 23% |
| Carbohydrates | 5g | 2% |
| Protein | 30g | 60% |
| Fat | 35g | 54% |
| Saturated Fat | 16g | 80% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1g | 6% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 12g | 60% |
| Trans Fat | 1g | 50% |
| Cholesterol | 157mg | 52% |
| Sodium | 793mg | 33% |
| Potassium | 460mg | 10% |
| Fiber | 1g | 4% |
| Sugar | 2g | 4% |
| Vitamin A | 645IU | 13% |
| Vitamin C | 9mg | 10% |
| Calcium | 406mg | 41% |
| Iron | 2mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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