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Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

This ground beef zucchini casserole is hearty, filling, and so delicious. Ground beef, onions, garlic, zucchini, and seasonings are combined with marinara sauce, topped with cheese, and baked until ooey and gooey!

Plateful of ground beef zucchini casserole.

I love preparing hearty, filling dinners for friends and family, but I don’t love spending hours in the kitchen all the time. I want to enjoy the people I love when they’re visiting. That’s why I love this casserole. It’s so quick and easy, and it fills up even the biggest eaters.

Why You’ll Love This Zucchini Ground Beef Casserole

  • Simple Ingredients: This recipe only uses a handful of simple ingredients found in any grocery store.
  • Easy: It’s an easy recipe that’s ready in about an hour.
  • Hearty: All that beef, zucchini, and cheese makes an incredibly hearty meal.
  • Delicious: This is a beefy, cheesy, saucy casserole that has everyone coming back for more!

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium onion – diced
  • 2 cloves garlic – minced
  • 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese – divided
  • 1 jar (24 or 28 oz) marinara sauce – divided
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 medium zucchinis – shredded

Substitutions and Variations

  • Ground Beef: Try ground pork, a mix of ground beef and pork, or even chorizo.
  • Spicy: Add diced jalapenos for a kick of heat.
  • Taco Bake: Add taco seasoning to the ground beef, use a mix of taco sauce and salsa, and top with Mexican or taco blend cheese.
  • More Veggies: Dice your favorite vegetables and add them to the casserole for more flavor and texture.

Equipment

  • Measuring cups and spoons
  • Knife
  • Cutting board
  • Skillet
  • 9×13 baking dish
  • Foil

How to Make Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

1: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees and grease a 9×13 baking dish.

2: In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onion until browned. Then, stir in the garlic.

3: Drain the beef, return it to the skillet, and add half the marinara sauce, along with the seasonings. Stir to combine and simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove the skillet from the heat.

4: Stir in the zucchini. Then, spread half the mixture into the prepared casserole dish. Top it with half of the cheese and repeat the layers once more.

5: Spread the remaining sauce over the top and add the remaining cheese.

6: Cover the dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Then, remove the foil and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

7: Cool for about 10 minutes, and enjoy!

Storage

Refrigerator: Store for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.

Freezer: Store for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container.

Reheat: Defrost the casserole if frozen. Then, microwave individual portions at 1-minute intervals until heated through.

What to Serve with Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

This is a hearty casserole, so I recommend a side salad or some vegetables and a little garlic bread. Keep it simple, or the meal will be too heavy.

Tips

  • 80/20 ground beef is best for this recipe. It has the perfect ratio of lean to fan to create a flavorful filling that isn’t dry.
  • Cook the ground beef until browned and no further. Overcooking the beef makes it tough and rubbery.
  • Add the garlic after the beef is cooked. You don’t want to cook it in the skillet, or it could burn.
  • After removing the foil, cook the casserole until the cheese is melted and bubbly, but don’t cook it until it’s brown.

More Ground Beef Recipes

FAQ

What is the best ground beef for casseroles?

80/20 ground beef gives the best lean to fat ratio for casseroles. Another option is ground sirloin. Using anything with more fat than 80/20 creates a greasy casserole.

Why was ground beef rubbery?

Overcooking ground beef causes the proteins to contract too much, creating tough, rubbery meat.

Could I use spaghetti sauce for this casserole?

Yes, you could. I prefer marinara for the extra sweetness, but spaghetti sauce absolutely works.

Ground Beef Zucchini Casserole

Course Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Servings 8 servings
Author Pam

Ingredients

  • 2 pounds ground beef
  • 1 medium onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 cups  shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
  • 1 24  or 28 ounce jar marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp  dried oregano
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 3 medium fresh zucchinis, shredded

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9x13 or 11x13 inch baking dish.

    Stir the garlic into the cooked beef. Drain excess fat and return the beef to the skillet. Add half of the marinara sauce as well as the seasonings. Stir well to combine and allow to simmer for about 5 minutes. Remove from heat.

    Add the zucchini to the meat sauce and stir until combined.

    Spread half of the zucchini and meat sauce in the prepared casserole dish. Sprinkle it with half of the cheese.

    Repeat the layers one time.

    Spread the remaining marinara over the top. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole.

    Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.

    Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly but, not too dark or burnt. 

    In a skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef and onion until the ground beef is browned. Let the casserole cool  for a few minutes before serving. It will be easier to cut.  Enjoy!

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