Description
This Savory Ground Turkey Zucchini Casserole is a delicious, healthy, and comforting dish combining lean ground turkey, fresh zucchini, and a flavorful blend of cheeses and marinara sauce. Perfect for a family dinner, it’s baked to bubbly perfection with Italian herbs and garnished with fresh basil or parsley for an added fresh touch.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 3 medium zucchinis, thinly sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Cheeses
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Other Ingredients
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect baking temperature.
- Sauté onions and garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and minced garlic, cooking until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Cook ground turkey: Add the ground turkey to the skillet, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Add marinara sauce: Stir in the marinara sauce and let it cook together with the turkey mixture for an additional 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
- Prepare baking dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to prevent sticking. Arrange half of the sliced zucchinis in an even layer on the bottom.
- Layer turkey mixture and cheese: Spread half of the cooked turkey mixture over the zucchini layer. Sprinkle with half of the shredded mozzarella and grated Parmesan cheese.
- Repeat layering: Repeat the layers with the remaining zucchini slices, turkey mixture, and cheeses.
- Bake covered: Cover the dish with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown on top.
- Garnish and serve: Allow the casserole to cool slightly before serving. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired for an extra pop of color and flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey with ground chicken or lean ground beef if preferred.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure the marinara sauce you use contains no added gluten ingredients.
- To reduce sodium, select a low-sodium marinara sauce and adjust additional salt accordingly.
- If zucchinis are very watery, you can salt the slices and let them sit for 10 minutes before layering to remove excess moisture.
- This dish can be prepared ahead and refrigerated before baking; just add a few extra minutes to the baking time if baking from cold.
