Description
A delicious and low-carb Zucchini Pizza Casserole featuring shredded zucchini, ground beef, and a blend of cheeses baked to perfection with a savory tomato sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
Zucchini Base
- 4 cups unpeeled zucchini, shredded
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (divided)
Beef Sauce
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1/2 cup chopped white onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can tomato sauce or marinara
Instructions
- Prepare Zucchini: Preheat the oven to 400° F. Place the shredded zucchini in a colander and sprinkle with salt. Let it stand for 10 minutes to draw out moisture, then squeeze the zucchini as dry as possible.
- Make Zucchini Mixture: In a large bowl, combine the squeezed zucchini with eggs, Parmesan cheese, and half of the shredded mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. Mix well and press the mixture evenly into a greased 13×9 inch baking dish.
- Bake Zucchini Base: Bake the zucchini mixture in the preheated oven for 20 minutes until it starts to set.
- Cook Beef Mixture: While the zucchini bakes, heat a large saucepan over medium heat. Cook the ground beef and chopped onion until the beef is no longer pink. Add the minced garlic and cook for one more minute. Drain excess fat.
- Add Sauce: Stir in the tomato sauce or marinara sauce into the beef mixture and cook for a few minutes to combine flavors.
- Assemble and Finish Baking: Spoon the beef sauce evenly over the baked zucchini layer. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella and cheddar cheeses on top. Return to the oven and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the casserole is heated through and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Notes
- Be sure to squeeze as much moisture as possible from the zucchini to avoid a soggy casserole.
- You can substitute ground turkey or chicken for ground beef for a leaner option.
- Use low-sodium tomato sauce to reduce sodium content.
- For a spicier kick, add red pepper flakes to the beef sauce.
- Let the casserole rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 290 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
