Description
This Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole is a hearty, low-carb dish combining savory ground beef, fresh zucchini, and a blend of melted cheeses for a comforting meal. Perfectly seasoned with Italian herbs and baked to golden bubbly perfection, it’s a gluten-free, protein-packed dinner that’s easy to prepare and satisfying.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground beef
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into thin half-moons
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Dairy and Eggs
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup sour cream
- 2 eggs, lightly beaten
Others
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Prepare Oven and Dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the olive oil and sauté the diced onion until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds to release its aroma.
- Cook Ground Beef: Add the ground beef to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it apart as it cooks for even cooking. Drain any excess grease to keep the casserole from becoming too greasy.
- Season Beef Mixture: Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper into the beef mixture, then remove from heat to let the flavors meld.
- Combine Zucchini and Cream Mixture: In a large bowl, mix the sliced zucchini, sour cream, beaten eggs, half of the cheddar cheese, and all the mozzarella cheese until well combined.
- Mix Beef with Zucchini: Add the seasoned beef mixture to the zucchini mixture and stir everything together ensuring everything is evenly distributed.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the combined mixture to the prepared baking dish and spread it out evenly. Sprinkle the remaining cheddar cheese on top for a cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until the casserole is set, and the top is golden and bubbly.
- Rest and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing and serving to allow it to set properly.
Notes
- You can swap ground beef for ground turkey or chicken to reduce fat content or change flavor profile.
- To avoid excess moisture in the casserole, lightly salt the zucchini slices and let them sit for 10 minutes, then pat dry with a paper towel before mixing.
- Use nonstick spray or olive oil in the baking dish to prevent sticking and ease cleanup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/6 casserole
- Calories: 340
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 7g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 23g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
