Casseroles top the list for easy, one-dish meals full of nutrients and flavors that please the whole family. Many vegetables such as tomatoes, peas, corn and broccoli pair well with pastas, rice, meat and chicken in deep-dish dinner favorites, but zucchini is often overlooked.
Whether you give it a Mexican twist, use it as a tantalizing texturizer in lasagna, or make it the star of a vegetarian buffet dressed up with spices, perfectly melted cheese or a creamy sauce, zucchini is a winner every time. Its unique hint of fresh-green-grass flavor adds irresistible undertones of freshness that pair well with so many other ingredients, you'll soon be adding a few slices of this marvelous squash to other favorite casserole recipes.
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How to make zucchini lasagna with ground beef
Lasagna is a bit healthier and less carb-dense when you replace the lasagna noodles with wide, paper-thin slices of fresh zucchini. The garlic and onion brighten the taste of the beef and spaghetti sauce, and the layers of ricotta add decadent richness that make lasagna so desirable. Stand the zucchinis on end, and slice them with a wide vegetable peeler, or use a mandolin to create super thin zucchini noodles. Get the recipe here.
Lasagna is a bit healthier and less carb-dense when you replace the lasagna noodles with wide, paper-thin slices of fresh zucchini. The garlic and onion brighten the taste of the beef and spaghetti sauce, and the layers of ricotta add decadent richness that make lasagna so desirable. Stand the zucchinis on end, and slice them with a wide vegetable peeler, or use a mandolin to create super thin zucchini noodles. Get the recipe here.
How to make zucchini enchilada casserole
There's so much flavor packed into every bite of this Mexican-style casserole, no one will notice the absence of traditional tortillas. Wrap rotisserie chicken mixed with Monterey Jack cheese and spiced up with chili powder, paprika, cayenne and wonderfully warm cumin in long strips of fresh zucchini. It helps the squash keep its crispness. Smothered in rich red enchilada sauce and topped with more cheese, this quick casserole is ideal for lunch or dinner. Get the recipe here.
There's so much flavor packed into every bite of this Mexican-style casserole, no one will notice the absence of traditional tortillas. Wrap rotisserie chicken mixed with Monterey Jack cheese and spiced up with chili powder, paprika, cayenne and wonderfully warm cumin in long strips of fresh zucchini. It helps the squash keep its crispness. Smothered in rich red enchilada sauce and topped with more cheese, this quick casserole is ideal for lunch or dinner. Get the recipe here.
How to make zucchini gratin
One key to keeping cooked zucchini from becoming mushy in casseroles is sauteing it for about ten minutes ahead of time to release its natural moisture. This gratin has extra zucchini flavor because those released juices are incorporated into the scrumptious cheese sauce. Use Panko breadcrumbs for the topping for added crispness that makes the creamy sauce taste even more delectable. Get the recipe here.
One key to keeping cooked zucchini from becoming mushy in casseroles is sauteing it for about ten minutes ahead of time to release its natural moisture. This gratin has extra zucchini flavor because those released juices are incorporated into the scrumptious cheese sauce. Use Panko breadcrumbs for the topping for added crispness that makes the creamy sauce taste even more delectable. Get the recipe here.
How to make meaty zucchini casserole
To keep the zucchini rounds pleasingly crunchy in this toothsome casserole, sprinkle the pieces with salt and place in a colander for 10 minutes to leach out the moisture. Fresh thyme adds a flavor layer that's sublime yet subtle. You can use any kind of cheese you like but mozzarella creates a creamy sauce with a silky texture that's hard to beat. Get the recipe here.
To keep the zucchini rounds pleasingly crunchy in this toothsome casserole, sprinkle the pieces with salt and place in a colander for 10 minutes to leach out the moisture. Fresh thyme adds a flavor layer that's sublime yet subtle. You can use any kind of cheese you like but mozzarella creates a creamy sauce with a silky texture that's hard to beat. Get the recipe here.
How to make scalloped zucchini casserole
Scalloped potatoes are high on the list of the most comforting dishes on earth. But it's the "scallop" that makes them so unctuous, so you can make an equally satisfying version with zucchini instead of potatoes and avoid the heavy dose of carbs. A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds gentle warmth to the sauce and accents the tastes of butter, milk and cheese. Get the recipe here.
Scalloped potatoes are high on the list of the most comforting dishes on earth. But it's the "scallop" that makes them so unctuous, so you can make an equally satisfying version with zucchini instead of potatoes and avoid the heavy dose of carbs. A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg adds gentle warmth to the sauce and accents the tastes of butter, milk and cheese. Get the recipe here.
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