Description
A healthy and comforting Ground Turkey Zucchini Casserole featuring layers of lean ground turkey, fresh zucchini slices, diced tomatoes, and melted mozzarella cheese, seasoned with Italian herbs and baked to bubbly perfection.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 lb ground turkey
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
Cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Seasonings and Oils
- 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with olive oil to prevent sticking and help with even cooking.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and sauté the chopped onion and minced garlic until fragrant and softened, about 2 minutes, to build the base flavor.
- Cook Ground Turkey: Add the ground turkey to the skillet and cook until browned, breaking it up with a spoon to ensure even cooking, about 5-6 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Seasonings: Stir in the drained diced tomatoes, dried Italian herbs, salt, and black pepper. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 3-4 minutes to combine flavors.
- Layer the Casserole: Place half of the sliced zucchini in the prepared baking dish as the first layer. Top with half of the turkey mixture followed by half of the shredded mozzarella cheese. Repeat the layers with the remaining zucchini, turkey mixture, and cheese.
- Bake Until Golden: Bake the assembled casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, or until the dish is bubbly and the cheese has melted and turned golden brown. Let it cool for 5 minutes before serving to set.
Notes
- For extra flavor, consider adding fresh basil or parsley as a garnish when serving.
- You can substitute ground chicken or lean beef for ground turkey if preferred.
- If you want lower sodium, reduce the added salt or use low-sodium canned tomatoes.
- To make it dairy-free, replace mozzarella with a vegan cheese alternative.
- Ensure zucchinis are sliced uniformly for even baking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 410mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 12g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
