Zucchini Pizza Casserole
Zucchini casserole: assemble this flavorful, crustless pizza bake in under an hour. Enjoy a low-carb, family-friendly dinner.
Ingredients
- 4 cups unpeeled zucchini, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce or marinara
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Place shredded zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let stand for 10 minutes to draw out moisture.
- Squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the zucchini.
- In a large bowl, combine the zucchini with eggs, Parmesan, and half of the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses.
- Press the zucchini mixture evenly into a greased 13x9 inch baking dish.
- Bake the zucchini crust for 20 minutes.
- While the zucchini bakes, cook ground beef and chopped onion in a large saucepan over medium heat until the meat is no longer pink.
- Add minced garlic to the beef mixture and cook for one minute more. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the tomato sauce with the beef mixture and spoon it over the baked zucchini crust.
- Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheeses over the top.
- Bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Don't skip salting and squeezing the zucchini; this step is vital for preventing a watery casserole and ensuring a firm texture.
- For a richer flavor, brown the ground beef until deeply caramelized before adding the onions and garlic.
- The internal temperature for ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C) to ensure it is fully cooked before mixing with the sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until warmed through. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.
- For a richer flavor, brown the ground beef until deeply caramelized before adding the onions and garlic.
- The internal temperature for ground beef should reach 160°F (71°C) to ensure it is fully cooked before mixing with the sauce.
- Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in the oven at 300°F (150°C) until warmed through. Nutrition information is an estimate, calculated automatically. Values vary with brands, substitutions and portion sizes.