Easy Ground Turkey Zucchini Casserole (Printable Version)

A wholesome, comforting casserole packed with ground turkey, tender zucchini, and a cheesy golden topping.

# What You Need:

→ Proteins

01 - 1 lb ground turkey

→ Vegetables

02 - 2 medium zucchinis, diced
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 red bell pepper, diced

→ Dairy

06 - 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
07 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
08 - 1/2 cup low-fat sour cream

→ Pantry

09 - 1 can (14 oz) diced tomatoes, drained
10 - 2 tbsp olive oil
11 - 1 tsp dried Italian herbs
12 - 1/2 tsp paprika
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste

# How-To:

01 - Preheat the oven to 375°F.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and garlic; sauté for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
03 - Add ground turkey. Cook, breaking up with a spoon, until no longer pink, about 5–6 minutes.
04 - Stir in diced zucchini, bell pepper, and drained tomatoes. Cook for 5 minutes until vegetables start to soften.
05 - Add Italian herbs, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine thoroughly.
06 - Remove skillet from heat. Mix in sour cream and half of the mozzarella cheese until evenly distributed.
07 - Transfer the mixture to a greased 9x13-inch baking dish.
08 - Sprinkle remaining mozzarella and all of the Parmesan evenly over the top.
09 - Bake for 25–30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and the cheese is golden brown.
10 - Let cool for 5 minutes before serving to allow the casserole to set.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one skillet before baking, meaning minimal cleanup and maximum flavor development
  • The sour cream creates this incredibly velvety texture that makes every bite feel luxurious despite being so light
  • You can prep it ahead and bake when ready, making it perfect for busy weeknights or unexpected guests
02 -
  • I learned the hard way that skipping the draining step on the tomatoes turns this into soup, so please drain them thoroughly
  • Letting the casserole rest for those 5 minutes feels impossible when it smells so good, but it makes serving so much easier
03 -
  • Grate your own cheese instead of buying pre shredded, it melts so much better
  • Use a box grater to quickly dice the zucchini into perfect, even pieces

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