An easy side dish that pairs beautifully with just about any family meal! The garlic parmesan zucchini casserole features fresh shredded veggies, garlic, and onion baked with three types of cheese and finished with a buttery, crispy, Parmesan breadcrumb topping.
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If you have a ton of fresh zucchini, check out some of our other favorite zucchini recipes, such as sauteed zucchini, this easy snickerdoodle zucchini bread, a batch of one-bowl zucchini muffins, and a loaf of zucchini bread!
How to Make Zucchini Casserole | 1-Minute Video
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
– Sheba
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy. If you can stir together some simple ingredients, then you can make this easy zucchini casserole recipe. With about 15 minutes of prep time, the dish is ready for the oven!
- Flavorful. On its own, zucchini can be a very neutral, bland vegetable. This casserole is anything but boring, however! The veggies are seasoned with plenty of garlic, three different types of cheese, and a crunchy, buttery topping.
- Versatile. The zucchini casserole works well as a vegetarian entree, but also serves as a delicious side side for almost any main course. Offer it with your Easter or Christmas ham, alongside a Thanksgiving smoked turkey breast, with marinated grilled shrimp, or with grilled bbq chicken breast, grilled pork chops, and grilled hamburgers throughout the summer months.
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. I use a handheld box grater to shred my zucchini, but you can also put it through a food processor if you prefer. There’s no need to peel the zucchini.
- 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. 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.
- Panko breadcrumbs and melted butter: combine the panko bread crumbs with the Parmesan and melted butter to form the crispy, golden brown topping. 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).
Directions
This old fashioned zucchini casserole is an easy recipe to take advantage of an abundance of fresh summer veggies. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the overview:
- 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 so that the zucchini doesn’t make your casserole watery). After 10 minutes, squeeze out the moisture from the zucchini. A dish towel works really well to wring out all of that excess water.
- Combine the drained zucchini, onion, garlic, eggs, some of the Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese in a small, greased baking dish.
- Bake uncovered 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 zucchini is tender and the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Garnish the dish with fresh herbs (such as chopped fresh parsley, fresh basil, or fresh thyme) or with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice for a bright burst of color and flavor.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile casserole pairs nicely with just about any meat, seafood, or pasta. We love the cheesy zucchini casserole alongside grilled salmon or grilled scallops, with crispy fried chicken, grilled chicken, or baked chicken thighs, maple Dijon chicken, with marinated pork tenderloin, alongside a Southern meatloaf, with cozy stuffed shells, this turkey Sloppy Joes recipe, with pasta and marinara sauce, a tomato sandwich, or with a veggie pizza. Then, add a strawberry jello salad or easy banana pudding for dessert.
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!
– JJ
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, or warm individual servings in the microwave for 30-60 seconds, or until heated 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
- Use a combination of yellow squash and zucchini, or replace all of the zucchini with yellow summer squash. Shredded carrots would also be a nice addition.
- 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.
- For a tasty twist, try adding coarsely grated zucchini to this dump-and-bake vegetable casserole with rice.
Made this tonight, it is awesome, love It! Will keep this recipe for future use.
– Karen
More Zucchini Casserole Recipes
Zucchini Pie
50 minutes mins
Chicken Zucchini Casserole
55 minutes mins
Did you make this recipe?
If you enjoyed this recipe, please leave a comment with a 5-star review at the bottom of the post. Thank you!
Watch How to Make It
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 (about 3 cloves)
- 2 large 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 salted 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.
Notes
- I use a handheld box grater to shred my zucchini, but you can also put it through a food processor if you prefer.
- Add some ground black pepper or crushed red pepper for a zestier kick. Italian seasoning would also be a nice addition to the filling.
- 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 June, 2024.
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!
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!
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!
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 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.