Old Fashioned Zucchini Casserole

Looking for a delicious and comforting dish that the whole family will love? Look no further than this old-fashioned zucchini casserole recipe. This easy baked zucchini casserole is the perfect way to use fresh zucchini for a simple meal everyone will love.

Made with tender zucchini, cheese, and simple pantry ingredients, this comforting casserole comes together quickly and is perfect for busy weeknights, summer dinners, potlucks, or holiday meals.

If your garden is overflowing with zucchini, this cheesy zucchini bake is one of the easiest ways to turn it into a warm and satisfying side dish Try it out for your next family gathering or weeknight dinner and watch it disappear in no time!

This is an easy budget friendly casserole you will make again and again.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Easy to make with simple ingredients.
• Perfect way to use up fresh zucchini and yellow squash.
• Hearty and satisfying, great for main dishes or as a side.
• Creamy sauce and plenty of cheese make it irresistibly delicious.
• Can be customized with your favorite toppings and variations.

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! It will be a favorite and will encourage you go grow your own zucchini.

Ingredients for cheesy zucchini casserole

• Medium 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 – I like to use 90% lean ground beef, but you can use one with a little more fat too. You can use ground turkey as a substitute.
• Seasoning salt – use whatever brand you like the best.
• Chopped green chilis – small store-bought can.
• Sour cream – use your favorite brand.
• Cilantro – freshly chopped.
• Shredded cheese – cheddar works great, but you can use any kind you like.
• Salt and Black pepper

Equipment and kitchen tools

• Baking dish or casserole dish
• large bowl – I like these mixing bowls with a spout, they make cooking easy!
• medium skillet
• casserole spoon

How To Make Zucchini Casserole

Step by Step overview. Full instructions in recipe card.

Step 1 – Cook ground beef and chopped onions over medium heat in a skillet until brown. Drain. Cook shell pasta as directed and drain. Set aside.

Step 2 – In a medium bowl, prepare the sauce – mix together green chilis, sour cream, black pepper and cilantro.. Set aside. While the beef and pasta are cooking, slice the squash into ¼” slices.

Step 3 – Slice the zucchini and squash and lightly salt it before baking. Let it sit for 15–20 minutes, then pat dry with paper towels. Saute the squash in a skillet with olive oil over medium heat for about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Step 4 – Add the ground beef, pasta, zucchini/squash, and sour cream mixture to a greased baking dish. Stir together gently until blended.

Step 5 – Top with grated cheese.

Step 6 – Bake at 350 degrees for 15–18 minutes until the edges are golden brown.

Tips for the Best Results

• Be sure to drain excess fat from the cooked ground beef to prevent a soggy casserole.
• Slice the zucchini into uniform pieces for even cooking.
• Use your favorite type of cheese for the topping, such as sharp cheddar cheese or parmesan cheese.
• Allow the casserole to cool slightly for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld together.
• 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 (it’s 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 Ritz crackers or panko bread crumbs on top before baking if you like.
• Top with crushed red pepper flakes for a bit of a kick.
• Dry your zucchini slices with paper towels to remove extra moisture before cooking to avoid having too much liquid in your casserole.
• Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Substitutions and Variations

• Substitute ground turkey or chicken for the ground beef for a lighter option.
• Add diced tomatoes or bell peppers for extra flavor and nutrition.
• Experiment with different types of cheese for unique flavor combinations.
• For a little added crunch sprinkle panko breadcrumbs or crushed crackers on casserole before baking.
• For a vegetarian version, omit the ground beef and add extra vegetables like mushrooms or spinach.

FAQs About This Recipe

Storage & Reheating Tips

Storage Tips

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Reheating Tips

Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warmed through or microwave individual portions.

Can You Freeze It?

Yes, but zucchini may soften slightly after thawing.

What to Make Next

Keep the easy casseroles coming with this Ground Beef Enchilada Casserole or this Hamburger and Potato Casserole.

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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