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Zucchini Pizza Casserole

A delightful twist on pizza with a zucchini crust, packed with ground beef, peppers, and a melty cheese blend.
Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 350

Ingredients
  

For the zucchini crust
  • 4 cups shredded zucchini (about 2 large zucchinis) Make sure to squeeze out excess moisture.
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese Reserve half for topping.
For the topping
  • 1 pound ground beef Can substitute with ground turkey.
  • 1/2 cup chopped onion
  • 2 cups pizza sauce
  • 1 green bell pepper chopped
  • 1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese For topping.
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese For topping.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
  2. In a large bowl, combine the shredded zucchini and salt. Let it sit for 10 minutes to release excess moisture.
  3. After 10 minutes, use a clean kitchen towel or cheesecloth to squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the zucchini.
  4. In the same bowl, mix the drained zucchini with the eggs, Parmesan cheese, and half of the mozzarella cheese to form the crust mixture.
  5. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Press the zucchini mixture evenly into the bottom of the dish to create your crust.
  6. Bake the crust in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until it’s set and lightly browned.
Cooking
  1. While the crust is baking, brown the ground beef with the chopped onion in a skillet over medium heat until the beef is no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
  2. Stir in the pizza sauce, green bell pepper, mushrooms, oregano, garlic powder, and black pepper. Cook for another 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Once the crust is ready, spread the beef mixture evenly over the zucchini crust.
  4. Sprinkle the remaining mozzarella cheese and all of the cheddar cheese over the top.
  5. Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 20 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly.
Serving
  1. Remove from the oven and allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before slicing and serving.

Notes

Consider serving with a side salad, garlic bread, or fresh herbs. Squeeze out moisture from zucchini for a firmer crust.