Layered Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole Recipe #181132
Ground turkey or bulk Italian sausage meat may be substituted for ground beef --- since my family likes lots of cheese filling I usually increase the ricotta cheese to 3 cups and use 2 large eggs and about 3/4 cups mozza cheese, I also added in a small chopped green bell pepper into the ground beef mixture :)
by KITTENCAL
1½ hours | 45 min prep
SERVES 6 -8
- 5 cups water (you might need more water)
- 3 medium zucchini, sliced
- 2/3 cup dry breadcrumbs, divided
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or to taste)
- 1-2 teaspoon dried chili pepper flakes (optional or to taste)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 3-4 cups pasta sauce
- 2 cups ricotta cheese (or use creamed cottage cheese, can use more cheese)
- 1 large egg, lightly beaten (or use 2 small eggs)
- 2 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese, divided (or to taste)
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley (can use fresh chopped parsley)
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- black pepper, to tast
- Set oven to 350 degrees.
- Grease a 4-quart casserole dish (can be made in a 13 x 9-inch baking dish).
- Bring about 5 cups water to a boil in a saucepan.
- Add in the sliced zucchini; simmer for 3 minutes or until just crisp-tender; drain and cool slightly.
- In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion, garlic and dried chili flakes (if using) basil and oregano until the beef is browned; drain fat.
- Add in the pasta sauce; cook for about 10-15 minutes, season with salt and pepper; remove from heat.
- In a bowl mix together the ricotta (or cottage cheese) with egg/s, 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, dried parsley, salt and pepper; mix to combine.
- Arrange ALL the zucchini slices in the bottom of the baking dish (the slices do not have to be in one layer) then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.
- Spread HALF of the ricotta mixture over the breadcrumbs, then cover with HALF of the beef mixture, then sprinkle about 1 cup mozza cheese on top.
- Repeat the layers with remaining 1/3 cup breadcrumbs, ricotta mixture, then meat mixture (reserve the remaining 1 cup, or to taste of mozza cheese for the top after baking).
- Bake for about 40 minutes.
- Sprinkle 1 cup mozza cheese (or to taste) on top and return to oven for another 5-8 minutes.
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5 stars