Are you ready to transform your dinner routine? You absolutely have to try this healthy, low-carb zucchini pizza casserole. Picture this: juicy ground pork seasoned to perfection, a tomato sauce bursting with flavor and an irresistible blend of herbs and spices.
But the magic happens when you add layers of tender zucchini, eggs and ooey-gooey cheese. If you’re looking for a delicious, nutritious and downright addictive dish, don’t miss out on this low-carb zucchini pizza casserole – it’s a game-changer for your dinner experience.
An Ideal Meal-prep Recipe
One of the great things about this casserole is that it can be made a day ahead, covered and stored in the fridge. When dinnertime arrives, you can bake the casserole in the oven at 350F for an hour while you whip up a fresh green salad to go with it.
Leftovers are delicious and the casserole freezes well. If you are following a keto diet (or if you just love flavourful meals), this casserole is perfect for lunch or dinner. So, have I convinced you yet that you need to make it ASAP?
Good To Know
Ground meat is a rich source of protein and various B vitamins that are important for maintaining nerve function, supporting memory and promoting overall brain health.
I like buying meat from a local farm not only because it supports the local economy, but it also gives me the peace of mind knowing that they use little to no antibiotics or hormones.
Zucchini are armed with antioxidants, B vitamins and anti-inflammatory powers. Plus, their water content and fiber keep everything running smoothly.
Eggs are brain fuel thanks to their choline, omega-3s, B vitamins and antioxidants that support cognitive function, memory and brain development.
Mushrooms have antioxidant, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory powers. They’re packed with brain-loving B vitamins and gut-friendly fiber.
Substitutions
You can replace the tomato sauce, dried basil, dried oregano and sea salt with pizza sauce.
You can replace mushrooms with vegetables like bell peppers, spinach or onions.
Make it
Vegetarian – Replace the ground meat with lentils, mushrooms, eggplant, black beans, pan-fried tofu or quinoa.
Vegan – Replace the ground meat with lentils, mushrooms, eggplant, black beans, pan-fried tofu or quinoa. Replace the cheese with cashew cheese or nutritional yeast. Replace the eggs with blended silken tofu (¼ cup of tofu for each egg).
I would love to hear from you: did you make any substitutions? How did they turn out?
Extra health points
You can serve this low-carb zucchini pizza casserole with a big green salad. One of my favourites is this kale salad that supports brain health and comes together quickly.
Storing, freezing and reheating tips
Store
Allow the casserole to cool down to room temperature, place it in an airtight container or cover it with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freeze
You can prepare this keto zucchini pizza casserole in advance, do all of the steps before baking and then freeze the unbaked dish for up to 3 months.
Alternatively, you can prepare and bake the casserole, then freeze it for up to 3 months. Both ways work great.
Reheat
You can reheat individual portions in the microwave or the entire casserole in the oven.
If you freeze the casserole after baking, allow it to partially thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove from the fridge 15-30 minutes before warming it up. You can then reheat individual portions in the microwave or reheat the entire casserole in the oven.
If you freeze the casserole before baking, allow it to partially thaw in the fridge overnight. Remove from the fridge and place it in the cold oven. Turn the oven on to 350F and once the oven reaches 350F, bake it for 60 minutes.
Watch how to make it step-by-step!
Low-Carb Zucchini Pizza Casserole Recipe
- Prep Time: 30 mins
- Cook Time: 60 mins
- Total Time: 90 mins
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Indulge in the ultimate comfort food experience with this low-carb zucchini pizza casserole. Packed with savory ground pork, a rich tomato sauce and a medley of aromatic spices, this dish is bursting with Italian flavor in every bite. But the real star is the generous layer of tender zucchini, mixed with eggs and a cheesy blend, offering a guilt-free twist on traditional pizza. Whether you’re a pizza lover seeking a low-carb alternative or simply in search of a hearty and satisfying meal, this zucchini recipe is a must-try for lunch or dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 lb ground pork (see note 1)
- 1 can (398 ml) tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (see note 2)
- 6 cups zucchini (approx. 1.5 lbs or 24 oz.) sliced or grated (see note 3)
- 4 cups grated cheese (approx. 400 g or 14 oz.), divided in half (see note 4)
- 4 medium eggs, beaten
- 8–10 big mushrooms, sliced
- A bit of oil to grease the oven dish
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 350 F.
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In a medium pot, brown the ground pork until it’s cooked through.
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Stir in the tomato sauce, dried oregano, dried basil, sea salt and chili flakes into the cooked pork.
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While the meat is browning, slice or grate the zucchini and measure out 6 cups. If you grated the zucchini, make sure to squeeze out excess liquid.
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While the meat is browning, grate the cheese and divide it into two equal portions.
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In a separate bowl, beat the eggs.
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Slice the mushrooms and place them in a small bowl.
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In a greased 11×13 oven-proof dish, make six layers with all the ingredients.
Layer 1 – spread the zucchini evenly
Layer 2 – sprinkle 2 cups of grated cheese over the zucchini
Layer 3 – pour the beaten eggs over the zucchini and cheese
Layer 4 – spread the ground meat mixture evenly
Layer 5 – sprinkle another 2 cups of grated cheese
Layer 6 – arrange the sliced mushrooms on top
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Place the dish in the preheated oven and bake for 60 minutes or until the casserole is cooked through.
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Remove the zucchini casserole from the oven and slice it into portions.
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Serve it warm.
Enjoy!
Notes
You can use your favourite ground meat. Today I used ground pork, but I had used ground chicken and ground turkey in the past and both options turned out really well.
If you’d like to replace the meat with a vegan option, please check out the substitutions above.
If you use ½ tsp chili flakes, the pizza casserole will be mildly spicy. If you prefer a non-spicy pizza casserole, omit the chili flakes. Double the chili flakes if you’d like it spicier.
If you use grated zucchini, make sure you squeeze it well after grating. If you use sliced zucchini, you can’t squeeze it, so the end result will have a bit more moisture.
You can use your favourite cheese. I usually use mozzarella, cheddar or a mixture of both.
Alina’s notes
This is the dish I’m using. It’s big and perfect for this recipe.
What To Cook Next
Let’s make a brain-friendly sweet potato breakfast casserole with wholesome ingredients like sweet potatoes, eggs and bell pepper. If you are tired of the same old breakfast options, this casserole is a great way to start your day off right.
