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This garlic parmesan zucchini casserole is an easy side dish that pairs beautifully with just about any family meal! The old fashioned zucchini casserole recipe features fresh, shredded summer zucchini, garlic, and onion, with three types of cheese and a buttery, Parmesan breadcrumb topping. Serve the cheesy dish with grilled chicken, oven-fried pork chops, steak or shrimp. It’s versatile, and always a hit!
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How to Make Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole | 1-Minute Video
This cheesy zucchini casserole recipe has quickly become a favorite among the boys in my house! I’m telling you: if you want to get your kids (or your husband) to eat some green vegetables, then zucchini casserole recipes are the way to go. Here, the zucchini is mild, it’s baked with three different kinds of cheese, and it’s finished with a buttery Parmesan breadcrumb topping. What’s not to love?!
Ingredients
This is a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for an easy zucchini casserole. As always, specific measurements and complete cooking instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Zucchini: this freshly-grated veggie is the star of the show! You’ll need a total of 4 cups grated, which is equivalent to approximately 3 ½ medium zucchinis.
- Salt: enhances the flavors in the dish and helps to draw out moisture from the zucchini so that you don’t end up with a watery casserole.
- Onion and garlic: for more flavor. I use sweet onion, but yellow onion or white onion both work fine.
- Eggs: give the casserole structure.
- Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and sharp cheddar cheese: three different types of grated cheese add a variety of flavors to the casserole.
- Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter: combine the panko bread crumbs with the Parmesan and melted butter to form the crispy, golden brown topping.
How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery?
Zucchini and other summer squash naturally holds a lot of water, so you’ll probably notice that the vegetable releases a lot of water as it cooks. This can be a problem when adding squash to casseroles, bakes, and sauces, since the vegetables can water down the sauce or casserole, resulting in a bland flavor and undesirable texture.
If you sprinkle the shredded zucchini with salt and allow it to sit in a colander for about 10 minutes, the salt draws out a lot of moisture from the vegetable before you add it to the casserole.
TIP: In order to make sure that I get most of the water out of the zucchini (and avoid a watery casserole), I like to wrap the zucchini in a dish towel. Squeeze it and wring it out multiple times while it’s in the towel — you will be shocked by how much liquid comes out!
How to Make Zucchini Casserole
This cozy, family-friendly vegetable side dish comes together easily without any special cooking skills. Just remember to allow enough time to let the zucchini sit in the colander before squeezing it dry and adding it to the casserole.
- Place the zucchini in a colander, sprinkle it with salt, and allow it to sit for about 10 minutes (this will help draw out some of the water from the zucchini). After 10 minutes, squeeze out the moisture from the zucchini.
- Combine the zucchini, onion, garlic, eggs, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese in a small, greased baking dish.
- Bake uncovered in a 375°F oven for 20 minutes.
- Make the topping by combining melted butter with breadcrumbs and additional Parmesan cheese.
- Sprinkle the breadcrumbs over the zucchini mixture and return the pan to the oven.
- Bake for about 5-10 more minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
What to Serve with Zucchini Casserole Recipes
This versatile casserole pairs nicely with just about any meat, seafood, or pasta. Here are a few ideas to serve with a cheesy zucchini casserole:
- Grilled Salmon or Grilled Scallops
- Marinated Grilled Shrimp
- Shrimp Scampi
- Crab Cakes or Salmon Patties
- Grilled Chicken, Oven-Fried Chicken, Whole Roasted Chicken, Oven BBQ Chicken, or Roasted Chicken Thighs with Garlic and Herbs
- Easy Chicken Parmesan, Parmesan Crusted Chicken (Chicken Milanese), or Baked Parmesan Chicken Bites
- Grilled Flank Steak, Cast Iron Skillet Filet Mignon, or Grilled Steak Tips
- Grilled Pork Chops, Pork Tenderloin, or Pulled Pork
- Lemon Chicken Piccata, Pasta with Sausage and Spinach, or Pasta with Pomodoro Sauce
- Homemade Meatballs, Baked Meatballs, or Baked Chicken Meatballs
- Southern Meatloaf, Turkey Meatloaf, or Classic Meatloaf with Oatmeal
- Shrimp and Grits
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin
- Fried Chicken
- Baked Penne, Penne alla Vodka, or Baked Ziti
- Easy Bolognese Sauce, Spaghetti Sauce, or Spaghetti Carbonara
- Linguine with Clam Sauce
- Deep-Dish Cast Iron Skillet Pizza, French Bread Pizza, Pizza Quesadillas, or other homemade (or takeout) pizza
- Chicken Dijon
- Stuffed Shells or Spinach Stuffed Shells
- Smothered Pork Chops, Oven Fried Pork Chops or Grilled Pork Chops
- Grilled Pork Tenderloin or Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Is this casserole gluten free?
You can easily make this zucchini casserole gluten-free by using gluten-free breadcrumbs. If you want to add a little more fiber and nutrition to the dish, use whole wheat breadcrumbs (which are not gluten-free).
Preparation and Storage Tips
Store leftover zucchini casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in a 350°F oven just until warmed through.
You can freeze the leftovers; however, this is not my preference because the zucchini will hold a lot of water, negatively impacting the texture and taste when thawed.
Recipe Variations
- I’ve used three different types of cheese here: Parmesan, mozzarella, and cheddar. You can substitute with an equal amount of any of your favorite cheeses — or stick to just mozzarella or just cheddar. Other good options include Monterey Jack, Colby, Colby Jack, Pepper Jack, Gruyere, Swiss, and Gouda cheese.
- Use a combination of yellow squash and zucchini, or replace all of the zucchini with yellow squash.
- To serve a larger family, double all of the ingredients and bake the casserole in a larger dish. You may need to add a few extra minutes to the total cooking time, but the rest of the instructions remain the same.
- Toss the breadcrumbs with olive oil instead of melted butter for a slightly different flavor.
- Add some ground black pepper or crushed red pepper for a zestier kick. Italian seasoning would also be a nice addition to the filling.
Tips for the Best Zucchini Casserole Recipe
- I just use a handheld box grater to shred my zucchini, but you can also put it through a food processor if you prefer.
- Make sure that you drain the zucchini before adding it to your casserole. To do so, sprinkle it with salt, let it sit in a colander for about 10 minutes, and then wring it out in a dish towel.
- Garnish the dish with fresh herbs (such as chopped fresh parsley) for a bright burst of color and flavor.
More Zucchini Casserole Recipes to Try
Try these recipes when you have a ton of fresh zucchini:
Garlic Parmesan Zucchini Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 cups grated zucchini (I used about 3.5 medium zucchinis)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup finely minced or grated onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus an additional 2 tablespoons
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup Panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375°F. Grease a 1 ½-quart baking dish; set aside.
- Place zucchini in a colander, sprinkle with salt, and allow to sit for about 10 minutes (this will help draw out some of the water from the zucchini). After 10 minutes, squeeze out the moisture from the zucchini. TIP: In order to make sure that you get most of the water out of the zucchini (and avoid a runny casserole), wrap the zucchini in a dish towel. Squeeze it and wring it out multiple times while it's in the towel — you will be shocked by how much liquid comes out!
- In a large bowl, combine zucchini, onion, garlic, eggs, ½ cup Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese. Gently press the mixture evenly into the prepared dish.
- Bake uncovered for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a small bowl, pour melted butter over breadcrumbs and 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese. Stir until completely combined.
- After 20 minutes, remove zucchini from the oven. Sprinkle buttered breadcrumbs over the zucchini and return the dish to the oven. Continue baking for about 5-10 more minutes, or until the top is golden brown and crispy.
Video
Notes
- I just use a handheld box grater to shred my zucchini, but you can also put it through a food processor if you prefer.
- Make sure that you drain the zucchini before adding it to your casserole. To do so, sprinkle it with salt, let it sit in a colander for about 10 minutes, and then wring it out in a dish towel.
- Garnish the dish with fresh herbs (such as chopped fresh parsley) for a bright burst of color and flavor.
Nutrition
This post was originally published in February, 2017. It was updated in July, 2022.
Is this easy to make before (maybe the morning of?) and then cook later on for dinner?
Hi, Kristin! Yes, you can definitely make it ahead of time. Your best bet would be to bake it through Step 4 in advance. Then freeze or refrigerate the baked zucchini until you’re ready to finish it. Then you just need to top it with the breadcrumbs and finish baking when you’re ready to serve. Hope that helps! 🙂
I am allergic to eggs. What is a good alternative for me to use in this recipe??
Hi, Alicia! I’m honestly not sure. I haven’t tested this recipe without the eggs, and the eggs are important for holding the casserole together. If you omit the eggs, you would want to find something else to act as a binder. I know that there are some commercially made egg replacers, which are often made with potato starch, tapioca starch and leavening. These are used in baking, but can probably be used here, too. Another option that some folks use in baking is to replace eggs with “flax eggs.” Again, I haven’t actually tried this, but you could see how it goes if you’re curious. To replace one egg, whisk together 1 tablespoon (7 grams) of ground chia or flaxseeds with 3 tablespoons (45 grams) of water until fully absorbed and thickened.
Hope that helps!
Thanks you I may someday have to experiment with that egg substitute. Can you taste the egg in the dish, or is it just binding like as it is in a cake, where as the cake does not taste like egg.
Hi, Alicia! The flavor of the egg doesn’t stand out much in this dish. It’s more of a binder in this case. 🙂
I made this dish and absolutely loved it. However, I did not shred the zucchini… I cubed it. Even though I used salt, I did not get water from it. By keeping it in the oven 10 more minutes before the breadcrumbs it cooked thoroughly and it was not watery. ( the water helped cook the cubes). Then I put the breadcrumbs on and back in the oven. It was delicious!
That’s a great tip, Meredith! Glad that you enjoyed it!
I have heard that the liquid from canned garbanzo beans can be substituted for eggs.
I love zucchini but some of my family members not so much……they loved this recipe!!!!!!
Oh, good! I’m so glad to hear that, Cris. Thanks for coming back here to let me know. 🙂
easy, delicious and a good low carb veggie dish. I added a heavy splash of hot sauce and some freshly grated nutmeg to balance all the cheese. this recipe is a keeper
Sounds perfect! Thanks, Sheba!
This casserole is fabulous. I made a smaller version because I didn’t have enough zucchini but will now be making full recipes often!
Thank you, Kelly! 🙂
I really enjoyed this zucchini casserole. I was afraid that it would have an overwhelming zucchini flavor, but it didn’t. Although, it did have a ton of flavor! The onions added a nice crunchy texture. And the cheese was the icing on the cake.
Yumyumyumyum!
Thanks for your note, and I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! The zucchini is very mild, isn’t it? I think that’s why my kids and husband love it so much. 🙂
I just want to say how delicious this dish was. I made it while visiting my daughter because she loves squash. It was a huge hit. This pin on my board is pinned repeatedly everyday. There must be lots of zucchini lovers out there!!! Thanks so much for your creativity!!!
Hi, Laurie! Thanks so much for your kind note and for letting me know. A good zucchini recipe is always helpful to have on hand — especially in the summer. So happy that your family enjoyed it!
What can I replace the eggs with? May daughter is allergic to eggs.
Thanks,
Kimberly
Hi, Kimberly! I’ve never made this dish without eggs, so I’m not sure how it will work with different ingredients. That said, I do know that vegans and other folks with egg allergies often substitute regular eggs with “flax eggs.” Have you used flax eggs before? To make a flax egg, just mix one tablespoon ground flaxseed meal with three tablespoons of water. Mix together, and let sit in your fridge for 15 minutes to set up and thicken. That’s equivalent to one egg, so just double or triple depending on how many regular eggs you’re replacing.
Thanks! I never heard of that before. I will have to buy some – thanks!!
You’re welcome! 🙂
okay so I made it last night…overall I liked it. I tried the “flax egg ” mixture instead of the egg like you suggested. Since I’ve never made this dish before I’m not sure what the consistency should be like, but I think mine was more on the wet side. I’m not sure if the zucchini wasn’t drained enough or if it was the “flax egg”.
I also think I put too much garlic in…I think 1 tablespoon might be too much.
My daughter (who is allergic to eggs) liked it in the beginning then said she didn’t like it. But she almost finished her small bowl of it. Again, I think it was the overpowering garlic taste.
Either way I would make it again with less garlic and have her try it again!
Hi, Kimberly! I’m glad to know that it worked out overall. When it comes to draining the zucchini, I like to wrap it in a dish towel and literally wring it dry — squeezing it as hard as I can until no more water is coming out. You would be amazed by how much moisture is released, and I think that you’ll find the casserole is not watery at all if you do it this way. Hope that helps, and thanks for sharing your feedback! 🙂
I have done it with out eggs and it’s delicious
Awesome! Thanks, Carrie!
Made this tonight, it is awesome, love It! Will keep this recipe for future use.
Perfect! Thanks, Karen — I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
I made this for supper last night and it is amazing!! A hit with the whole family! This is a keeper recipe! Thank you!!!!
I’m so glad to hear that the family enjoyed it, Cheryl! Thanks for letting me know!
I’ve been looking for a new dish to take to Thanksgiving dinner. This sounds like a yummy, updated version of a classic family dish!
Wonderful! Enjoy, Jen! It’s one of our favorites! 🙂
Made this tonight for the first time and I really liked it. I grated 2 cloves of garlic and did find the flavor on the strong side but I like garlic, so I was ok with it. I also know grating garlic releases a stronger flavor so that might be part of it. Great recipe!!!
Thanks, Heidieh! 🙂
If planning to double the recipe, would you also double the time in oven? Very excited to try!
Hi, Kristelle! No, I wouldn’t double the time in the oven. You might need to add a little bit of time to accommodate the larger dish, but probably not much. I would bake it uncovered for 25-30 minutes before adding the buttered breadcrumbs on top. Then return to the oven for the final 5-10 minutes. If that still doesn’t seem long to heat it through, you can cover the top lightly with foil (to prevent the top from getting too brown) and leave it in the oven for a few more minutes, as necessary. 🙂
plan on making this in a 9×13 dish for Easter Sunday…..I was going to almost double amounts ….cooking time suggestions?
Hi, Bernie! Doubling the ingredients for a 9 x 13 dish should work perfectly. The cooking instructions should remain largely the same; although you might want to add about 5-10 minutes to the overall cooking time to make sure that it’s properly heated through. Just check it after the first 20 minutes and see if the zucchini mixture looks adequately warmed through. If not, pop it back in the oven for 5 more minutes before adding breadcrumbs to the top. Hope you love it!
I made this last night for 8 guys who were working on my house. I doubled the recipe and you would have thought that it was the best thing these guys have ever eaten. It was all devoured by the end of the meal! Definitely going to make this again!
Wonderful! It’s a huge WIN when a veggie dish gets the stamp of approval from a group of guys! 🙂
This recipe was wonderful, I followed the recipe exactly minus the onions and when you follow directions its comes out exactly the way it should be , no ruuny mess over here lol.
Perfect! So glad that it worked, Robin! 🙂 Thanks for your note!
I made this tonight and it was so good! My husband even commented on how great it tasted especially with so much zucchini in it. Will be making this again, as our family of 3 devoured pretty much the whole thing in one sitting. Thanks for the delicious recipe!
Wonderful! Love when the husbands approve of veggie dishes! 🙂
Can you shred the zucchini instead of grating it? It seems like it would take a very long time to grate the zucchini.
Yes, I think that would probably work fine.
Thank you, Blair!
How did shredding vs grating work out? Glad you asked as when I read grated, I assumed shredded. Agree grating would take forever!
Also wanted to make ahead but wondering if 10 minutes after adding pinko would reheat it up sufficiently.
Hey, Karen! I would think that it will likely need about 15-20 minutes to reheat completely, so maybe sprinkle on the topping towards the end.
Do you measure the zucchini before or after you squeeze it out? Kind of confused. Sounds good tho.
Measure it before squeezing it out. 🙂
I made this last night to go with grilled lamb loin chops.
I added a cup of cooked white rice to the mixture and used lowfat cheeses.
It was excellent!!! My husband ate two helpings. I will definitely make this again.
Oh, great idea to add the rice! Thanks, Nancy!
I have made this recipe 3 times already! Great stuff!
1st time) Made as recipe states and it was a hit, even with those who thought they didn’t like zucchini.
2nd time) Tried being creative and tried squeezing the zucchini with a potato ricer – turns out it does NOT work as good as an old fashioned tea towel. Lesson learned.
3rd time) Went back to the original way! Having some health issues, so I reduced the cheese and added some already cooked quinoa. Eating it now and it’s fabulous. Thanks so much!
Thanks, Leela! I’m so glad that you love it, too. I just made it last week and I enjoyed some leftovers for lunch the next day. It’s so good that I could eat it like an entree! Love the idea of adding quinoa to make it more filling!
I have cups and cups of frozen zucchini from my garden last year. I’m trying to use it up and found your recipe. Do you think this recipe will work if I use frozen zucchini?
Hi, Monique! I think it would probably work fine, but I would definitely thaw the zucchini first and really make sure to squeeze out any excess liquid. 🙂
Thinking about adding precooked ground turkey to the dish for an all in one. Thoughts? TIA
That sounds like a delicious idea! I bet it will work really well. Let me know if you give it a try, Adair!
Oh my dammmmit! Deeeelicious! !
Hah! Thank you! 🙂
Made this using yellow squash and it was delicious. Topped it off with Frenchs onions and Frenchs Jalapeno. Gave it a nice kick. Will make again!!!
YUM! So glad that you enjoyed it, Renee!
I’ve made this three times. The last time I used yellow squash and carrots because it was what I had. Just as yummy as the first 2 times. My husband requests it.
Awesome! Thanks, Cerina!
Do you peel the zucchini?
Hi, Jana! No, you don’t need to peel the zucchini. 🙂
I had a recipe for zucchini that was similar. I bakedit and cut it into squares for appetizers. It was delicious, but I can’t find
the recipe. Could this be modified to do the same thing?
Hi, Sherrie! This might work, but I don’t think that it will cut as neatly into squares as you might hope. These two recipes sound more like what you’re looking for, so take a look and see if they’re similar to your old recipe:
Zucchini Pie: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/zucchini-pie/ (just bake it in a square pan and slice into squares instead of using a round dish)
or
Cheesy Spinach Squares: https://www.theseasonedmom.com/aunt-bees-spinach-cheese-squares/ (use zucchini instead of the spinach, perhaps?)
Hope that helps!
Recipe is listed as a Weight Watcher but what are the points per serving?
Hi, Carolyn! I haven’t listed the recipe as “Weight Watcher friendly,” so I’m not sure where you saw that. I’m not familiar with exactly how to calculate points for Weight Watchers, so I’m not any help in that regard. Maybe you can use the nutrition panel provided below the recipe to help you calculate the points? Again, sorry that I’m not able to be more helpful! I hope that you get to try it, though — we love this dish! 🙂
Great and simple recipe. I added a can of fire-roasted diced tomato (simply because I love zucchini and tomato together) It was wonderful.
Sounds delicious! Thanks, Amanda!
sy and turned out great. I used thawed roasted garlic I had in the freezer, doubled the recipe and used as a main dish. It came out pretty too – so I’ll have another option for potlucks! Thanks for the tip to wring out the zucchini – that’s always been a problem for me and zucchini!
Yay! I’m so glad to know that you’ve found a keeper, Johanna! Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment!
I cut the recipe in half since it was just for myself and added a cup of mixed vegetables. Love it! Used stuffing mix instead of Panko breadcrumbs. Delicious!
Sounds perfect, Ashli! Thank you!
Thankyou for this recipe! I made it as written except I added a kittle leftover Feta cheese that I had in the fridge.
Excellent dish!
Definitely will make this again, yum.
I bet the feta was delicious! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a note. 🙂
I just made this for dinner tonight and it wasn’t a huge hit. I think the onion & garlic combo overpower the other flavors- and I think the cheese might be too much. I usually love zucchini but this wasn’t great
I made it with a few changes because of health reasons. First change was I sliced the Zucchini instead of grating it. Second I deleted the salt and 3rd I deleted both the mozzarella and the cheddar cheeses. Even though I made these changes it turned out FANTASTIC!
I did make it the second time Exactly as per the instructions. I didn’t like it. It was OK, but after tasting the first one, that’s all it was.
Now I friends making your Recipe (my way) with other vegetables and the love it. Thank you very much. This is one of the best things I make and can eat, happily.
That’s great to hear, Bonnie! Thanks for sharing your changes and for taking the time to leave a note. 🙂
Thank you for responding.
Question:.Do you have any other Recipes that can be adapted to fit with Chronic kidney disease all stages?
Hi, Bonnie! I’m not familiar with the dietary restrictions associated with chronic kidney disease. If you can give me a few more details about what you’re looking for, I might be able to direct you to some other recipes. 🙂
Thank you for responding.
Question:.Do you have any other Recipes that can be adapted to fit with Chronic kidney disease all stages?
Taste was great. Personally, I would grill the onions and garlic before adding to the recipe.
We enjoyed this casserole tonight with our dinner. I substituted white cheddar cheese for regular. This turned out perfectly cooked in our toaster convection oven. : )
That’s wonderful, Nancy! Thanks for taking the time to come back here and let me know!
I was torn on how to rate this recipe. It is fantastic, but for me it’s not a casserole. It’s definitely an egg bake. Leaving off the crackers made a delicious keto egg breakfast. If you like garlic and eggs, this one is a winner, but it’s not a casserole.
I made this several times last summer and it was always a hit. While reviewing the recipe before this year’s first zucchini I thought I would drop a few comments. I usually use an extra egg because I like the casserole a little firmer. Also if I use about half the onion out of dried, chopped onions it takes on part of the zucchini moisture and makes draining/squeezing a little less critical. I’m with the folks who add hot sauce, though a small (cooks preference on amount) of chopped fresh peppers is an interesting flavor. Other additions I’ve found work for me: fresh basil, ham or chicken, top with feta crumbles instead of bread crumbs for gluten free. Thanks for the great recipe.
Thanks for those helpful notes, Jim! Your additions sound perfect!
WE just made this recipe at a Hosiptal kitchen, and its sooo good! we will be serving it to the whole hospital tomorrow!
That’s amazing, Sophia! Thanks for your note. I hope that the hospital patients enjoy the dish. 🙂
I made this yesterday. It came out perfect. I used zucchini from our garden. Thank-you. Very gtood
I made this yesterday. It came out perfect. I used zucchini from our garden. Thank-you. Very good.
Thanks, Donna! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! Can’t beat garden-fresh zucchini. 🙂
I made this tonight with a slight change. Instead of using the mozzarella and cheddar cheeses, I used ricotta and the Parmesan. My husband is not a huge fan of cheeses so this was what we agreed on. I also used yellow squash and the zucchini. OH MY GOODNESS, so so good. I think next time I’m going to saute the onions first. They still have a slight raw taste to me (which in all fairness could be my oven). Other than that, I wouldn’t change a thing. Hubs said it’s definitely a keeper!!! Thank you so much for sharing your recipe!!!
I’m so glad that you both enjoyed the dish! Thanks for sharing your twist. 🙂
We loved this recipe. For getting rid of the excess moisture from the zucchini, I put it in my salad spinner and “spun” the excess moisture out after 10 minutes. It worked well.
I also cut back just a little bit on each of the cheeses to help reduce the fat content. It was still delicious. The panko bread crumbs on the top really puts it over the top. My hubby is not a fan of zucchini but he liked this so well, he suggested I make it at Thanksgiving. Who knew???
Thanks!
Yay! So glad that your husband even approved! 🙂
We loved the recipe. I used a salad spinner to get the excess moisture out of the zucchini after it sat for the 10 minutes. I also cut back just a little bit on each of the amounts of cheese mainly to help reduce the fat content of the dish. My husband who is not a fan of zucchini, really enjoyed it as well. He even suggested serving this dish at Thanksgiving this year. Who knew??
Thanks!
My hubby and the boys enjoyed this casserole. Lots of compliments. Definitely need to spend more time draining the zucchini so it won’t be squishy. Still delicious. I used the leftovers in a lunchtime wrap today.
Thanks, Maria!
Thanks, Maria! So glad that you both enjoyed it!
Thanks for sharing
Very Amazing thanks so much for Sharing.
I just made this and it is absolutely delicious! Will make again for sure!
This looks like a wonderful recipe! I’m wondering if anyone has made it with a huge overgrown zucchini? My CSA keeps delivering me huge overgrown zucchini and I don’t know if any recipe will be good with zucchini this large.
Hi, Louise! I think you could definitely use an overgrown zucchini in this recipe. Just remove the really large seeds and you should be good to go!
I use large zucchini in recipes calling for eggplant since I have problems with eggplant. I love it in Moussaka.
That’s a great idea!
I wish it would cool down enough here in Texas to start making these recipes, but rest assured they are printed out and are being kept safely in my Home Management Notebook, ready for that first cold snap!Vodka Cupuacu
Hopefully soon, Lisa! I know how you must feel. This is our first week of cooler days and I’m loving it…
🙂
Love this recipe it was so simple!! I used my stand mixer and the recipe worked great I made this recipe for my daughters headstart class.Oreo Mcflurry recipe
Thank you!
I came across this recipe about a month ago and excited to make it for the second time. The flavors are outstanding and if you dry the zucchini properly, you will enjoy the perfect texture between the zucchini and panko breadcrumbs. Thank you for sharing such a delicious, easy recipe!
Thanks, Amber!
Love this recipe it was so simple!! I used my stand mixer and the recipe worked great I made this recipe for my daughters headstart class.Keto Meal Prep
Probably my ever best dish, I have made it now for forty years non stop….I don ‘ t put eggs, so it is lighter ….I usually slice the courgettes very thin in the magimix…then steam them…..I always make a big amount so I can freeze it after baking…in the baking dish…and reheat it in a hot oven…love it when the rice gets crispy at the bottom…..I also add leftovers green like kale….my mum add cooked tomatoes in the mix…she likes it moist….
Cheers
Christiane
Sounds perfect, Christiane!
An easy and truly delicious recipe. I love zucchini and was glad to have a new way to prepare it. This is a perfect dish to bring to gatherings – I can’t wait! I know it will be a hit! I served it with grilled chicken sausage in a little marinara sauce and they went together wonderfully. Thank you for the great recipe!
Thank you, Christine! I’m so glad that you liked it and that you’ll share it with friends and family, too. 🙂
I made this tonight with a couple of minor changes. I did not have cheddar, so I substituted smoked gruyere, which added a cheesy, smoky note to the mix. I also dusted the top with (hot) smoked Spanish paprika, which added a hint of spiciness but without being overpowering.
Finally, because i hadn’t read the directions all the way through before putting the casserole dish in the oven, i topped it with the crumb mixture before putting it in to bake for the first time. I was worried the top would burn after 35 minutes, but it was perfect.
I will definitely make this again, playing around with the cheeses and spices. It’s very versatile.
Your version sounds delicious, Valentina! Thanks for your notes, and so glad that you enjoyed it!
Wow! This is fabulous! My husband loved it as well. I used 2 zucchini and 2 yellow squash and the colors were beautiful
Thank you, Cary!
Maybe it is me, buy the onions were too crunchy – should I have sauteed them first? It was just okay – sorry!
Hi, Patricia! You can certainly saute them first next time, but I haven’t ever found them to be crunchy in this dish. Maybe if you chop them a bit finer it would help? Or even grate them? Sorry it wasn’t a hit!
CN you use frozen shredded zucchini?
Hi, Tara! I’ve never tried that, but I think it would work as long as you really strain the liquid from the thawed zucchini first. Let me know if you give it a shot!
I sauté mine and it comes out amazing
I made this for the first time today. It’s definitely a keeper since my garden produces SO much zucchini! I made it exactly as the recipe and the family loved it. Squeezing the grated zucchini in a towel was genius. All the moisture was gone so the casserole came out perfect and not watery. I also appreciate the size of the casserole. It’s perfect for us empty nester- so many other recipes make a huge 13 x 9 dish and that’s too much for us. Thank you for a delicious recipe!
Awesome! Thanks, Karen! I hope that you enjoy it with your fresh zucchini all summer long. 🙂
Yes, you squeeze out the water when you salt the zucchini, but you are also squeezing out all of the water-soluble vitamins, such as Vitamin C and all the B vitamins.
I don’t know why you eat, but I eat for nutrition.
What I do to keep the casserole from getting soggy while saving the vitamins is to put a layer of uncooked pasta in the bottom of the dish and then add the zucchini and the rest of the ingredients.
This is so delicious and easy to make. Will make this over and over!
Thank you, Dorene!
I didn’t excessively wring the zucchini and I felt the dish had a good balance of moisture. I used the larger-sized grater and I liked the bit of snap that the zucchini retained. I like the pasta idea. So did you use smaller pasta such as bows or elbow pasta? And just a single layer? Also, I did cook the dish longer, but I think my oven runs cool. And I used the Italian Panko crumbs.
Seriously Susan. You don’t have to be so uppity . Maybe try to phrase suggestions on the positive side next time. I made it exactly as written and it went fabulously with our Christmas ham dinner. Thank you Blair for sharing.
I’m so glad to hear that, Elaine! Thanks for your kind note, and merry Christmas!
I was wondering what the heck to do with all the remaining zucchini I hand shredded while assisting the wife make her self professed Worlds Greatest Zucchini Bread. All kidding aside – it is very good bread.
I followed your recipe as best I could with the ingredients I had on had, all the while substituting where I saw fit AKA: “just winging it”. I used badia seasoning for the salt. I sprayed my 9×13 Pyrex with Pam and sprinkled it with salt, pepper and garlic powder prior to adding the mix. I used Amish candy onion, all cheddar cheese, and sprinkle Parmesan/Romano. I added about 1/4 finely chopped green pepper, a jar of drained and mushrooms and about a cup of chopped seasoned chicken breast.
Yum Yum! I’ll be keeping this recipe in my arsenal. Once the wife tastes it, I am sure she will claim the recipe as her own and expect accolades from All when she makes it! Ha ha
Hah! I’m glad that you found a good way to use up the rest of the zucchini, Dennis! Now I’m curious about your wife’s bread! 🙂
This is our new all time favorite zucchini recipe. Only thing I did different was using Italian bread crumbs instead of panko. I did not have panko in the house. It tasted awesome!
Thank you, Brenda! That makes me so happy to hear. 🙂
Can you make ahead?
Hi, Susan! Yes, I think you could prep it in advance and keep it refrigerated for a day or so before baking. The leftovers keep well in the fridge, too.
Husband loved this, and it was easy to make. My zucchini was drained very well but if I were to change anything I’d add something to make texture less like mashed potatoes ( baby food)
It’s a texture thing for me, any ideas?
Hi, Tan! I’m not sure that I totally understand. Zucchini is always going to be soft when it’s cooked, unless you just parboil or quickly cook it on the stovetop in a skillet. If you don’t like that texture, there’s not a whole lot that you can change in this particular recipe. Did you grate it coarsely, rather than using the fine side of a box grater? The coarser the shred, the less “mushy” it will be. I don’t typically find that it has a texture like mashed potatoes. You can usually get that grated texture in the finished dish. I hope that helps, and I’m glad that your husband enjoyed it! 🙂
Instead of grating the Zucchini, you could just dice or slice it in big chunks and it will definitely be less mushy for you. It’ll leave some crunch. My dad has the same issues with zucchini lol…
I loved this receipe! My dog needed out in the middle of the night and I cleaned up the leftover casserole just standing at the counter eating it. Thanks for this receipe. It was great.
Linda
Oh, good! I’m so glad that it proved to be the perfect midnight snack, too. 🙂 Thanks, Linda!
Fantastic! Made this today to use up extra zucchini and fell in love with it. Added 1 c cooked rice and only did half the cheese for my taste. Variations of cheese and herbs make this my sort of recipe. I’m making it agin next week to go with Easter lunch. Great recipe!!!
Wonderful! I bet it was great with the added rice, Cindy. Thanks for your note!
Just out of the oven. Smells divine. Hoping it tastes as good.
Now, about your web site. I realize you’ve abandoned a legal career (kudos from a mostly retired environmental lawyer on that) and ads support the site; but the pop-ups constantly slowed and clogged the site, and interfered with my cooking. Plus, I like to play music while I cook, and the constant video pop-ups kept interrupting the Spotify stream. As good as the recipe was, I would hesitate to use the site again due to the aggravating traffic. There needs to be a limit on the volume of commercial stuff being thrown out. Even now it blankets this page, making it hard to concentrate (which of course is the whole idea). Rest assured I would never purchase anything from an intrusive web advertiser. I suspect many others hold the line in the same way.
Increased my rating to five stars after multiple compliments and requests for the recipe. (I did warn that the website makes it hard to navigate, such that it might make sense to copy the ingredients onto a piece of paper, or maybe copy and paste. Things are just too busy and unstable.). Many thanks! Oh, and I put slices of tomato on top (by request of spouse), and let them cook a bit with the topping at the end. Worked great!
Thank you, Dirk. I always appreciate the feedback!
Hi, since you use frozen onions, have you tried frozen minced garlic? I get it at Walmart. It’s fantastic. I never peal and mince garlic anymore. I just use the frozen. I don’t know if I’m allowed to tell you the brand.
Ruth Trygstad
Ruth
Hi, Ruth! I haven’t tried that, but I’ll definitely look for it. I’ve used the jars of pre-minced garlic from the produce section, but I haven’t noticed the frozen option. Thanks for the tip!
First time making recipe, squeezed zucchini twice.ade it like the recipe. Came out Delicious. I will make thos again.
Awesome! Thanks, Lisa-Marie!
Hi I’m Johnnie Mae, I tried this recipe for the first time. Wanted to try something different from the usual. Went directly by the recipe including the wringing the water out of the squash, didn’t have the 3 cheeses but used what I had,boy did it turn out delicious, thanks for posting your recipe. Will try to show a picture Lisa Marie
Thank you, Johnnie Mae! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it!
A absolutely delicious!!! Plan on making it again this week!
Thank you, Linda!
Can I make this ahead of time without baking and bake at a later date (2 days)?
Hi, Kasey! Yes, I think that will work fine. Just make sure that you squeeze as much liquid out of the zucchini as possible before assembling. 🙂
I had some extra shredded zucchini so I thought I’d try this. Ohhh my, I wish I had alot more for a bigger dish cause this was absolutely delicious! Will definitely make it again soon!
So glad that it was a hit, Tina. Thank you!
This casserole is excellent…my favorite zucchini recipe!!
Thanks, Dolores!
I may try this with spiralized zucchini.
Sounds great! Let us know if it works well!