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    Home » Recipes » Casseroles » Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

    Published: Feb 21, 2023 by Cara Lanz · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

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    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater
    plate of ground beef and zucchini casserole in front of Dutch oven of casserole
    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater
    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater

    Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole is a delicious one pot meal that cooks in under 30 minutes. Loaded with savory ground beef, zucchini, corn, fresh herbs, and tender orzo in a rich tomato sauce, it's an easy weeknight dinner recipe that gets dinner on the table fast.

    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe
    • More Delicious Recipes
    • Ingredients
    • Ingredient Substitutions
    • How to Make Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole
    • Storage, Freezing & Reheating
    • Expert Tips
    • FAQs
    • Get the Stuff I Use
    • More Easy Dinner Recipes
    • Let's Stay in Touch
    • Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

    Easy Zucchini Ground Beef Casserole is the perfect way to make the most of fresh veggies from your garden or farmer's market,

    I also love making this in the dead of winter to remind me that summer is still a thing.

    This really easy one pot dinner comes together with ground beef, lots of zucchini, corn, and quick-cooking orzo in a thick tomato sauce.

    Finished with a flavor blast of fresh Parmesan and feta cheese, this is a delicious and easy casserole the whole family will love.

    This zucchini hamburger casserole is a complete meal in one pot made even better with a simple salad and a fresh loaf of French bread.

    Get ready for this to become your favorite zucchini casserole recipe.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    Easy one pot meal that cooks in 30 minutes

    Hearty and meaty zucchini casserole dish filled with fresh veggies

    Great meal prep recipe -- leftovers make great lunches!

    Easy recipe for a delicious casserole even picky eaters will eat

    More Delicious Recipes

    • Chicken Zucchini Bake with Bisquick
    • Chicken Taco Hash Brown Casserole
    • Pot Roast with Onion Soup Mix

    Ingredients

    Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for full list of ingredients and exact quantities.

    ground beef and zucchini casserole ingredients

    Ground beef. I use 80-85% lean ground beef, but you can use even leaner ground beef.

    Chili powder. Chili powder adds mild, smoky, savory flavor to the tomato sauce.

    Red pepper flakes. A little pinch of red pepper flakes adds a little kick. You can skip this or use more to your preferences.

    Balsamic vinegar. A splash of balsamic helps give the tomato sauce more of a "homemade" taste.

    Tomato sauce. You can use store-bought or homemade tomato sauce.

    Orzo pasta. Orzo is a small, oval, rice-shaped pasta that cooks right in the pan.

    Fresh zucchini. Cut the zucchini into thick slices to keep it from getting too soft in the casserole.

    Corn. You can use fresh, frozen, or canned corn.

    Fresh herbs. Fresh herbs like basil, parsley, thyme. or oregano add flavor during cooking and after. Use whatever fresh herbs you have and love.

    Beef broth. I like to use reduced-sodium beef broth so I can control the salt levels in the dish.

    Ingredient Substitutions

    Put your own spin on your zucchini ground beef casserole with these easy swaps.

    Ground beef. Any ground meat like ground turkey, ground pork, or ground chicken

    Fresh garlic. ½ teaspoon garlic powder (or more, to your taste)

    Italian seasoning. A combo of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and marjoram

    Diced tomatoes. Any canned tomatoes like crushed, stewed, or whole

    Balsamic vinegar. Mix a little Worcestershire sauce or soy sauce with a bit of lemon juice and maple syrup.

    Orzo. Ditalini pasta, a small tube-shaped pasta. It may need another minute or two to cook -- and a bit more liquid.

    Zucchini. Yellow squash -- some larger yellow squash may become softer than zucchini when cooked

    Cheese. Fresh mozzarella cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, or whatever cheese you love

    How to Make Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

    1. Brown the ground beef.

    Brown ground beef, diced onions, salt, and black pepper in a deep large skillet or Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat.

    Cook for about 8 minutes or until the beef is no longer pink.

    Add the garlic and cook for another minute or two. Drain any excess fat.

    2. Make the tomato sauce.

    Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs to the meat mixture.

    Stir and cook for 3 minutes.

    browned ground beef, tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, and balsamic vinegar in Dutch oven

    3. Mix in the vegetables.

    Add the beef broth, orzo, corn, and thick-cut zucchini slices.

    zucchini, corn, and orzo on tomato mixture in Dutch oven

    Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low.

    Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring a few times, until the pasta is cooked. Add more liquid as needed.

    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven

    4. Add cheese, serve, and enjoy!

    Remove from the heat.

    Stir in the Parmesan cheese and top with crumbled feta.

    Serve with sliced tomatoes, sliced green onion, and more fresh herbs.

    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater

    Storage, Freezing & Reheating

    Store leftover ground beef zucchini casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

    Freeze zucchini ground beef casserole in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

    Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.

    Expert Tips

    Cut the zucchini into thick slices so they don't become too soft.

    This is a great recipe to experiment with flavors. Taste as you go and adjust the seasonings and herbs to suit your preferences.

    Stir the orzo a few times as it cooks to keep it from sticking to the bottom of the pan and to see if you need to add more liquid

    Freeze leftover tomato paste in one tablespoon portions and grab them as needed.

    FAQs

    Can you freeze ground beef and zucchini casserole?

    Yes. Freeze leftover casserole in an airtight container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.

    Should zucchini be peeled before cooking?

    No, there is no need to peel zucchini before adding it to your zucchini ground beef casserole. The thin skin is actually a good source of nutrition, so it's a great idea to keep it on.

    What else can I make with zucchini?

    Too much zucchini? Besides pawning it off on your neighbors and co-workers, there are tons of things you can do with your bumper crop of zucchini.

    Zucchini is delicious in casseroles, soups, and stuffed bell peppers, shredded and mixed into cakes, breads, burgers, and meatballs, and diced raw and mixed into salsa and salads.

    plate of ground beef and zucchini casserole in front of Dutch oven of casserole

    Get the Stuff I Use

    This Lodge Dutch oven is a roomy 6 quarts, perfect for soups, stews, and one pot casseroles.

    This OXO cheese grater comes apart and stores flat in my utensil drawer!

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    Follow Midwestern HomeLife on Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest, and subscribe via email to receive all of the latest recipes!

    ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater

    Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

    Cara Lanz
    Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole is a delicious one pot meal that cooks in under 30 minutes. Loaded with savory ground beef, zucchini, corn, fresh herbs, and tender orzo in a rich tomato sauce, it's an easy weeknight dinner recipe that gets dinner on the table fast.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Total Time 40 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6
    Calories 390 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 pound ground beef
    • 1 small onion, diced
    • 3 cloves garlic, minced
    • 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, undrained
    • 8 ounces tomato sauce
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
    • 2 teaspoons chili powder
    • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
    • ⅓ cup chopped fresh basil, parsley, or thyme
    • ¾ cup dry orzo
    • 2 cups thick sliced zucchini
    • 1 cup corn
    • 1 ¼ cups beef broth
    • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup crumbled feta

    Instructions
     

    • Place the ground beef and diced onion in a large deep skillet, pot, or Dutch oven over medium to medium-high heat. Season with salt and pepper.
      Brown ground beef until it is no longer pink. Add the garlic and cook for another minute. Drain any excess fat.
    • Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, balsamic vinegar, Italian seasoning, chili powder, red pepper flakes, and fresh herbs. Stir and cook for 3 minutes.
    • Add the broth, orzo, corn, and zucchini. Bring to a simmer and reduce heat to low.
      Cover and simmer for 10-12 minutes, stirring a few times, until the pasta is cooked to al dente. Add more liquid as needed.
    • Remove from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and top with feta.
      Serve with sliced tomatoes, sliced green onions, and more fresh herbs.

    Notes

    STORAGE: Store leftover ground beef zucchini casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
    FREEZING: Freeze zucchini ground beef casserole in a freezer-safe container for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
    REHEATING: Reheat individual servings in the microwave for 1-2 minutes until warmed through.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 23gFat: 20gSaturated Fat: 8gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 650mgPotassium: 897mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 683IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 179mgIron: 4mg
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    Hi, I'm Cara!

    I love dreaming up easier, and sometimes healthier twists on dishes from the heartland.

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