A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

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

A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

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.

A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

*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.

Two photos of zucchini spirals in a bowl one being salted and one squeezed by a hand

2. Mix 2/3 cup of sour cream with 1/2 tsp baking powder and let it stand while zucchini drains (8-10 min).

Two photos of a mixture for cheesy zucchini casserole

3. Into the mixing bowl with drained zucchini, stir in 4 eggs and sour cream mixture.

Two photos of zucchini being prepared for a cheesy zucchini casserole

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.

A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

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.

A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

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

4.96 from 134 votes
Author: Natasha of NatashasKitchen.com
A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com
A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. This zucchini casserole recipe is easy, irresistibly delicious and a great way to use up extra garden vegetables!
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour

Ingredients 

Servings: 8 people a side dish
  • 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

    *To cook rice for this recipe, you will need 1 cup of uncooked rice.

    Nutrition Per Serving

    279kcal Calories18g Carbs13g Protein17g Fat9g Saturated Fat123mg Cholesterol675mg Sodium603mg Potassium1g Fiber5g Sugar1030IU Vitamin A32.2mg Vitamin C285mg Calcium1.4mg Iron
    Nutrition Facts
    Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
    Amount per Serving
    Calories
    279
    % Daily Value*
    Fat
     
    17
    g
    26
    %
    Saturated Fat
     
    9
    g
    56
    %
    Cholesterol
     
    123
    mg
    41
    %
    Sodium
     
    675
    mg
    29
    %
    Potassium
     
    603
    mg
    17
    %
    Carbohydrates
     
    18
    g
    6
    %
    Fiber
     
    1
    g
    4
    %
    Sugar
     
    5
    g
    6
    %
    Protein
     
    13
    g
    26
    %
    Vitamin A
     
    1030
    IU
    21
    %
    Vitamin C
     
    32.2
    mg
    39
    %
    Calcium
     
    285
    mg
    29
    %
    Iron
     
    1.4
    mg
    8
    %
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Zucchini Casserole
    Skill Level: Easy
    Cost to Make: $
    Calories: 279
    Natasha's Kitchen Cookbook

    If you make this recipe, I’d love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen

    A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com

    This zucchini casserole is the perfect way to use sweet summer zucchini and a great way to re-purpose leftover white rice.

    Q: Do you have a go-to recipe for summer zucchini?

    A golden cheesy crust seals in the fluffy, moist and creamy center of this zucchini casserole. An easy and irresistibly delicious zucchini casserole recipe | natashaskitchen.com
    4.96 from 134 votes (67 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Comment

    Recipe Rating




    Comments

    • Tanya Kornuta
      October 29, 2019

      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!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 29, 2019

        That’s just awesome, Tanya! Thank you for that great review!

        Reply

    • carole
      October 2, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        October 2, 2019

        That’s so great, Carole! Thank you for sharing that with me

        Reply

    • Victoria
      August 28, 2019

      Hi, Natasha!

      Do you think this recipe would still turn out well if I substitute a small onion in place of the chives?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 29, 2019

        Hi Victoria, I haven’t tested that but I think it could work. If you experiment, let me know how you liked the recipe.

        Reply

        • Victoria
          August 29, 2019

          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?

          Reply

          • Natashas Kitchen
            August 30, 2019

            I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review! Stay tuned, we are talking about creating a cookbook.

            Reply

    • Jen
      August 5, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 5, 2019

        Love you take on this Jen! Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

        Reply

    • Joey
      August 4, 2019

      I make this also but substituted rice with stove top stuffing…adds lot# of flavor

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 4, 2019

        Thank you so much for sharing that with me.

        Reply

    • Gerianne Pulliam
      August 1, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 1, 2019

        That’s so great! It sounds like you have a new favorite!

        Reply

    • Sandi
      July 14, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 15, 2019

        I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed that Sandi! Thank you for that awesome feedback!

        Reply

    • Doreen
      June 11, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        June 11, 2019

        I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

        Reply

    • Thomas C Smith Jr
      March 16, 2019

      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!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        March 16, 2019

        Awww that’s the best! Thank you so much for sharing that with me :).

        Reply

    • Jenn
      February 16, 2019

      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!

      Reply

      • Natasha
        February 16, 2019

        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.

        Reply

    • Anna
      February 1, 2019

      Can a minced meat be added here? Would you suggest precooking it?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        February 2, 2019

        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.

        Reply

    • Jill Derdelakos
      January 20, 2019

      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.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 20, 2019

        I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

        Reply

    • Jamie
      January 16, 2019

      I replaced the rice with ground beef for a low carb option as a main dish. It was delicious!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        January 16, 2019

        I’m so happy to hear that! Thank you for sharing your great review!

        Reply

    • Andrea Manna
      November 12, 2018

      I have a question. Can you freeze this?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        November 13, 2018

        I haven’t tried that Andrea. If you experiment I would love to know how you like it!

        Reply

    • Anda
      September 27, 2018

      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

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 27, 2018

        Thank you for sharing that with us, Anda!

        Reply

    • Amber P
      September 15, 2018

      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!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        September 15, 2018

        I’m so happy you like our method Amber! It speeds up the process quite a bit. Thank you for the awesome review!

        Reply

    • Cate
      August 23, 2018

      Having this tonight for the 1st time. Looks like an awesome recipe. Thanks!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 23, 2018

        You’re welcome Cate!

        Reply

    • Kate
      August 14, 2018

      Hi Natasha, would this recipe work with grated mozzarella / parmesan cheeses? I have some that I need to use :). Thank you.

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 14, 2018

        Hi Kate. I think that would be fine. Several readers have reported switching up the cheese to a different kind with great results.

        Reply

        • Kate
          August 14, 2018

          Thank you, Natasha!

          Reply

    • Larry Claunch
      August 11, 2018

      This is delicious!! I made it with ingredients right from the garden! I added fresh corn cut off the cob and it was wonderful!

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        August 11, 2018

        That’s awesome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful review with us Larry!

        Reply

    • Jen
      July 27, 2018

      Going to try tomorrow in the crock pot. What do you think? Low for 4 hours?

      Reply

      • Natashas Kitchen
        July 27, 2018

        Great question Jen, honestly I haven’t tried that if you experiment please let us know how you like that!

        Reply

    As Featured On

    Never Go "Hangry" Again!

    Get weekly updates on new recipes, exclusive giveaways plus behind the scenes photos.