Zucchini Casserole With Ground Beef

Name: Zucchini Casserole With Ground Beef
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 55 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 pound zucchini sliced thinly lengthwise; 1/2 cup olive oil; 1 pound ground beef; 1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper; 1 quarter cup Himalayan Sea-Salt divided. (Part of this is to draw the excess moisture from the zucchini (see instructions below.); 1/4 cup fresh chopped garlic; 1/2 cup chopped red onion; 1/2 cup sliced black olives; 8 ounces Ricotta Cheese; 1 egg; 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided; 1 jar marinara sauce; 1 cup fresh tomatoes diced; 1 bunch fresh basil chopped; 1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

by Genevieve Jerome

6 people

55 min

is a healthy low carb zucchini and beef recipe that's similar to zucchini lasagna. This layered zucchini ground beef casserole is made with zucchini zoodles, marinara sauce, ground beef, ricotta cheese, mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, basil, and spices. This zucchini casserole with meat will surely be added to your weekly dinner rotation.

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Beef Zucchini Casserole is popular all year long, but it's especially popular during the Summer and Fall months when zucchini is at it's peak. Need even more zucchini in your life? Try my Zucchini Boats With Ground Turkey and try my Asparagus Puff Pastry which is super popular. Want more dinner inspiration? Is Orange Chicken Healthy makes a wonderful, easy dinner option. Beef burrito bowls also make a great dinner idea when you want something yummy and comforting.

💚 Ingredients for Zucchini Casserole with Ground Beef

zucchini beef casserole

What you'll need for ground beef zucchini casserole

zucchini zoodles sliced thinly lengthwise
Olive Oil
Ground Beef
Black Pepper
Himalayan Sea-Salt divided. (Part of this is to draw the excess moisture from the zucchini (see instructions below.)
Garlic
Italian Seasoning
Red Onion
Black Olives
Ricotta Cheese
Egg
Mozzarella Shredded Cheese
Marinara Sauce spaghetti sauce
Tomatoes
Basil
Parmesan cheese
Casserole dish

See recipe card below for quantities

💚 How to Make Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole Recipes

Zucchini Lasagna Recipe Whole Keto

Instructions for zucchini and ground beef casserole

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This recipe is super easy to make and makes great leftovers!

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.

Step 2: Grease an 8-inch baking dish with the 1-tablespoon olive oil. You can do this by using an oil brush or a paper towel.

Step 3: Slice the ends off the zucchini. Then slice down the middle lengthwise into thin slices.

Roll out some paper towels on the counter and lay the zucchini onto the paper towels. Sprinkle the zucchini with sea salt to draw out the excess moisture.

Let the zucchini rest for 15 minutes and prep the meat sauce for zucchini casserole.

Zucchini Casserole with Hamburger

draw out the excess moisture using salt on zucchini slices on a paper towel

Step 4: In a saucepan over medium heat, add the chopped garlic, ground turkey, 1 cup fresh basil, 1 teaspoon of Himalayan sea salt, and black pepper, and simmer for 10 minutes or until the meat is browned. Add the fresh diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce to the meat and simmer on low for 5 more minutes.

The best homemade marinara sauce!

Step 5: While the sauce is simmering, prep the ricotta cheese. Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and some more black pepper in a bowl and mix well until combined.

Adding egg to ricotta cheese makes it even more creamy!

zucchini casserole recipes with ground beef

Step 6: Make a layer of zucchini slices in the prepared baking dish. Spread a layer of the meat sauce on top of the zucchini. Next, spread a layer of ricotta cheese. Sprinkle some black olives on top of the ricotta cheese. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of zucchini slices, and repeat the above steps. Cover the top layer with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle the top with 1-cup Parmesan cheese and more olive slices. Now you've got prepared zucchini casserole!

Now that our marinara sauce is prepared, we are going to layer our zucchini zoodles

zucchini with ground beef and tomato sauce

Step 7: Bake zucchini casserole at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes or until the top is nice and golden. Let cool for 5 minutes and garnish with more fresh basil.

The best zucchini lasagna casserole!

💚 This Meaty Zucchini Dish Will Please Everyone

hamburger zucchini tomato casserole

This meaty zucchini casserole casserole ground beef made with love is perfect just as it is, but here are some swaps. This delicious Zucchini hamburger casserole is made with care.

Swaps For zucchini casserole with ground beef and spaghetti sauce

Instead of ricotta cheese, you could use cream cheese
Add some sour cream for a zesty flavor!
Swap in cheddar cheese instead of Mozzarella cheese, or even better, use both!
Cook your spaghetti sauce in a cast iron skillet for even more meat flavor

Questions For Meaty Zucchini Casserole

This low carb casserole easy zucchini casserole takes minimal time and is popular year-round. Bonus, it makes great leftovers and freezes well!

Can zucchini and squash be used interchangeably in recipes?

Yes! Zucchini and squash are very similar so they can be used interchangeably in recipes.

Does zucchini casserole freeze well?

Yes, it freezes very well and also stores well in a glass, airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.

How long should I pan cook ground beef in spaghetti sauce?

Cook the ground beef first for at-least 10 minutes and then add it the spaghetti sauce and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, but longer is better because it adds even more flavor. The famous Italian saying is, the longer it simmers, the better it tastes!

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📖 Recipe

Zucchini Casserole With Ground Beef

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Recipe details

Yield 6 people
Time spent: Prep time: 15 Minutes Cook time: 40 Minutes Total time: 55 min

Show Nutrition Info

Per serving

% Daily value

Ingredients

1 pound zucchini sliced thinly lengthwise
1/2 cup olive oil
1 pound ground beef
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper
1 quarter cup Himalayan Sea-Salt divided. (Part of this is to draw the excess moisture from the zucchini (see instructions below.)
1/4 cup fresh chopped garlic
1/2 cup chopped red onion
1/2 cup sliced black olives
8 ounces Ricotta Cheese
1 egg
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
1 jar marinara sauce
1 cup fresh tomatoes diced
1 bunch fresh basil chopped
1 cup shredded Parmesan cheese

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375-degrees.
Grease an 8-inch baking dish with the 1-tablespoon olive oil. You can do this by using an oil brush or a paper towel.
Slice the ends off the zucchini, then slice the zucchini down the middle lengthwise into thin slices. Roll out some paper towels on the counter and lay the zucchini onto the paper towels. Sprinkle the zucchini with sea-salt to draw out the excess moisture. Let the zucchini rest for 15-minutes and prep the meat sauce.
In a saucepan over medium-high heat, add the chopped garlic, ground turkey, 1-cup fresh basil, 1-teaspoon of Himalayan sea salt, and black pepper and simmer for 10-minutes or until the meat is browned.
Add the fresh diced tomatoes and the tomato sauce to the meat and simmer on low for 5-more minutes.
While the sauce is simmering, prep the ricotta cheese. Combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and some more black pepper in a bowl and mix well until combined.
Make a layer of zucchini slices in the prepared baking dish. Spread a layer of the meat sauce on top of the zucchini. Next, spread a layer of the ricotta cheese. Sprinkle some black olives on top of the ricotta cheese. Sprinkle a layer of mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of zucchini slices, and repeat the above steps. Cover the top layer with the remaining sauce mixture. Sprinkle the top with 1-cup Parmesan cheese and more olive slices.
Bake at 375-degrees for 30-40-minutes or until the top is nice and golden.
Let cool for 5-minutes and garnish with more fresh basil.

Tips

Instead of ricotta cheese, you could use cream cheese
Add some sour cream for a zesty flavor!
Swap in cheddar cheese instead of Mozzarella cheese, or even better, use both!
Cook your spaghetti sauce in a cast iron skillet for even more meat flavor
This low carb casserole easy zucchini casserole takes minimal time and is popular year-round. Bonus, it makes great leftovers and freezes well!
Can zucchini and squash be used interchangeably in recipes?
Yes! Zucchini and squash are very similar so they can be used interchangeably in recipes.
Does zucchini casserole freeze well?
Yes, it freezes very well and also stores well in a glass, airtight container in the fridge for up to three days.
How long should I pan cook ground beef in spaghetti sauce?
Cook the ground beef first for at-least 10 minutes and then add it the spaghetti sauce and let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, but longer is better because it adds even more flavor. The famous Italian saying is, the longer it simmers, the better it tastes!

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