Description
A delicious and hearty Cheesy Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole that combines ground beef, zucchini, and a blend of cheeses for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup ricotta cheese
- 1 large egg
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion is translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Add the ground beef, cooking until browned and fully cooked, breaking it apart with a spoon, about 5-7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
- Stir in the sliced zucchini, diced tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 5 minutes, allowing the zucchini to soften slightly. Remove from heat.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, egg, and half of the mozzarella cheese. Mix until well combined.
- In a greased 9×13 inch baking dish, layer half of the beef and zucchini mixture, followed by the ricotta mixture, and then the remaining beef and zucchini mixture.
- Top with the remaining mozzarella cheese and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 minutes, or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown.
- Let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a spicier version, add ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.
- To make it vegetarian, substitute the ground beef with 1 can (15 ounces) of drained black beans or lentils.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 90mg