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 good for busy weeknights and an effective way to make use of up contemporary zucchini.

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 chunk.
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 Strategies: Pair it with garlic bread, or serve it over pasta, rice, or quinoa to make it an excellent heartier meal.

Cook dinner Time: 50 minutes Servings: 6 Cook dinner Methodology: 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 likely to have extra seeds and moisture, so scoop out the seedy middle if wanted. Swap half or all the zucchini for yellow summer time squash so as to add some extra shade.
Lean Floor Beef: Lean floor beef provides hearty, savory taste whereas conserving extra grease to a minimal. For a lighter possibility, substitute floor turkey, or use Italian sausage for a richer, extra strong taste.
Italian Seasoning and Garlic Powder: These easy seasonings add savory, well-balanced taste to the tomato sauce. For a contemporary of completion, sprinkle chopped basil or parsley over the casserole after baking.
Pasta Sauce: Select a thick, flavorful pasta sauce fairly 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 you could need to chop the bigger items into smaller bites.

Reduce the Zucchini Evenly: Reduce the zucchini into uniform half-moons in order that they prepare dinner at an excellent charge.
Use Medium-Excessive Warmth: Cook dinner the zucchini over medium-high warmth fairly than low warmth. Sooner cooking encourages evaporation as a substitute of steaming.
Cook dinner Time Issues: Cook dinner for 3 to 4 minutes in a skillet for firmer zucchini and 5 to six minutes for a softer casserole.
Drain the Beef Nicely: Drain the meat and the tomatoes effectively. Extra liquid from both could make the completed casserole watery.
Use a Thicker Pasta Sauce: Particularly when utilizing giant 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 via. Take away the foil through the remaining couple of minutes to permit the highest to crisp up.

Extra Methods to Use Recent Zucchini

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

Prep Time 25 minutes

Cook 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. Cook 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, prepare 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 evenly browned.
Let it relaxation 10 minutes earlier than serving so the juices can thicken.

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

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

Course Principal Course

Delicacies Italian

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