Oven-Baked Italian Sausage and Zucchini Casserole

Ingredients

- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 medium zucchinis, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 can (10 ounces) Ro-Tel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undrained
- 1 1/2 cups shredded whole-milk mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese (optional)

Instructions

1. Preheat the Oven
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).

2. Cook the Sausage
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the sweet Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon. Cook for 5-7 minutes until the sausage is browned and cooked through. Remove from skillet and set aside.

3. Sauté Vegetables
In the same skillet, add the chopped yellow onion and sauté for about 3 minutes until transparent. Add the minced garlic and sliced zucchini; cook for an additional 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the zucchini starts to soften.

4. Combine Ingredients
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet with the vegetables. Add freshly ground black pepper and the Ro-Tel diced tomatoes and green chilies. Stir to combine and let simmer for 3 minutes.

5. Assemble the Casserole
In a 9x13-inch baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of pizza sauce evenly on the bottom. Layer the sausage and zucchini mixture over the sauce. Pour the remaining pizza sauce evenly over the top.

6. Add Cheese
Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the casserole. If desired, add grated parmesan cheese for extra flavor.

7. Bake
Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly browned.

8. Serve
Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to let it set slightly. Serve warm.

Total Time

PT45M
45 minutes

Type of Dish

Dinner

Keywords

Italian sausage, zucchini casserole, oven-baked, dinner recipe, easy family meal, mozzarella cheese, pizza sauce, healthy casserole, quick dinner, Ro-Tel tomatoes

Recipe Yield

Feeds 4 adults

Calories

Total Calories: 1,200

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