Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole is a delicious one-dish meal that the whole family will love. Made with fresh zucchini, ground beef, macaroni noodles, marinara sauce, cheese and lots of spices!
We love casseroles because they are easy to make, filling and are usually a one pan dinner! My house is usually pretty chaotic around dinnertime and it’s so nice to be able to stick one dish in the oven and have dinner ready in less than an hour. This casserole is also a great way to sneak in some veggies. My kids don’t even know there is zucchini in this recipe!
CHEESY BEEF & ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
This casserole is easy to prep and is absolutely delicious. The ground beef is cooked with onion, garlic and a few other simple spices. The zucchini is also cooked for a few minutes to soften up a little bit. Add cooked macaroni noodles, marinara sauce and cream to the beef before assembling the casserole by layering the mixture with 3 different kinds of cheese!
What to serve with Zucchini and Beef Macaroni Bake?
This casserole can be a stand-alone dish – it’s got all of the ingredients to make a well-balanced meal. That being said, we never turn down a good side dish! This casserole pairs perfectly with our 30 Minute Dinner Rolls and Fancy Fruit Salad. And don’t forget dessert…everyone loves Apple Dump Cake or Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies!
Ingredients in Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole
Macaroni noodles: The recipe calls for 2 cups of elbow macaroni, but you can use any bite-sized noodles that you have on hand (fusili, egg noodles, penne, etc). Cook the noodles al dente before adding them to the casserole.
Ground beef: A pound of ground beef will make the casserole hearty and filling. You can swap in ground turkey if you prefer.
Zucchini: Dice up about a cup of zucchini for the casserole. You can definitely add more if you’d like!
Onion: Yellow onion works best in this dish. I always buy diced onions from the frozen section in the grocery store and keep them stocked up so that I can use them for recipes like this one. I haven’t chopped an onion in years!
Garlic: I always keep a jar of minced garlic in the refrigerator to save time and effort, but fresh garlic works well too!
Oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper: All of these seasonings give this casserole the perfect amount of flavor!
Marinara sauce: You will need a 24 ounce jar of marinara sauce. You can definitely use a homemade marinara sauce if you’d like!
Heavy cream: Just 1/2 cup of heavy cream makes the casserole so rich and creamy! You can definitely lighten it up by using whole milk or 2% if that’s what you have on hand.
Cheese: You will need shredded mozzarella, cheddar and parmesan. You can swap out any of these cheeses if wanted.
Fresh basil: This is totally optional, but garnishing the dish with fresh basil makes it pretty and adds a little extra flavor too!
HOW TO MAKE CHEESY BEEF & ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE
INITIAL PREPARATIONS
Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook the macaroni noodles according to package directions. While the noodles are cooking, continue making the casserole.
COOK THE BEEF, VEGGIES AND SPICES
Add the ground beef to a large skillet and cook on medium heat until browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
Next, add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
Stir in the diced zucchinis and cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften.
Add the dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
Pour in the marinara sauce and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
ADD THE NOODLES & CREAM
Add the cooked macaroni to the skillet and gently mix everything until the macaroni is evenly coated with the sauce and meat mixture.
Gradually stir in the heavy cream to the macaroni mixture. This will add a creamy and rich element to the dish.
COMBINE THE CHEESES
In a separate bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses.
ASSEMBLE THE CASSEROLE
Transfer half of the macaroni mixture to the greased baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over it.
Layer the remaining macaroni mixture on top and finish with the rest of the cheese.
BAKE THE CASSEROLE
Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
Once done, remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
If desired, garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving for a burst of flavor and color.
Tips:
- Be sure to cook the macaroni al dente (slightly undercooked) as it will continue to cook in the oven. This prevents the macaroni from becoming mushy in the end.
- You can choose to peel the zucchinis or leave the skin on, depending on your preference. If the zucchinis are large with large seeds, consider removing the seeds to avoid excess moisture.
- Feel free to adjust the cheese types and quantities to suit your taste. You can also experiment with different cheeses like Gouda, fontina, or provolone for unique flavors.
Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 cups elbow macaroni cooked to al dente
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 cup zucchini peeled and diced
- ½ cup onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes adjust to taste
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 24-ounce jar marinara sauce
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup shredded cheddar cheese
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions
INITIAL PREPARATIONS
- Preheat the oven to 375°F. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cook the macaroni noodles according to package directions. While the noodles are cooking, continue making the casserole.
COOK THE BEEF, VEGGIES AND SPICES
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet and cook on medium heat until browned, breaking it up with a spatula as it cooks.
- Add the chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 2-3 minutes.
- Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the diced zucchinis and cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften.
- Add the dried oregano, dried basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Mix well to combine all the flavors.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together.
ADD THE NOODLES & CREAM
- Add the cooked macaroni to the skillet and gently mix everything until the macaroni is evenly coated with the sauce and meat mixture.
- Gradually stir in the heavy cream to the macaroni mixture. This will add a creamy and rich element to the dish.
COMBINE THE CHEESES
- In a separate bowl, combine the shredded mozzarella, cheddar, and Parmesan cheeses.
ASSEMBLE THE CASSEROLE
- Transfer half of the macaroni mixture to the greased baking dish. Sprinkle half of the cheese mixture over it.
- Layer the remaining macaroni mixture on top and finish with the rest of the cheese.
BAKE THE CASSEROLE
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake in the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
- Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the top is golden brown.
- Once done, remove the baking dish from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
- If desired, garnish with fresh basil leaves before serving for a burst of flavor and color.
Notes
Nutrition
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FAQs:
How should I store the leftovers?
Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. To reheat, microwave individual portions or place the entire dish, covered with foil, in a preheated oven at 350°F until heated through. To avoid overcooking the noodles, stir the casserole and check for temperature.
WHAT TYPE OF NOODLES TO USE IN BEEF & ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE?
The recipe calls for macaroni noodles, but you can use other pasta shapes like egg noodles, penne, fusili or bowties. Just be sure to cook them according to the package instructions.
Can I use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef?
Absolutely! Ground turkey or chicken can be substituted for the ground beef.
Can I use a different pasta shape?
Yes, you can use a different pasta shape if you prefer. Penne, rigatoni, or rotini would work well.
How do I make this casserole healthier?
If you are trying to reduce calorie intake, there are a couple of simple things you can do to make this casserole a little bit lighter! You can reduce the amount of pasta and increase the amount of zucchini. You can even add more veggies if you’d like. Another way to lower the calorie count is by reducing the amount of cheese, and/or replacing the heavy cream with whole milk, 2% milk or even skim milk.
MORE CASSEROLE RECIPES TO TRY:
- BROCCOLI CHEDDAR CASSEROLE
- BEEF ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
- SLOPPY JOE CASSEROLE
- BAKED CHICKEN PARMESAN CASSEROLE
- CHICKEN FAJITA CASSEROLE
- CHEESY WILD RICE CASSEROLE
- CHICKEN ENCHILADA CASSEROLE
- SOUTHWEST TATER TOT CASSEROLE
- PIZZA PASTA CASSEROLE
- TACO CORNBREAD CASSEROLE
- TWICE BAKED POTATO CASSEROLE
- TUNA NOODLE CASSEROLE
Cheesy Beef & Zucchini Casserole is a delicious one-dish meal that the whole family will love. Made with fresh zucchini, ground beef, macaroni noodles, marinara sauce, cheese and lots of spices!
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