Description
A hearty, cheesy casserole packed with lean ground beef, fresh zucchini, and melted mozzarella, perfect for a comforting family dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 medium zucchini, sliced
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup panko breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Brown the lean ground beef in a large skillet over medium heat, draining excess fat.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic; sauté until softened, about 3 minutes.
- Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and bring to a gentle simmer.
- Layer the sliced zucchini in the bottom of a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the beef sauce mixture evenly over the zucchini.
- Combine shredded mozzarella, grated Parmesan, and panko breadcrumbs; sprinkle over the casserole.
- Drizzle olive oil over the top.
- Bake for 25‑30 minutes, until bubbly and the topping is golden.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
Prepare ahead and freeze for up to 2 months, or substitute ricotta for a creamier texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 120mg
Keywords: ground beef,zucchini,casserole,Italian,comfort food