Zucchini Hamburger Casserole

Zucchini Hamburger Casserole is a hearty, family-friendly dinner that layers tender zucchini, floor beef, tomato sauce, and a tacky topping into one comforting casserole. It’s a simple, satisfying meal that’s excellent for busy weeknights and an effective way to make use of up recent zucchini.

Zucchini Hamburger Casserole in the casserole dish and plated with garlic toast

Holly’s Recipe Highlights: Zucchini Hamburger Casserole

Taste: That is wealthy and savory, with seasoned floor beef, tangy tomato sauce, tender zucchini, and a golden, tacky topping in each comforting chew.
Time-Saver: Use pre-shredded Italian cheese and a favourite jarred pasta sauce to maintain prep simple.
Resting Time: A ten-minute relaxation permits the sauce and vegetable juices to thicken earlier than serving.
Serving Recommendations: Pair it with garlic bread, or serve it over pasta, rice, or quinoa to make it a fair heartier meal.

Prepare dinner Time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Prepare dinner Technique: Range Prime and Oven

Ingredient Notes

labelled ingredients for zucchini hamburger casserole

Zucchini: Select small to medium zucchini with agency, unblemished pores and skin. Bigger zucchini are inclined to have extra seeds and moisture, so scoop out the seedy heart if wanted. Swap half or the entire zucchini for yellow summer time squash so as to add some extra shade.
Lean Floor Beef: Lean floor beef provides hearty, savory taste whereas protecting extra grease to a minimal. For a lighter choice, substitute floor turkey, or use Italian sausage for a richer, extra sturdy taste.
Italian Seasoning and Garlic Powder: These easy seasonings add savory, well-balanced taste to the tomato sauce. For a recent crowning glory, sprinkle chopped basil or parsley over the casserole after baking.
Pasta Sauce: Select a thick, flavorful pasta sauce relatively than a skinny marinara, because the zucchini releases moisture whereas baking. Management the flavour with this homemade pasta sauce or go for a spicy arrabbiata sauce.
Petite Diced Tomatoes: Gently drain the tomatoes earlier than including them so they supply texture with out making the casserole watery. Common diced tomatoes work too, however chances are you’ll wish to chop the bigger items into smaller bites.

Minimize the Zucchini Evenly: Minimize the zucchini into uniform half-moons in order that they cook dinner at a fair charge.
Use Medium-Excessive Warmth: Prepare dinner the zucchini over medium-high warmth relatively than low warmth. Sooner cooking encourages evaporation as an alternative of steaming.
Prepare dinner Time Issues: Prepare dinner for 3 to 4 minutes in a skillet for firmer zucchini and 5 to six minutes for a softer casserole.
Drain the Beef Properly: Drain the meat and the tomatoes nicely. Extra liquid from both could make the completed casserole watery.
Use a Thicker Pasta Sauce: Particularly when utilizing massive or very juicy zucchini. This helps to maintain the casserole from being too watery.

cheesy Zucchini Hamburger Casserole in the casserole dish with a portion taken out

Save Each Chunk

Hold leftovers in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days and within the freezer for as much as 3 months.

Thaw in a single day within the fridge. Reheat within the microwave or in a foil-covered baking dish in a 350°F oven till heated by. Take away the foil throughout the last couple of minutes to permit the highest to crisp up.

Extra Methods to Use Contemporary Zucchini

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Prep Time 25 minutes

Prepare dinner Time 25 minutes

Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and put aside.
Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise after which into ½-inch moons.
Warmth the oil in a big skillet over medium-high warmth and add the zucchini, salt and pepper. Prepare dinner over medium-high warmth, stirring sometimes, till the zucchini begins to melt, about 3 to six minutes (see notes). Switch to the ready baking dish.
In the identical skillet over medium-high warmth, cook dinner the bottom beef and onion till no pink stays. Drain any fats.
Stir within the Italian seasoning, garlic powder, pasta sauce, and diced tomatoes. Add to the baking dish and gently stir with the zucchini to mix.
In a small bowl, whisk the egg and milk. Stir within the cheese till coated with the egg combination. Spoon the cheese combination evenly over the casserole.
Bake for 25 to half-hour, or till sizzling and bubbly and the topping is melted and frivolously browned.
Let it relaxation 10 minutes earlier than serving so the juices can thicken.

When cooking the zucchini within the skillet, cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes for a firmer chew and 5 to six minutes for a softer chew.
Stretch the meal additional by serving it with cooked pasta, rice or quinoa.

Vitamin info supplied is an estimate and can range based mostly on cooking strategies and types of elements used.

Course Primary Course

Delicacies Italian

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