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A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. This zucchini bake recipe is easy, irresistibly delicious and a great way to use up extra garden vegetables since it is loaded with 3 pounds of zucchini!
This recipe has simple ingredients and comes together quickly, making it ideal for busy weeknights. This is the best kind of comfort food – so satisfying but light being mostly vegetables, well technically fruit because zucchini is a fruit – seriously!
Every year, Mom grows enough zucchini in her yard to feed a small army so we are always on the lookout for new zucchini recipes! My Mother-in-law shared this recipe with my husband and it quickly became a new favorite. P.S. Have you tried our all-time favorite zucchini recipe?
Ingredients for Zucchini Casserole:
The ingredients in this zucchini rice casserole are so simple and basic but they are a winning combination of flavor and texture.
*To cook rice for this recipe, you will need 1 cup of uncooked rice. Here is an easy tutorial from Olga’s Flavor Factory on how to cook white rice.
How to Make Zucchini Casserole Recipe:
Prep: Preheat oven to 400˚F and butter a 9×13 baking casserole dish.
1. Grate zucchini on the large holes (the grating attachment on a food processor makes it so easy!). You should get 7 to 8 cups before squeezing dry. Transfer grated zucchini to a colander over the sink and stir in 1 tsp salt. Let stand for 10 min, stirring a couple of times then squeeze out the excess moisture with your hands. Transfer drained zucchini to a large mixing bowl.
2. Mix 2/3 cup of sour cream with 1/2 tsp baking powder and let it stand while zucchini drains (8-10 min).
3. Into the mixing bowl with drained zucchini, stir in 4 eggs and sour cream mixture.
4. Add cooked rice and 2 cups shredded cheese. Stir in 1/2 cup chives, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp Mrs. Dash seasoning.
5. Pour mixture into buttered casserole dish and lightly spread 1/3 cup sour cream over the top. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup of cheese over the surface and bake uncovered in the center of your oven at 400˚ for 40 min. Let it stand for 10 min before serving.
This zucchini bake was on the menu twice last week and it disappeared fast! It tastes like comfort food but in a light and feel good way. I love the light sweetness of the zucchini, the salty crust and moist creamy center. I find this dish completely irresistible and I hope you love it as much as we do!
Cheesy Zucchini Casserole

Ingredients
- 3 lbs green zucchini (6 medium)
- 1 1/2 tsp salt, divided (1 tsp for sprinkling and 1/2 tsp for casserole)
- 2 cups cooked white rice*
- 1 cup sour cream, (divided into 2/3 and 1/3)
- 1/2 tsp baking powder
- 4 eggs (large)
- 1/2 tsp Mrs Dash seasoning, or your favorite salt-free seasoning
- 8 oz Colby jack cheese, 3 cups shredded (or use Mexican cheese)
- 1/2 cup chives, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
Prep: Preheat oven to 400˚F and butter a 9x13 casserole dish.
How to Make Zucchini Casserole:
- Grate zucchini on the large holes (or the grating attachment on a food processor). Transfer grated zucchini to a colander over the sink and stir in 1 tsp salt. Let stand 10 min, stirring a couple of times then squeeze out the excess moisture with your hands. Transfer drained zucchini to a large mixing bowl.
- Mix 2/3 cup sour cream with 1/2 tsp baking powder and let stand while zucchini drains (8-10 min).
- Into the mixing bowl with drained zucchini, stir in 4 eggs and sour cream mixture.
- Add cooked rice and 2 cups cheese. Stir in 1/2 cup chives, 1/2 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp
- Mrs Dash seasoning.
- Pour mixture into buttered casserole dish and spread 1/3 cup sour cream over the top. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese over the surface and bake uncovered on the center rack at 400˚ for 40 min. Let stand for 10 min before serving.
Notes
Nutrition Per Serving
If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
This zucchini casserole is the perfect way to use sweet summer zucchini and a great way to re-purpose leftover white rice.
Made it for first time and it is so delicious and easy to make! I substituted sour cream with plain Greek yogurt and it turned out very good. Thank you for the recipe!
That’s just awesome, Tanya! Thank you for that great review!
I have been making a slightly different version of this casserole for over 40 years, and I have NEVER seen a similar one until now! The grated zucchini is the key, I believe. I nearly always get rave reviews on mine.
That’s so great, Carole! Thank you for sharing that with me
Hi, Natasha!
Do you think this recipe would still turn out well if I substitute a small onion in place of the chives?
Hi Victoria, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.
Hi, Natasha!
I used 1/2 cup of small-diced onion in place of the chives and it turned out great! I bet it tastes even better with chives, lol!
Hey, do you think you’ll ever publish a cookbook in the future?
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! Stay tuned, we are talking about creating a cookbook.
I’ve now made this twice, omitting the rice both times, leaving everything else the same.
My recommendation is, if you are going to omit the rice, make sure you have thoroughly dried the zucchini. I used a potato ricer, but using your hands and squeezing the shredded zucchini well should also work. Since the rice is already cooked anyway, the amount of liquid absorption would be fairly minimal, at least compared to uncooked rice.
There was no excess liquid left in the pan after baking and resting and slicing. It’s a pretty quick meal to make overall, too.
Love you take on this Jen! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
I make this also but substituted rice with stove top stuffing…adds lot# of flavor
Thank you so much for sharing that with me.
Love the recipe. Found it last year and have been making ever since. This will be the 3rd time this year. There is only 2 of us but make the whole recipe. It keeps real good. Nice as a snack or side.
That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!
We had our first zucchini of the season and included it in this recipe. I reduced the recipe considerably as it is just the 2 of us. It was outstanding, thank you.
I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed that Sandi! Thank you for that awesome feedback!
My son picked this recipe out as a way to use his garden zucchini that he grew. So good! I’m glad he chose it. It was easy to make, and very light, almost had a quiche flavor to it. My picky pre-school age son ate seconds! Will absolutely make again.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
This was a great meal! My wife and I both love zucchini and when I found this recipe and made it it was wonderful as a dinner and then leftovers for work lunch!
Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :).
I would love to make this, but it’s an awful lot for just me and hubby. If I cut the recipe in half, what size baking dish would you recommend, and would I need to adjust the cooking time at all? Thank you!
Hi Jenn, yes that would work to cut the casserole in half. I would bake in a 9×9 square or you might even be able to fit it in a deep dish pie pan.
Can a minced meat be added here? Would you suggest precooking it?
Hi Anna! I haven’t tried that but here is what one of our readers wrote. “I added a can of Trader Joe’s canned chicken and the whole dish tasted amazing 😀 Thank you for your awesome recipes!” I hope that helps.
I purchased a grater attachment for my mixer and this was the first recipe I tried out. It was delicious! “It eats like comfort food, but much lighter” is an accurate statement.
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I replaced the rice with ground beef for a low carb option as a main dish. It was delicious!
I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!
I have a question. Can you freeze this?
I haven’t tried that Andrea. If you experiment I would love to know how you like it!
I’ve cooked it with cottage cheese (or sour curd 9% in my country) instead rice. It comes very soft and moist with nice soft sour taste and keeps the form perfectly
Thank you for sharing that with us, Anda!
This was delicious and such a good way to use up zucchini and eggs, which our garden and chickens provide in abundance! I made it a second time with leftover Mexican rice which was also very good. I used my spiralizer on the zucchini then chopped it up into smaller pieces which worked well and was easier than grating. Also, your method of draining the zucchini is a revelation!
I’m so happy you like our method Amber! It speeds up the process quite a bit. Thank you for the awesome review!
Having this tonight for the 1st time. Looks like an awesome recipe. Thanks!
You’re welcome Cate!
Hi Natasha, would this recipe work with grated mozzarella / parmesan cheeses? I have some that I need to use :). Thank you.
Hi Kate. I think that would be fine. Several readers have reported switching up the cheese to a different kind with great results.
Thank you, Natasha!
This is delicious!! I made it with ingredients right from the garden! I added fresh corn cut off the cob and it was wonderful!
That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review with us Larry!
Going to try tomorrow in the crock pot. What do you think? Low for 4 hours?
Great question Jen, honestly I haven’t tried that if you experiment please let us know how you like that!