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    Home » Side Dishes

    Italian Zucchini Bake

    Published: Apr 21, 2020 · Modified: Dec 26, 2022 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    pan of zucchini bake

    This Italian Zucchini Bake is made from scratch with Pecorino Romano and Parmesan! It's based on my Mom's zucchini casserole recipe that's a huge family favorite. Make it for brunch, parties or a side dish!

    A plate of zucchini casserole with a forkful of foodFolks, you'll want to print out this zucchini recipe for keeps. This is a from-scratch version of Mom's zucchini casserole, which she'd adapted from the famous Bisquick dish.

    It's not like all the rest.

    Mom had the brilliant idea years ago to add Pecorino Romano, doubling the amount of cheese and providing a nice flavor kick. She also increased the oven temperature and baking time to produce a delicious browned crust.

    I mean... Hello, Gorgeous!

    overhead view of baked zucchini casserole in pan

    Her version is excellent, and we've requested it over and over for dinners, parties and brunches. But I gave up making recipes with baking mixes a few years ago. (I avoid partially hydrogenated ingredients when possible.)

    So, when I first started Cooking with Mamma C, I tried using "homemade Bisquick" in this cheesy zucchini bake. And...it flopped.

    Next time, I decided to go with just flour and baking powder to yield baking-mix results. It took three more rounds, but I finally did it!

    I wanted to release white smoke from my chimney, like when there's a new Pope.

    How to make this Italian zucchini bake

    You'll start by thinly slicing your zucchini. I use a mandoline (affiliate link) to slice them ⅛-inch thick.

    You also could use a food processor (affiliate link). Mom uses a paring knife (affiliate link).

    round zucchini slices with ingredients added

    You'll pat the zucchini dry and place the rounds in a large mixing bowl. Then, you'll add:

    • chopped onion
    • pressed garlic
    • flour
    • baking powder
    • grated Parmesan & Pecorino Romano
    • olive oil
    • beaten eggs
    • salt, pepper & dried basil

    You'll stir everything with a wooden spoon, ideally, and separate any zucchini slices that are stuck together.

    Next, you'll transfer the batter to a greased baking pan and spread out the mixture evenly. Go ahead and use your hands!

    Finally, you'll bake the zucchini casserole until it's nice and brown on top.

    Recipe tips

    • To prevent a soggy casserole: Dry your zucchini slices by patting and gently squeezing them with paper towels.
    • Weigh your zucchini to ensure the accurate ratio of ingredients. It's not specific enough for me to tell you to use "three zucchini," because let's face it, there's a big difference between a cucuzza the size of a baseball bat and a small zucchino.
    • When mixing the batter, separate any zucchini slices that are stuck together, so you don't end up with clumps.
    Overhead view of slices of zucchini casserole on plates

    This baked zucchini recipe is the answer to:

    • How can I use up zucchini?
    • What's the perfect meatless meal for Lenten Fridays?
    • What should I make for brunch or a party? (Baked Vegetable Risotto with Asparagus and Spinach is a great option too, and check out these Italian Appetizers!)

    And, absolutely no baking mix is required. You've got to try this!

    portion of zucchini casserole on a white plate with a fork and red napkin

    More zucchini recipes

    • Nonna's Fried Zucchini
    • Zucchini with Mint
    • Pasta with Zucchini
    • Shrimp Stew with Bacon and Zucchini
    • Zucchini Bread

    Enjoy!

    P.S. If someone calls you a "cucuzz," it's not a compliment.

    (Recipe Source: Adapted from my Mom's casserole, which was inspired by a Bisquick recipe. Originally published on September 20, 2017 as "Cheesy Zucchini Bake" and updated now with a video, additional photos and text.)

    portion of zucchini casserole on plate

    Italian Zucchini Bake

    This Italian Zucchini Bake is made from scratch with Romano and Parmesan! No baking mix required.
    4.44 from 162 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Appetizer, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian-American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Total Time: 1 hour hour 25 minutes minutes
    Servings: 12 (Makes a 9x13 pan)
    Calories: 188kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • 1 ½ pounds zucchini (3 medium ones; see notes)
    • 1 small white onion
    • 2 medium garlic cloves (pressed or finely chopped)
    • ½ cup olive oil (or vegetable or canola)
    • 4 eggs (I use extra-large)
    • 1 cup all-purpose flour
    • 4 teaspoons baking powder
    • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
    • ½ cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese
    • ½ teaspoon salt
    • ½ teaspoon pepper
    • ¼ teaspoon dried basil
    • butter to grease your pan
    • fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Grease a 9x13 glass pan with butter.
    • Rinse your zucchini and slice off the tip and root ends. Pat your zucchini dry with a paper towel. Leave the skin on.
    • Slice your zucchini into ⅛-inch rounds, using a mandoline, food processor or paring knife. Place your zucchini slices into a large mixing bowl.
    • Using paper towels, pat your zucchini slices and gently squeeze them to absorb excess moisture. (This is key to prevent a soggy casserole.)
    • Peel and finely chop your onion and add it to your bowl.
    • Add your pressed garlic (or peel and chop it finely).
    • In a liquid measuring cup, add your oil, then beat in your eggs with a fork. Pour the egg/oil mixture into your bowl with the zucchini.
    • Add your flour, baking powder, Parmesan, Romano, salt, pepper and basil to your bowl.
    • Use a wooden spoon to carefully mix everything until combined well. Try to separate any zucchini slices that are stuck together.
    • Transfer your zucchini mixture to your greased pan and smooth it out evenly. Bake uncovered for 55-60 minutes, or until the entire top is browned (but not burned).
    • Let the casserole rest for at least five minutes before slicing it. Garnish with parsley, if desired.
    • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to five days.

    Video

    Notes

    • It's best to weigh your zucchini for accurate results, but if you don't have a scale, choose three medium zucchini.
    • Don't use large zucchini with lots of seeds, because they are bitter. If you have no choice, then remove as many of the seeds as you can.
    • For an 8x8 pan, halve the ingredients but bake the casserole for the full amount of time.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 62mg | Sodium: 238mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 245IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 170mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!
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    Comments

    1. Rebecca says

      July 11, 2023 at 9:57 pm

      This looks amazing! I am gluten free and am going to try using arrowroot flour instead. Is there any reason I could not use 1 cup of pecorino romano cheese instead of 1/2 parmesan?

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        July 12, 2023 at 7:40 am

        Hi Rebecca - It should still be delicious using only Pecorino, but it will be more salty. So, maybe cut down the salt a bit. Please let me know how it turns out with the arrowroot flour!

        Reply
        • Rebecca says

          August 12, 2023 at 3:16 pm

          5 stars
          Thank you for your response! The arrowroot worked very well! I used 1/4 cup after researching how much to substitute for 1 cup of flour. I used the full cup of pecorino and left out the salt as you suggested, which was a good idea. My husband loved it and I am going to make another batch! I did not have a 9x13 so i used two smaller pans and checked them 10 minutes early and they were perfect.

          Reply
          • Mamma C says

            August 13, 2023 at 3:32 pm

            Hi Rebecca - Oh, good! Thanks for reporting back!

    2. Amy says

      June 21, 2023 at 2:17 pm

      5 stars
      🙂 Forgot the rating! Thanks again! Everyone really enjoyed it.

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        June 22, 2023 at 7:43 am

        Hi Amy - I appreciate you leaving a rating! Thank you!

        Reply
    3. Amy says

      June 21, 2023 at 2:15 pm

      Hi. thanks for the recipe! It is delicious. I do have a question. Is the egg supposed to be scrambled like in the casserole? Just making sure I am making this correctly. Thank you!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        June 22, 2023 at 7:43 am

        Hi Amy - I'm glad you enjoyed this! I don't understand your question. You're supposed to beat the eggs before adding them in. The photos on my site show how the baked casserole should look. There also is a recipe video of me making this (see the post) if that helps. Let me know if you have more questions!

        Reply
    4. Lilly Molinaris says

      May 16, 2023 at 3:06 pm

      What kind of gluten-free flour do you think would work in place of traditional flour?

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        May 17, 2023 at 7:44 am

        Hi Lilly - I haven't tried it, but I've heard good things about Cup4Cup gluten-free flour. If you purchase it through that link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

        Reply
    5. Jan says

      January 29, 2023 at 5:13 pm

      5 stars
      This is delicious, I did cut the oil back to 1/3 cup and since I didn’t have Romano, I used the same amount of vegan mozzarella and it came out so good. This is definitely a keeper in our regular rotation of meals. Thank you for posting it❣️

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 30, 2023 at 1:04 pm

        Hi Jan - I'm glad this worked for you! It's one of our go-to side dishes.

        Reply
    6. Michael says

      November 09, 2022 at 12:59 pm

      Can you use biscuit in place of the flour and the baking powder?

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        November 09, 2022 at 1:34 pm

        Hi Michael - If you mean Bisquick, yes, you should be able to do that.

        Reply
    7. Heather says

      August 29, 2022 at 8:58 pm

      Well I had way too much zucchini and I made muffins. Fingers crossed! I mean it will still be yummy, how could it not!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        August 30, 2022 at 7:56 am

        Hi Heather - Do you mean you added way too much zucchini to this recipe? I imagine that would throw off the ratios.

        Reply
    8. Nadine says

      January 12, 2022 at 8:05 am

      5 stars
      So delicious. Really subtle flavors. Great use of zucchini that even my kids loved. Even adding another spice like some nutmeg or red pepper as you keep making this would work well. We mixed the cheeses too. Highly recommend.

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 12, 2022 at 8:43 am

        Hi Nadine - I'm glad your family enjoyed this as much as mine does! Red pepper flakes sound good!

        Reply
    9. Lucy Dasfaias says

      January 07, 2022 at 6:38 am

      5 stars
      I made this and it’s delicious! I could have eaten the whole dish. My family had it for lunch and finished it off for breakfast. It’s easy to make and taste great! Another great recipe.

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        January 07, 2022 at 7:59 am

        Hi Lucy - We love having this for breakfast! I'm so glad you and your family enjoyed it.

        Reply
    10. Miss says

      September 21, 2021 at 7:25 am

      5 stars
      Wow,so delicious yet so simple. I halved the recipe and added mushrooms and used feta instead of the romano, because that’s what I had on hand. Loved the lightness of this dish. Worked perfectly baking along side meatloaf. Thanks!

      Reply
      • Mamma C says

        September 21, 2021 at 8:51 am

        Hi Miss - Your changes sound delicious! Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed the zucchini bake.

        Reply
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    Hi, I'm Andrea, also known as Mamma C. I've been sharing family-tested recipes from my Italian-American kitchen for a decade! I hope you'll visit often!

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