Unstuffed Zucchini Casserole Dinner (Print)

Sliced zucchini, ground beef, and melted cheddar make a simple, satisfying casserole for easy dinners.

# Ingredients:

→ Main Ingredients

01 - 7 ml vegetable oil
02 - 450 g lean ground beef
03 - 5 g salt
04 - 150 g chopped onion
05 - 15 g minced garlic
06 - 2 g paprika
07 - 2 g Italian seasoning
08 - 1 g onion powder
09 - 1 g garlic powder
10 - pinch black pepper
11 - 65 g chopped red or green bell pepper
12 - 440 g tomato sauce
13 - 440 ml water
14 - 680 g small zucchini, unpeeled
15 - 185 g instant rice
16 - 110 g shredded cheddar cheese

# Steps:

01 - Add vegetable oil to a large frying pan and heat over medium-high for 2–3 minutes.
02 - Add ground beef, salt, and chopped onion. Break up meat and cook for 5–6 minutes, stirring frequently until beef is browned.
03 - While the beef browns, slice the unpeeled zucchini into 6 mm thick rounds.
04 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add paprika, Italian seasoning, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper. Stir to combine.
06 - Add chopped bell pepper, cook, and stir for 1–2 minutes.
07 - Add sliced zucchini to the pan and mix thoroughly.
08 - Pour in tomato sauce; use water to rinse the can and pour this water into the pan as well.
09 - Bring to a gentle boil, then reduce heat to simmer. Allow to cook for 5 minutes to reduce slightly.
10 - Taste and adjust with additional salt, garlic powder, onion powder, Italian seasoning, or pepper if needed.
11 - Once simmering, stir in the instant rice until evenly distributed.
12 - Increase heat to bring back to a boil, then immediately turn off the heat and cover the pan. Let rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
13 - Uncover, stir and check that rice is cooked through; if not, cover and let rest another minute.
14 - Sprinkle the shredded cheddar cheese evenly over the casserole, cover, and allow to rest until cheese has melted.
15 - Once the cheese has melted, serve hot, adding extra cheese if desired.

# Notes:

01 - For best results, use small, firm zucchini to ensure they hold their shape during cooking.

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