🍕 High-Protein Zucchini Pizza Casserole
All the pizza flavor, none of the crust carbs, loaded with protein.
🛒 Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
🥒 Vegetables
- 3 medium zucchini, sliced into ¼-inch rounds
- 1 cup diced bell peppers (any color)
- 1 cup sliced mushrooms
- 1 small onion, diced
🍗 Protein & Cheese
- 1 lb (450g) lean ground turkey or chicken (optional for extra protein)
- 1 cup part-skim shredded mozzarella
- ½ cup shredded parmesan
- ½ cup low-fat ricotta or cottage cheese
🍅 Sauce
- 1 cup sugar-free marinara sauce
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Salt & pepper to taste
🔥 Optional Toppings
- Pepperoni slices (lean or turkey)
- Olives, diced
- Fresh basil
🔥 Instructions
1️⃣ Prep the Vegetables
- Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Lightly sauté zucchini, mushrooms, peppers, and onions 3–4 minutes to remove some moisture. Set aside.
2️⃣ Cook Protein
- In a skillet, cook ground turkey or chicken until fully cooked. Season with salt, pepper, garlic, and Italian seasoning. Drain any excess liquid.
3️⃣ Assemble Casserole
- Spread a thin layer of marinara sauce in a greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Add half the zucchini slices.
- Top with half the cooked protein, half the sautéed vegetables, and half the cheeses (mozzarella + ricotta/cottage + parmesan).
- Repeat layers: zucchini, protein, vegetables, cheese.
- Finish with remaining mozzarella and parmesan on top.
4️⃣ Bake
- Cover with foil and bake 25 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 10–15 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.
- Optional: broil 1–2 minutes for a golden top.
💪 Macros (Approximate per Serving, 6 servings)
- Calories: ~280–320
- Protein: 28–32g
- Carbs: 8–10g
- Fat: 14g
