Go Back
–+ servings
ground beef and zucchini casserole in a dutch oven on a cutting board next to a baguette, Parmesan, and grater
Print Recipe
5 from 2 votes

Ground Beef and Zucchini Casserole

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.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 6
Calories: 390kcal
Author: Cara Lanz

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: 390kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 23g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 68mg | Sodium: 650mg | Potassium: 897mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 683IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 179mg | Iron: 4mg