Our favorite stuffing zucchini casserole will be your favorite, too! This simple vegetable casserole is loaded with flavorful ingredients yet easy enough to cook for weeknights or an easy holiday side dish.
We are a zucchini-loving family and we are always looking for ways to use it up! You would not believe how many we always end up with from our garden!
This recipe is an oldie but a goodie and is our favorite zucchini casserole, literally! If you love stuffing, cheese, zucchini, carrots, and onions then you will love this recipe too!
This was inspired by my Mom's best zucchini casserole. I don't think I'll ever make anything that good, but I wanted to give it a shot with this zucchini recipe!
It goes great with lots of different main dishes but we love it with this raspberry chicken and boursin chicken.
Why You Will Love Zucchini Casserole with Stuffing
- It's incredibly easy to prepare and requires minimal ingredients.
- A nice combination of textures with its crunchy stuffing mix and vegetables.
- Everyone will love this dish, both kids and adults alike.
- It is an excellent side dish that goes well with any main course you serve.
Ingredients
You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this zucchini casserole with Stove Top stuffing recipe. Everything you need is either in your kitchen or a short trip to the grocery store away.
Be sure to check the recipe card at the end of the post for exact amounts.
- Veggies: This stuffing casserole is made with zucchini, carrots, and onion.
- Stuffing mix: This works with any type of boxed stuffing mix but in our house we really enjoy the classic Stove Top stuffing mix. Choose your favorite brand and flavor stuffing to make this recipe.
- Cream of mushroom condensed soup: I find this works great with the flavors in this dish but you can also use cream of chicken or cream of celery soup.
- Butter and sour cream: For more rich flavors and creaminess.
- Cheese: Because cheese makes everything taste better! We especially enjoy cheddar but you can use your favorite including mozzarella, parmesan, gouda, provolone, Swiss cheese, Havarti, gruyere cheese, and jack cheeses.
- Crispy fried onions: An optional topping but it adds a punch of flavor and extra crispiness to your zucchini stuffing casserole.
Substitutions and Variations
- Zucchini: Yellow squash or spaghetti squash works fine instead or you can use a combination of squashes.
- Add More Vegetables: Consider mixing in some peas, corn kernels, bell peppers, chopped broccoli florets, baby spinach or kale leaves, mushrooms, or cauliflower.
- Add Protein: Turn this into a main dish casserole by adding cooked or leftover cubed chicken or turkey, cooked Italian sausages or sausage crumbles, cooked bacon, your favorite cooked ground meat.
- Sour cream: You can use Greek yogurt instead of sour cream but it does change the flavor slightly.
- Add Flavor: Add more herbs and spices such as garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano, basil, or thyme when cooking your vegetables, or sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top right before serving.
- Add a Grain: Add some cooked white or brown rice, lentils, or quinoa to the casserole with the vegetable mixture.
- Stuffing Lover: I love stuffing so much I will use a second box to place a layer on top. The decision is up to you. Either way it works out beautifully!
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this meaty zucchini casserole or these Air Fryer Zucchini Fries!
How to Make Our Favorite Zucchini Casserole
This zucchini casserole is super easy. It only takes a few minutes and a few simple steps. It's a snap!
The highlights are here, but you'll find the complete instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Boil the zucchini until tender. Once it's cooked drain it and set aside.
- Combine the stuffing, creamed soup, and sour cream.
PRO TIP: Be sure to drain the zucchini very well to prevent the casserole from turning out soggy.
- Cook the carrots and onions in a bit of oil in a skillet until they're tender.
- Add the cooked zucchini, onion and carrots to the stuffing and soup mixture in a large mixing bowl.
- Pour the vegetable mixture into a baking dish.
- Top with the crispy onions if you're using them and finish with a layer of cheese.
PRO TIP: If you have want to add more stuffing mix to the stop. Toss the stuffing mix with melted butter and add it to the top of the veggie stuffing mixture.
- Bake in the oven until the cheese is melted.
⭐️ Hint: Stir the stuffing into the melted butter in your skillet until coated but don't cook the stuffing.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store for up to 3 days in an air-tight container.
- Freezer: Store in an air-tight, freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Place in a skillet with a lid and cook over low heat until heated through.
Tips
- Make sure all the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the dish by stirring well before transferring it to your baking dish.
- For more flavor, cook the zucchini slices in vegetable broth instead of water.
- For a healthier version of this casserole, you can use low-sodium or reduced-fat condensed cream soups.
- Drizzle some additional melted butter on top prior to baking for an even more tasty and crisp topping.
FAQ
The zucchini slices should be cooked until they are tender, about 5 minutes. Make sure to drain any excess liquid before adding them into the bowl.
If you have a food processor, you can use the grating attachment to quickly shred carrots for this recipe. Alternatively, if you don't have one, using a hand grater would also work just fine.
Of course! To make individual portions you can use ramekins or oven-safe mugs to scoop out your mixture into each container then top with stuffing mix and cheese before baking. That way you’ll have delicious individual servings ready in no time! You'll know it's done when the cheese on top is nicely melted and bubbly.
For your leftover stuffing, try out our Leftover Thanksgiving Stuffing Patties recipe.
Video
More Zucchini Recipes
If you are like me and always looking for more delicious ways to serve zucchini here are a few of our favorites if you have a moment to take a look!
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Easy Stuffing Zucchini Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4-5 zucchini, with skin, medium, sliced
- 1-2 tblsp olive oil
- 1 large onion, chopped
- ¾ cup carrot, shredded or grated
- 1 box stuffing mix (1 ¼ cup)
- 1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- 1-2 cups cheese, shredded
Optional
- ½ cup butter
- 1 can Crispy fried onions
- 1 box stuffing mix if you want more stuffing mix on top
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Boil sliced zucchini in salted water for 5 minutes or until tender. Drain and set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl dump 1 ¼ cups of stuffing mix or one whole box, the mushroom soup and sour cream. Mix well. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a large skillet, over medium to medium high heat, until a drop of water dances when flicked in the pan. Add carrots and onions. Stir periodically.
- Cook until tender, about 5 minutes, and transfer to the large mixing bowl with the stuffing mixture. Mix well.
- Lastly add drained zucchini and gently stir until combined.
- Pour mixture into a 13x9 ungreased pan or casserole dish.
- Top with crispy fried onions or extra stuffing mix if desired.
- Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.
- Bake for 30 minutes. Enjoy and please let me know what you think!
Add Extra Stuffing Layer
- Wipe out your skillet with paper towel and melt butter over medium heat.
- Add the remaining stuffing mix or the other box of stuffing mix and stir until totally coated in the butter.
- Pour the stuffing mixture on top of the casserole and distribute as evenly as possible. Then continue with the crispy onions and cheese before baking in the oven.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
This post was originally published October 2018. It has been republished with new content and images.
Marie says
Great recipe, thank you. Can you prep this the night before, refrigerate it, and cook it the following day, or would it be better to fully cook it the day before you plan to serve it and reheat it the next day?
Karin and Ken says
Glad you like this recipe! As always you are most welcome. I would cook everything the day before except without the topping. If you use extra stuffing, crispy fried onions and/or cheese I would add that when reheating, before serving. When I take or send this casserole somewhere I always will send or bring a bag of shredded cheese with it or with me and I put it on top while casserole is reheating. I have prepared the casserole uncooked in my fridge for the next day and found it became too "wet" from sitting uncooked overnight. That is why I always cook everything but the cheese first. Hope I have answered your question. If any more come up please don't hesitate to ask. Take care and all the best. Karin
Angie says
My mom made this growing up but added a pound of hamburger or sausage and it was our entire dinner. I've been looking for the recipe and camd across yours. Going to make it tonight! Thanks
Karin and Ken says
What a great idea! Would you believe I have been making this recipe for so long and it never occurred to me to add ground meat! I can’t thank you enough! I’m going to try that myself! Please let me know what you think of the dish after you try it. I would love to hear! Take care and all the best! Karin
Lynda says
Everyone loved it including the kids no leftovers will make again. Added extra cheese and onions yummy thank you for sharing this
Karin and Ken says
You are most welcome! You made my day! I love hearing when someone loves one of my recipes! Extra onions and cheese on top will taste even better! Well I think so even though my husband would disagree! I am definitely the cheese lover in the family! Take care and all the best. Karin
Anne says
I used an extra box of stuffing for the top and some extra butter and this tasted DELICIOUS! It is now going to be made regularly I can’t wait to try it with the fried onions Sounds good too
Karin and Ken says
Happy to hear you enjoyed this casserole! Glad you tried it with the extra stuffing on top! I can’t wait to hear whether you think the stuffing on top or crispy fried onions are better! If you have a moment please let me know! I would love to hear! Take care and all the best. Karin
Leah Lenihan says
Delicious recipe. I used frozen zucchini and yellow squash from last seasons garden so it had already been blanched. I didn’t have stovetop stuffing but I had a 1/2 bag stuffing cubes that I seasoned to taste with rosemary and thyme. I love being able to make something new with food items that I have on hand. Great flavor and we both enjoyed it.
Karin and Ken says
So happy you enjoyed it! This recipe is a longtime favorite around here! Enjoy your day! Karin
Joan says
Added some fresh mushrooms with the carrots and onions and this was wonderful. So tasty and easy too. Thx again for another good zucchini recipe I will be making again
Karin and Ken says
Mushrooms are such a great addition. I’m going to try that myself! We love this casserole around here and you might have just made it better! Thank you so much for taking the time to comment! All the best. Karin
Jess says
So far we have loved all of your zucchini recipes. This is one of my favourites. Keep up the great work and thank you
Karin and Ken says
You made my day! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed so many of our zucchini recipes! I will do my best to come up with some more! Hopefully you enjoy them just as much. Please let me know what you think of each of them or if you do anything differently. I would love to know! Together we can make us all better in the kitchen! All the best. Karin
Jill says
Totally delicious and enjoyed by all. Used cream of chicken soup and extra cheese. Thank you
Karin and Ken says
All of the condensed cream soups seem to work beautifully! Happy to meet a fellow cheese lover! Thank you for letting me know what you did differently. I always am curious to hear! Take care and all the best. Karin
Susan says
We LOVED this casserole. I made it with a half a box of stuffing on top and it was so good. Next time I’m trying it with the onions on top. Thank you so much for sharing it
Karin and Ken says
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Please let me know if you don’t mind which version you prefer. I think both toppings are great and am curious to hear your opinion! If you don’t mind! Take care and enjoy the rest of your day! Karin
Lisa says
This was really delicious! I used just one box of stuffing, it was perfect.
Karin and Ken says
So happy to hear you enjoyed it! You truly made my day. I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know. Hopefully you find some other recipes on our site that you enjoy just as much! Take care and all the best to you. Karin
Holly says
1 box of stuffing or 2?
Karin and Ken says
I can’t apologize enough for the delay in my response. Just to clarify you need one box of stuffing (1 1/4 cup) to mix with the soup and sour cream. You have two options for the topping. I love stuffing and would always prefer to use a second box (1 1/4 cup) for the topping (and butter), before the cheese. My husband prefers to put French’s Fried Onions on top and then the cheese which is why you would only need one box. I was just trying to give everyone options when making what we think is a delicious casserole! I will clarify this in the instructions once I return home. We left so quickly I didn’t even bring my laptop or I would make changes now. Please let me know what you think of this dish if you try it. I would love to hear! All the best to you. Karin
Hattie says
This was delicious.thanks a lot for sharing.
Karin and Ken says
Happy to hear you enjoyed it as much as we do! You are welcome! Hopefully you will find some other recipes on our site that you enjoy just as much! I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to let me know! You truly made my day. Take care and all the best. Karin
Allie says
This was delicious, even my uberpicky husband loved it! I have used cream of chicken soup and cream of celery soup (hubby doesn't like mushrooms) and used only one box of stuffing, with some French fried onions. It was great!
Karin and Ken says
First I have to apologize for my late response. We are so glad to hear you enjoyed it! We love that recipe around here. It is a fabulous way to use zucchini! Glad to hear the recipe is hubby approved! We love the changes you made and are glad you did! Thank you for letting us know! Take care and have an awesome day! Karin
Debbie says
I love zucchini and stuffing. Looking forward to making this. Thank you for sharing.
Karin and Ken says
You are welcome! We love this recipe. Please let us know what you think once you make it! We would love to hear! All the best. Karin