There's something about the smell of cheesy zucchini casserole bubbling in the oven that makes the whole house feel like home. The sharp cheddar gets all golden at the edges, those buttery crackers toast up perfectly, and suddenly everyone's wandering into the kitchen asking when dinner's ready.
Why This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Works (And Why You'll Love It)
I've made a lot of Cheesy Zucchini Casserole over the years, and this one's different. The secret? We're squeezing out all that extra moisture before it even hits the oven. No watery, sad casserole here, just creamy, cheesy perfection in every bite.
The combo of sharp cheddar and Parmesan gives it real flavor, not just bland vegetable mush. And that Ritz cracker topping? It adds just enough crunch to make this feel special, even though it comes together in about an hour.
My sister Karla came over last week and brought her picky eight-year-old, oliver
He took one look at the casserole and said, "Is that just green stuff?" But after one bite of that golden, cheesy top layer, he grabbed his mom's arm and whispered, "Can we make this at home?" Karla laughed and said, "Guess we're planting zucchini next year."
This baked zucchini recipe works as a side dish for grilled chicken, a potluck star, or even a light main with a salad. It's one of those recipes you'll keep coming back to all summer long.
Jump to:
- Why This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Works (And Why You'll Love It)
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Ingredients
- How to Make Cheesy Zucchini Casserole (Step by Step)
- Smart Substitutions and Swaps
- Equipment For Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
- How to Store Cheesy Zucchini Casserole and Reheat
- Perfect Pairings and Serving Ideas
- Top Tip
- What Makes This Cheesy Zucchini Bake So Good
- FAQ
- Why This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Belongs in Your Summer Rotation
- Related
- Pairing
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Ingredients
- Butter, plus more for greasing baking dish
- Zucchini
- Sour cream
- Mayonnaise
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Baking powder
- Eggs
- Freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese, divided
- Parmesan cheese
- Crushed Ritz or cheddar cheese crackers
SEE RECIPE CARD FOR QUANTITE
How to Make Cheesy Zucchini Casserole (Step by Step)
This creamy zucchini casserole comes together faster than you'd think. Here's how it works:
Step 1: Get your oven ready
Preheat to 375°F and butter up a 9×13-inch baking dish. Don't skip the butter, it keeps everything from sticking and adds a little extra richness.
Step 2: Prep the zucchini (this is the important part)
Trim the ends off your zucchini and grate them using the big holes on a box grater. Toss all that grated zucchini into a sieve and sprinkle it with a teaspoon of kosher salt. Let it sit for about 10 minutes. This draws out all the moisture.
Then grab a clean kitchen towel, dump the zucchini in, and squeeze. Really squeeze. You want to get as much liquid out as possible. This is what keeps your zucchini cheese bake from turning into a soggy mess.
Step 3: Mix up the base
In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayo, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, eggs, and a quarter teaspoon of black pepper. It'll look a little weird at first, but just keep whisking until it's smooth.
Step 4: Add the good stuff
Stir in 1 cup of that sharp cheddar, all the Parmesan, and your squeezed-dry zucchini. Mix it until everything's combined, then spread it into your buttered baking dish. You can check out my Easy Brown Sugar Glazed Carrots for another veggie side that pairs perfectly with this.
Step 5: First bake
Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes. It'll start to set and get a little puffy.
Step 6: Make the topping
While that's baking, melt your tablespoon of butter and mix it with the crushed crackers and the remaining half cup of cheddar. This is the magic layer.
Step 7: Finish it off
Pull the casserole out, sprinkle that cracker mixture all over the top, and slide it back in the oven. Bake for another 10 to 15 minutes, until the topping's golden and toasted.
Step 8: Let it rest
This is hard, but let it cool for 10 minutes before you slice in. It needs that time to set up properly. Then slice, serve, and watch it disappear.
Smart Substitutions and Swaps
This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole pretty flexible if you need to work with what you've got.
Cheese options: Sharp cheddar's my favorite, but Gruyere makes it extra fancy. Monterey Jack works if you want it milder. You could even try mozzarella for a different vibe, though you'll lose some of that tangy sharpness.
Cracker situation: Ritz crackers are classic, but those cheddar cheese crackers (like Cheez-Its crushed up) are amazing too. Panko breadcrumbs work in a pinch, though you'll want to add a little extra butter.
Dairy swaps: Greek yogurt can replace the sour cream if that's what you have. The mayo's a little trickier to sub, but you could do all sour cream or all Greek yogurt if you need to.
Zucchini alternatives: Yellow squash works exactly the same way. You could even do half zucchini, half yellow squash for a prettier dish.
Equipment For Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
- 9×13-inch baking dish - The classic size for family dinners
- Box grater - For shredding the zucchini
- Sieve - To salt and drain the zucchini
- Kitchen towel - For squeezing out moisture
- Large mixing bowl - To combine everything
- Whisk - Gets the base nice and smooth
- Small bowl - For mixing the topping
How to Store Cheesy Zucchini Casserole and Reheat
This garden zucchini recipe keeps really well, which makes it perfect for meal prep.
In the fridge: Cover it tightly and it'll last 3 to 4 days. The topping might soften a bit, but it still tastes great.
Reheating: Oven's best at 350°F for about 15 minutes. Microwave works too, though you'll lose that crispy top. If you want to re-crisp it, pop it under the broiler for a minute or two.
Freezing: You can freeze this before or after baking. Wrap it super well in plastic wrap, then foil. It'll keep for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.
Make-ahead tip: Assemble the whole thing the night before, keep it covered in the fridge, then bake it fresh the next day. Add an extra 5 minutes to the bake time if it's going in cold.
Perfect Pairings and Serving Ideas
This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole gratin style casserole plays well with all kinds of meals.
Serve it next to grilled chicken or steak for an easy summer dinner. The creamy, cheesy flavors balance out anything smoky or charred.
It's amazing at potlucks. Make it in a disposable aluminum pan and you won't even have to worry about getting your dish back.
For a lighter meal, pair it with a crisp green salad and some crusty bread. The casserole's rich enough that you don't need much else.
My favorite combo? This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole , some grilled Italian sausages, and my Easy Pepperoni and Cheese Crisps as an appetizer. It's the kind of meal that makes people happy.
Top Tip
- Mom always said the difference between a good Cheesy Zucchini Casserole and a great one is patience. When you're squeezing that zucchini, really commit to it. Get every drop of water out you can.
- She also taught me to taste the mixture before it goes in the oven. Not the raw eggs, obviously, but check your seasoning. Does it need more garlic powder? A little more pepper? Fix it now, because you can't fix it later.
- And here's something she'd do that I love: she'd grate a little extra Parmesan over the top right when it came out of the oven, while everything's still steaming hot. It melts just slightly and adds this amazing salty finish.
What Makes This Cheesy Zucchini Bake So Good
Let's talk about what's actually in here. You've got your fresh zucchini, grated down and squeezed dry. Then there's sour cream and mayo for that rich, tangy creaminess. A little garlic powder and onion powder bring the flavor, and the baking powder helps everything puff up just slightly so it's not dense.
The cheese situation is important. Freshly grated sharp cheddar melts better than the pre-shredded stuff, and it's got way more flavor. The Parmesan adds a salty, nutty note that balances everything out.
And those crackers on top? They get mixed with melted butter and more cheddar, then toasted until they're crispy and golden. It's the kind of topping that makes people ask for the recipe.
This is comfort food that happens to be packed with vegetables. It's a zucchini side dish that doesn't feel like you're trying to be virtuous, it just tastes really, really good.
FAQ
How do you keep cheesy zucchini casserole from getting watery?
The secret's in the salt and squeeze. Grate your zucchini, salt it, let it sit for 10 minutes, then squeeze out every bit of liquid you can in a kitchen towel. Zucchini's mostly water, so if you skip this step, you'll end up with a soggy casserole. My mom always says, "If your arms aren't tired, you didn't squeeze enough."
Can you make cheesy zucchini casserole ahead of time?
Absolutely. Assemble the whole thing, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and keep it in the fridge for up to 24 hours before baking. Just add about 5 minutes to the bake time since it's starting cold. You can also freeze it unbaked for up to 3 months. The topping might not be quite as crispy, but it'll still taste great.
What cheeses work best in a cheesy zucchini casserole?
Sharp cheddar's my go-to because it's got real flavor that stands up to all those vegetables. Freshly grated melts way better than pre-shredded. Parmesan adds a nice salty, nutty note. You could also try Gruyere for something fancier, or Monterey Jack if you like it milder. Just avoid anything too mild or it'll taste bland.
Is cheesy zucchini casserole suitable for low-carb or keto diets?
Pretty much, yeah. The only real carbs come from the crackers on top and the small amount of baking powder. If you swap the crackers for crushed pork rinds or just skip the topping and add extra cheese, you've got yourself a solid keto-friendly low-carb Cheesy Zucchini Casserole. It's already loaded with healthy fats from the cheese, mayo, and sour cream.
Why This Cheesy Zucchini Casserole Belongs in Your Summer Rotation
Listen, I know zucchini can feel like a chore when you've got six plants producing more than you can handle. But this oven-baked Cheesy Zucchini Casserole changes the game completely.
It's the kind of dish that makes people ask for seconds, not because they're being polite, but because it actually tastes amazing. The crispy topping, the creamy middle, that sharp cheddar flavor, it all just works.
Make it for Sunday dinner. Bring it to the next cookout. Prep it on a lazy afternoon and reheat it all week. However you use it, this zucchini comfort food is about to become one of your favorites.
Related
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
🍳 Equipment
- 1 9x13 inch baking dish Used for baking the casserole
- 1 Box grater For shredding the zucchini
- 1 Sieve Used for draining salted zucchini
- 1 Kitchen towel Essential for squeezing excess moisture
- 1 Large mixing bowl Combines the filling ingredients
- 1 Whisk Used to blend the wet mixture
- 1 Small bowl For preparing the cracker topping
Ingredients
- 1 ½ Tablespoons unsalted butter for greasing and topping
- 7 medium zucchini fresh and firm for best texture
- ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons sour cream adds creaminess
- ½ cup + 2 Tablespoons mayonnaise adds richness
- 2 ¼ teaspoons garlic powder for rounded flavor
- 2 ¼ teaspoons onion powder for savory depth
- ¾ teaspoon baking powder for slight lift
- 4 large eggs binding ingredient
- 1 ⅔ cups freshly grated sharp cheddar cheese divided (melts smoothly)
- ⅓ cup grated Parmesan cheese adds salty nuttiness
- ⅔ cup crushed Ritz or cheddar crackers for crunchy topping
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with butter.
- Trim the zucchini ends, grate them on the large holes of a box grater, and place the shreds into a sieve. Sprinkle with salt and allow them to rest for 10 minutes.
- Move the zucchini to a clean kitchen towel and squeeze firmly to remove as much moisture as possible, then set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, blend the sour cream, mayonnaise, garlic powder, onion powder, baking powder, eggs, and pepper until smooth.
- Fold in 1 ⅛ cups of the cheddar, the Parmesan, and the prepared zucchini, then spread the mixture evenly into the buttered dish.
- Bake for 30 minutes to set the casserole.
- While it bakes, mix the melted butter with the crushed crackers and the remaining cheddar in a small bowl.
- Take the casserole out, scatter the topping mixture over it, and return it to the oven until crisp and golden, about 10-15 minutes.
- Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before cutting and serving.
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