Zucchini Pizza Casserole Bake (Printable View)

Cheesy zucchini crust pairs with beef, veggies, and bubbling cheese for a delicious baked pizza-inspired dish.

# Ingredient List:

→ Crust Base

01 - 4 cups shredded zucchini
02 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
05 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

→ Toppings

06 - 1 pound ground beef
07 - 1/2 cup chopped onion
08 - 2 cups pizza sauce
09 - 1 green bell pepper, chopped
10 - 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
11 - 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
12 - 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
13 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
14 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
15 - 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - Combine shredded zucchini with salt in a large bowl. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to extract excess moisture.
03 - After resting, squeeze as much liquid as possible from zucchini using a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth.
04 - In the same bowl, combine drained zucchini, eggs, Parmesan cheese, and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix thoroughly until uniform.
05 - Press zucchini mixture evenly into prepared baking dish to create the crust base. Bake for 20 minutes or until set and lightly golden.
06 - While crust bakes, brown ground beef with chopped onion in a skillet over medium heat until beef is no longer pink; drain excess fat.
07 - Stir pizza sauce, green bell pepper, mushrooms, oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper into cooked beef mixture. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
08 - Spread beef and vegetable mixture evenly over baked zucchini crust. Distribute remaining mozzarella cheese and all cheddar cheese across the top.
09 - Return casserole to oven and bake for 20 minutes or until cheese is melted and bubbling.
10 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for several minutes before slicing and serving.

# Supplementary Details:

01 - For the crispiest crust, ensure excess moisture is thoroughly removed from zucchini before baking.