A saucy zucchini casserole with aromatic herbs is our perfect way to eat zucchini. A simple zucchini bake that mu kids have no trouble eating week long.
This zucchini bake is inspired by my mother in law, she got us hooked to this casserole and since then my kids started loving zucchini dishes.
Zucchini Casserole
A zucchini casserole that started my kids to love zucchini more than a decade ago and they still very much like this recipe. From my side, it is a win-win recipe. Easy, kids love it, healthy and has protein and veggies.
One day. I was in the international market and all of a sudden there was this soft tapping on my shoulder when I turned around there was a very sweet old Korean couple who approached me smilingly - reminding me of my sweet grandparents- and asking me what are these used for?. I went on explaining the Mahshi recipe , they were very interested in the recipe and kept writing it in details. After I went home, I remembered this very easy yet very delicious casserole that I've learned from my mother in law. It is one of my favorite ways to eat zucchini, you can add ground beef /turkey or omit it altogether.
Zucchini Casserole tips:
- Do not skip the dill: seriously guys, dill weed is what gives this dish its unique flavor. If you do not like dill and skipped it then there is nothing special about this recipe. It will still tastes good but not aromatic and will not give you the mahshi effect that we are looking for 🙂 .
- Use whatever meat you have or go vegan: my kids love this recipe with ground beef or meatballs(kofta). I've made it with ground turkey and chicken meatballs as well. You can skip it altogether and go totally vegan.
- Make on stove top: If you are short on time and want to speed this up, make it totally on stove top will take nearly half the time if not less. You can then pour it into an oven safe dish and broil the top a bit or serve it as is from the pot.
How to make zucchini casserole with ground beef?
- Brown the ground meat: add oil to a non stick pan, saute onion and garlic then add ground beef, spices and stir until the ground beef is browned and cooked thoroughly.
- Assemble the dish: in a 13 x 9 oven dish, add diced zucchini, ground beef mixture, tomato sauce, parsley , diced tomatoes and half of the dill.
- Mix and bake: mix everything well together, add beef stock. Check for seasonings then cover and bake until almost done. Add the remaining half of dill then continue to bake until fully cooked and bubbly. You can serve it as is or uncover and cook for 10 minutes more to evaporate some of the sauce.
Other zucchini recipes that we love
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Pyrex glass bakeware works fine everytime with this recipe, I highly recommend it.
Zucchini Casserole Recipe
The dill's aroma will fill the air and make this dish an unforgettable one, Enjoy
Zucchini Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons (30ml) olive oil.
- 1 medium (170g) onion, chopped.
- 1 pound (454g) ground meat.
- 1/2 teaspoon all spice.
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper.
- Salt to taste.
- 2 pounds (908g) zucchini, sliced.
- 2 (208g)Roma tomatoes , cubed.
- 1/2 cup (23g) fresh dill, chopped and divided. Note1
- 1/3 cup (20g) fresh parsley, chopped.
- 1 garlic clove crushed.
- 1/3 cup (72ml) water or chicken stock.
- 1 can (15oz/425g) tomato sauce.
Instructions
- In a skillet over medium heat, add oil then sauté onion until translucent.
- Add ground beef and break apart. Stir in all spice, pepper and salt and cook until beef is browned.
- Pre heat your oven to 350F.
- In a 13x9 oven dish add zucchini, ground beef, half the dill and the rest of the ingredients, check for seasonings.
- Cover and place the dish in the middle rack in your oven until almost done about 45 minutes.
- Uncover, mix in the rest of the dill, cover and bake again for 15 more minutes until all done and bubbly.
- You might want to uncover and place in the upper third of your oven for 10 more minutes to reduce sauce or you can put it under a broiler.
- Serve with white rice or pita bread.
Sommer
I make this recipe at least twice a month. It’s perfect.
Marcelle
This dish looks incredible and I’m planning on making it for dinner tonight. Just wondering if the tomato sauce you refer to is seasoned tomato sauce/spaghetti sauce or plain canned puréed tomato. This is something that always confuses me in recipes as I think some people refer to them both the same. In your picture of the uncooked ingredients it looks like plain canned tomato and I just want to double check before I make this heavenly dish! Thanks!!
Amira
Marcelle, you are right and I am sorry for any confusion. It is plain and we will season the dish while making it. Thanks for letting me know.
John / Kitchen Riffs
Great dish! Glad you remade this -- I missed it the first time through. And this is WAY too good to miss! Thanks.
Amira
Thanks John, I hope you'll have time to make it.
Raymund
I am looking for good vegetable recipes and this checks all the mark, will be keeping it and get some ingredients soon
Amira
Thanks Raymund for stopping by, try it .. it is a very flavorful one.
Liz
I adore zucchini...and this looks like a delicious new recipe to try!
PS...love the garlic peeling hint below!
Amira
Hi Liz, I love zucchini too and trying to make the kids like it :). Thanks for your comment I hope you'll try it soon.