Description
A delicious and healthy twist on pizza, this Cheesy Zucchini Pizza Bake with Pepperoni features a zucchini base topped with pizza sauce, mozzarella, Parmesan, and pepperoni.
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1½ cups pizza sauce or marinara sauce
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 oz sliced pepperoni
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
- ¼ cup chopped green bell pepper (optional)
- ¼ cup sliced black olives (optional)
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat to 400°F. Lightly grease a 9 × 13-inch baking dish.
- Prepare the zucchini: Slice the zucchini into rounds. Place them on paper towels, sprinkle lightly with salt, and let sit for 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture. Pat dry thoroughly.
- Season and roast: Arrange the zucchini in a single layer on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with black pepper, garlic powder, and Italian seasoning. Roast for 10–12 minutes.
- Prepare the casserole: Spread a thin layer of pizza sauce across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Add the zucchini: Arrange the roasted zucchini slices over the sauce, slightly overlapping if needed.
- Add the toppings: Spoon the remaining pizza sauce over the zucchini. Sprinkle with mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Arrange the pepperoni slices evenly across the top.
- Season: Sprinkle with dried oregano and red pepper flakes, if desired. Add any optional vegetables.
- Bake: Return the dish to the oven and bake for 15–20 minutes, until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden.
- Broil for extra color: For a beautifully browned cheese topping, broil for 1–2 minutes. Watch carefully to prevent burning.
- Rest and serve: Let the pizza bake rest for 5–10 minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh basil if desired.
Notes
- Remove as much moisture as possible from the zucchini to prevent a watery casserole.
- Roast the zucchini before assembling to help it stay tender without becoming mushy.
- Use a thick pizza sauce rather than a watery tomato sauce.
- Don’t overload the casserole with toppings, especially watery vegetables.
- For extra flavor, add a little smoked paprika or Italian sausage.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 40mg