This Easy Baked Zucchini Casserole is one I have been making for years. Made with fresh zucchini and ground beef with just enough spice to make a wonderful dinner idea.
We love cooking with zucchini and the prices for zucchini are great this time of year. This recipe nicely incorporates zucchini and squash for a colorful dinner idea!
Why This Zucchini Casserole Recipe?
Casseroles are so underrated and I love them! While they are popular in the fall and winter, I believe they are good any time of year. My zucchini casserole recipe is easy and is especially great for preparing ahead of time and warming up later.
This is the perfect recipe to combine zucchini and yellow squash. The casserole is colorful and flavorful and I usually do not have leftovers.
This zucchini casserole recipe is great when you have family members home at different times and need to warm up their dinner later. Everyone can get their own serving of pasta with zucchini and warm it up in minutes.
What I also like is that this casserole does not have canned soup in it. While I certainly do not mind canned soup, I feel that a lot of dishes made with some soups tend to taste similar after a while and they contain more sodium than I would like. You can make this recipe with either green or yellow squash or, both to make it colorful.
Zucchini Casserole ingredients
zucchini. I use fresh zucchini from the farmer's market, but if you are growing zucchini in your garden, this is a perfect recipe.
yellow squash - The yellow squash and zucchini pair perfectly in this recipe.
onion - I like to use white sweet unions, but you can use any type for this recipe.
pasta - I used small shell pasta for this recipe, but you can use any other small pasta.
ground beef - II like to a 90% lean ground beef, but you can use one with a little more fat too.You can use ground turkey as a substitute.
How To Make Zucchini Casserole
You basically, just ground the meat,
Saute, the squash and then layer the casserole.
And bake it in your oven.
It will be a favorite and will encourage you go grow your own zucchini.
Don't forget to bookmark this recipe!
Baked Zucchini Casserole
📖 Recipe
Baked Zucchini Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 lb. ground beef
- 2-3 zucchini's green, yellow
- 3 tablespoon chopped onions
- 2 cups small shell pasta or similar
- 1 teaspoon seasoning salt
- 1 4 oz can chopped green chilis
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1 teaspoon cilantro chopped
- 1 cup shredded cheese.
Instructions
- 1.Cook ground beef and chopped onions over medium heat in skillet until brown. Drain.
- 2. Cook shell pasta as directed and drain. Set aside.
- 3. While beef and pasta are cooking, slice the squash into ¼" slices.
- 4. Saute squash in butter over medium heat about 5 minutes. Set aside.
- 5. In a bowl mix together green chilis, sour cream, and cilantro.
- 6. Add ground beef, pasta, zucchini/squash, and sour cream mixture to the casserole dish.
- 7. Stir together gently until blended and top with cheese.
- 8. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-18 minutes.
Notes
- Change up the cheese for a slightly different flavor each time!
- If you don't have cilantro, you can use 1 teaspoon of coriander as a substitute (is the dried seed of the cilantro).
- Make this the night before so it is ready to serve when you are.
- You can throw a few crushed crackers or panko crumbs on top before baking if you like.
Nutrition
Time-saving Tips for this Recipe
- Change up the cheese for a slightly different flavor each time!
- If you don't have cilantro, you can use 1 teaspoon of coriander as a substitute (is the dried seed of the cilantro).
- Make this the night before so it is ready to serve when you are.
- You can throw a few crushed crackers or panko crumbs on top before baking if you like.
More delicious Zucchini Recipes
- Zucchini and Tomatoes Recipe - Sauteed in minutes on your stovetop.
- Zucchini Boats. Made with ground beef, a tomato-based sauce, and cheese, these are delicious and flavorful!
- Tomato and Zucchini Salad – super easy to make,
- Best Ever Zucchini Bread – moist and buttery and full of summer goodness.
- Zucchini and Squash Casserole - A delicious and colorful side dish.
More Ground Beef Casserole Recipes
- Ground Beef Pasta - This easy Ground Beef Pasta dinner is one of those easy comfort meals you can make on your stovetop.
- Easy Cavatappi Pasta – A fun twist on pasta made with ground beef and vegetables.
- Taco Pasta with Ground Beef -This One Pot Taco Pasta with Ground Beef comes together quickly in a single skillet!
This zucchini-baked noodle dish is one of my favorite zucchini casserole recipes. I adapted in from a Betty Crocker recipe a couple of decades ago. Gosh, that sounds so long ago!
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Akaleistar
I don't eat a lot of zucchini, but that casserole looks really good 🙂
Raquel
Thanks Ashley!
Tamara
LOVE it. We always get so many zucchinis by the end of summer. I love to mix them with noodles. And meat, of course. I'm so in.
Raquel
Yes, anything with noodles is my kind of meal!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
I LOVE how easily this one-dish meal comes together. I agree with you about canned soups and thank you so much for NOT including one!
Raquel
Thank you Betsy! I really prefer to use other ingredients.
Lidiya Dinkova
I would like to prepare the dish but the description is practically insufficient.
Raquel
Thank you for noticing that some of the recipe was not appearing Lidiya. It is fixed now. 🙂
Lisalia
I have zucchini coming out my ears right now! lol Thanks for this delicious recipe that uses my garden zucchini AND tastes so delicious. The family loved it.
Taleen | Just As Tasty
I love zucchini! This casserole looks extra good, can't wait to try!
Raquel
Thank you - I hope you love it as much as we do!
Alexandra
This makes for an absolutely delicious dinner! A new family favourite 🙂
Raquel
It's a favorite in our home too! 🙂
meesha
That looks absolutely divine! Making it tonight:)
Raquel
Wonderful! Hope you enjoy it!
Robyn
I love making casseroles as the whole family love them - and what a great idea to use zucchini in it! yum!
Raquel
Thank you Robin!
Mama Maggie's Kitchen
Oh my! I need this in my life. Must print your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
Raquel
Thank you!
Debra
So perfect to use up the zucchinis in my garden. This casserole will be a great dish to make for my neighbor who just had a baby.
Barb
What size casserole and what kind of shredded cheese do you use?
Raquel
I use a 13 x 9 inch rectangle or oval dish. A Cheddar and Monterey Jack combination works wonderfully with this!
Vicki
Am I just missing it or are the mushrooms left out of the recipe?
Raquel
Thanks Vicki! They are not in the recipe and were listed by accident.
Dee Ann John
We are big zucchini fans and loved this recipe. Thanks for posting it.
Sonja
As I was throwing this together I was skeptical. I used what I had on hand so instead of chilis I did diced tomatoes and added mushrooms. I didn’t have cilantro either. All I can say is this turned out incredible!!! Oh yeah, and garlic. Lots of chopped garlic to the zucchini and onion medley while it was cooking. This one is a keeper, thank you for sharing!!! Husband approved too 😉