4.94 from 564 votes

Zucchini Tomato Casserole

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Zucchini Tomato Casserole with Bread Crumb Topping, melty mozzarella, and delicious Parmesan cheese make this an amazing layered vegetable casserole bake that excites you to eat your veggies!

Zucchini Tomato Casserole with Bread Crumb Topping recipe double stacked on a plate
The casserole is double-stacked with two pieces for a striking presentation

You won’t believe how good layers of zucchini, tomatoes, and cheese can really taste, all rolled up into a crunchy bread topping, making this crazy delicious baked tomato zucchini casserole.

This layered casserole takes the simplest of vegetables and turns them into an amazing casserole side dish that will have you enjoying piece after piece.

Casserole recipes are hands down some of the best ways to fill up a plate, and with amazing flavorful options like tater tot breakfast casserole and broccoli cheese casserole, it’s as simple as picking up ingredients and getting baking.

Baked Tomato Zucchini Casserole

Just remember when you are cooking that this tomato zucchini casserole bake is best to rest (to allow it to solidify a bit after cooking) for about 5-8 minutes, and then cut into serving pieces to prevent toppling.

Regarding serving as a side, tomato zucchini casserole is great alongside simple chicken and rice casserole or even as a vegetarian dinner option alone.

This recipe is delicious, filling, and totally as good as a restaurant!

Scroll to the bottom for a printable version of this post, including all measurements and instructions, so you can follow along in your kitchen without being on your phone.

Here is what you need to gather to get started:

  • shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Parmesan cheese
  • garlic powder
  • basil
  • oregano
  • salt and pepper
  • zucchini squash
  • tomatoes
  • butter
  • fine bread crumbs (Panko is best)

RELATED RECIPES: Zucchini Bread, Stuffed Bell Pepper Casserole, Spinach Casserole, Shrimp and Asparagus Casserole, Broccoli Ham Casserole, Chicken Casserole with Ritz Crackers

Tomato Zucchini Casserole Recipe Variations

I like to keep this casserole super simple, but you could also try adding yellow squash or red onions for a twist.

cut up your tomatoes and zucchini and layer them with cheese in a casserole dish
The best way to not get flustered in a recipe is to make sure you cut and prep before you start.

Need Protein? Add Ground Beef or Sausage

Looking to turn your vegetable casserole bake into a full meal with protein?

While this recipe is fantastic on its own as a great side dish, you can also layer in some cooked beef, cooked sausage, or cooked shredded chicken to create an unforgettable dinner!

Layered Zucchini and Tomato Casserole Bake

Preheat the oven to 375 and grease a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.

In a small bowl, add cheese and spices. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper.

Set aside.

Place zucchini in a single layer at the bottom of the prepared pan.

Sprinkle with 1/4 of the cheese mixture.

Top with tomatoes in a single layer and 1/4 of the cheese mixture.

Repeat layers.

triple layers of tomato, zucchini and cheese
Simply layer your zucchini squash, cheese, and tomatoes and repeat until the top of the casserole dish

Add the melted butter and bread crumbs together and mix well.

Sprinkle on top of the baking dish.

All it takes is two simple ingredients, butter and panko bread crumbs, to create a delicious crunchy and complimentary topping
Create a crumb-based topping for a perfect crunch

Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

add crunchy bread topping to your tomato and zucchini casserole
The last layer of this Italian-inspired casserole is bread crumbs

Remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until the vegetables are tender and the top is crusty.

Let stand for 5 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.

Zucchini and tomato bake with crumb topping ready to serve as a gourmet and italian side dish recipe
Stacked two pieces of vegetable bake to really dive down into the delicious layers of tomato and zucchini

Make sure you come back and tell me any changes you made, if you loved it, and always be sure to share with me your pictures on social media by tagging with #SaltySideDish 

4.94 from 564 votes

Zucchini Tomato Casserole with Crumb Topping


Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Additional Time 5 minutes
Zucchini Tomato Casserole with Bread Crumb Topping – exciting gourmet side dish recipe with layered zucchini, fresh tomatoes, shredded mozzarella and Parmesan with a great crunchy bread crumb topping.

Ingredients
 

  • 1-1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon basil
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • salt and pepper
  • 2 zucchini squash sliced thin
  • 4-5 to matoes sliced
  • 2 tablespoons butter melted
  • 3/4 cup fine bread crumbs

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 and grease a 9×9 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
  • In a small bowl, add cheese and spices. Mix well. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
  • Place zucchini in a single layer in the bottom of the prepared pan. Sprinkle with 1/4 of the cheese mixture. Top with tomatoes, in a single layer and 1/4 of the cheese mixture. Repeat layers.
  • Add melted butter and bread crumbs together and mix well. Sprinkle on top of baking dish.
  • Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
  • Remove foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender and top is crusty.
  • Let casserole stand 5 minutes before cutting into slices and serving.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 | Calories: 177kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 25mg | Sodium: 371mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g

Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.

Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.

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4.94 from 564 votes
4.94 from 564 votes (543 ratings without comment)

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Recipe Rating




69 Comments

  1. This was very easy to make. It was delicious and I felt was pretty healthy,

    1. Thanks Billie!

  2. This is one of the best recipes I’ve tried on Pinterest. Comes together easily, ingredients are readily available, not to heavy. Great compliment to any light dinner you’re planning!

    1. Kitty- that makes my day. Thank you so much for trying my casserole dish!

  3. I made this dish and took it to a potluck. It was a hit. The hostess asked me for the recipe. It’s very easy to make, however I substituted two teaspoons of minced garlic for the garlic powder and used fresh oregano and basil (two teaspoons each, chopped fine) rather than dried herbs. It was delicious!

  4. Gerry Kehoe says:

    I am lactose intolerant and can’t do soft cheeses. I used lactose free shredded cheddar and aged Parmesan which is naturally lactose free. My son-in-law is gluten intolerant and so I used gluten free breadcrumbs for the topping! It was a huge hit!!! 2nd time I made it I added sauteed onions and sauteed chicken strips per son-in-laws request!. Again it was delicious! My garden is producing lots of zucchini so now I have something else to do with it besides make zucchini bread! Yah!

  5. This looks delicious. I’m about to go raid the rest of your blog for more ideas. Thanks!

    1. Thanks Cassie, I am so glad you loved it!

  6. Can this be frozen? I have a lot of zucchini and want some side dishes to make and freeze. Thanks!

    1. Jen, truthfully I have never made this to freeze so I hesitate answering that question. Traditionally tomatoes and zucchini both can be frozen, as well as breadcrumbs, so I dont see anything that strikes me as a CANT be frozen in this dish.

  7. I can’t wait to try this with veg donated from my wonderful neighbour. I do plan on adding crispy french fried onions to the bread crumbs/panko. Thank you!!!

    1. That sounds delicious too!

  8. Line Geerts says:

    Made this last evening and was simply delicious! Followed the recipe and didn’t change a thing- was perfect! This will be on the list of favourites for sure!

  9. I diced my zucchini and even added summer squash. So delicious!! I love the suggestion of adding french fried onions too. Also plan to try freezing a batch or two. Thanks!

    1. Hi Sue! Thanks for commenting and so glad that you loved this casserole. Its one of my very favorites!

  10. Genevieve says:

    This was so good! My insane children wouldn’t eat it, but the adults in the room ate the kids’ servings too, so I call it win-win. What a great recipe; it came just in time for my annual squash-fatigue. Thanks!

  11. This recipe is too imprecise. It came out okay, but I like recipes that are very specific. Fresh herbs or dried? There is a big difference in how much to use depending on which you use. Also, zucchini vary a lot in size from small to huge. How thin should the slices be? It just says thin.

    1. Part of the reason I use so many pictures is because if something isnt clear, that you can easily look at a picture and see. There really is no good measurement for “thin” that makes sense for the average person making a recipe, which is why I show several images of the zucchini from all angles. Additionally, the images also clearly showed dried herbs if there was a confusion on that.

      While I understand what you are saying, I do my best to add a variety of images and video (in over 200 articles) to help a reader.

      It’s a hard recipe to mess up. Even if you used fresh herbs, at the very least- it would just need a little more seasoning and if your slices were slightly larger, might add a bit of cooking time, both things the average kitchen cook can do.

    2. Thank you. I just used the print version of the recipe which only has one picture of the finished dish. I am annotating my printed copy to incorporate the additional information You provided as well as some of the other commenters suggestions. It was quite tasty!

  12. Can I make in the morning and bake in the afternoon

    1. Lesia, There really is no reason that you cannot prep ahead, but the bread crumbs are susceptible to moisture, so I would add those at the end prior to baking rather than putting in the fridge. So prep your veggies and layers but then add bread crumbs before the oven. Remember that when you put food in the fridge it gets extra cold, so you have to either bring the food back up close to room temp (put on counter) or account for extra baking time.

  13. I would love to try and did not see where any one else posted this, but it seems it would get watery as these vegetables cook? I have baked zucchini and tomatoes before and it gets quite sloppy! Any tips ( other than the instructions) on making sure it turns out like your picture?

    1. Oh okay. Yes I see “let it sit for 5 min”, as I did read through all Instructions. That was why I asked about any tips Other than what is mentioned. Like salting zucchini to sweat out or squeeze tomatoes a bit to drain. But I guess if you say nothing else is necessary, I am glad to assume it does not get watery without having to do all those extra steps. Yay! Can’t wait to post my own pic!

    2. Laurie, I do not do anything extra with my recipes like that. We are “at home” cooks and work on recipes for the average family that taste good and are easy to follow. I havent had any complaints that the dish is extra watery or anything that would cause for concern that I would need to go back and adjust the instructions. Of course recipes are also a personal taste as well – what you might find juicy, I might find delicious – so if you have a cooking technique (like you mentioned squeezing tomatoes) that gives you results that you typically enjoy in your sides, I fully encourage you to get creative and use your personal likes to create something you will love. I find the recipe is fine as is, but always hope you find inspiration and changes to suite your own taste buds too. 🙂

      Trisha

  14. Delicious and easy! I loved this recipe and my non-vegetable loving husband liked it. That’s a huge win!

  15. This is probably one of the easiest and quickest meals for me to make when I have no time. Very tasty!

  16. I made this for lunch yesterday and halved the recipe having just 2 layers. It was so simple and soooo good! I always have these vegetables on hand and I always have homemade bread crumbs on hand. A keeper I will be eating regularly Yum Yum. The preparation was the quickest the cooking of 45 min was the longest factor which is not a problem with me.

    I ate half for lunch and finished the other half for breakfast 🥣

    Thanks again

    Kat

    1. Forgot to add , I used a 9×5 glass casserole dish to cook halved

    2. Kat, thank you for sharing! I find that prep is always the longest part of most recipes over the cooking but good prep makes for delicious food. So glad you were able to enjoy this zucchini tomato casserole twice, yum.

      Much love,

      trisha

  17. Gonna make this and try pork rinds crushed in top instead. For us keto people.

    1. Sounds really delicious!

  18. Mary Kay Knoll says:

    OHHH YUM. Just made it and am eating as I type. The only thing I did different is I added some sliced mushrooms and used Italian seasoning instead of the basil/oregano. Definitely saving this recipe. Sooo good.

  19. This looks awesome! I plan on making it for an Easter potluck. I do have a question though. I have a 2 1/2 hour drive then several hours before dinner. I’m worried about having oven time. Has anyone precooked then just warm later?

    1. Trisha Haas says:

      I havent taken it anywhere but my instincts say the breadcrumbs would be soggy.

  20. I followed the recipe exact and it was delicious. I will definitely make again.

  21. This was delicious! We had it as a main dish with fresh roasted corn on the side, I will serve as a side with a protein next time. I was lucky to find all the veggies at a farmers market. I put kosher salt on the sliced zucchini and let it sweat before assembly of the dish and there was still liquid at the bottom of the casserole when I served it. Yes, I let the casserole site for 10 minutes prior to serving. I will say that I did bake 30 minutes and let it brown 25, and next time will bake even a little more. I didn’t want mushy zucchini, but it was still a little firm and I cut them at about 1/4 inch.

  22. Recipe was delicious. I used what I had so cheddar and cojita cheese. Added sauted onions and had three layers of really thin zucchini and yellow squash and. one large tomato. Added some fresh basil. Recipe makes it easy to use what you want. Will make again

  23. Helen Kay says:

    This is one of the best zucchini casseroles I’ve ever made. So delicious. So easy. This is a keeper I will be making this again. 💕

  24. Very good, ended up having multiple servings! Really easy and quick to put together. I used up some of my cherry tomatoes sliced in half on the top layer. So good!!

  25. Love it!
    I will add sliced onions next time too
    Thank you 👍😋

  26. My husband loved this recipe!
    I used cheddar and cojita cheese because it was what I had. Also sauted some onion and leeks to add a bit more flavor. You can certainly make this recipe with cheese or added spices that youl ike.

  27. SleepyCatzzz says:

    Very tasty, but too much garlic powder. Even at 1t it was too much, so I recommend 1/2t garlic powder, 1/2t onion powder. The breadcrumbs were also too much, and I would use the panco breadcrumbs. Otherwise it was like scooping up a spoon of loose breadcrumbs with every bite, which I did not favor. Overall, I like the layering, cheese, and veggie combo.

  28. Thank you so much for this recipe! LOL, I had four fried breaded mozzarella sticks from a take-out order that were just too rich for me to eat on their own. Found your recipe, and did two alternating layers each of zucchini and tomato with sliced fried mozzarella sticks on each layer. I didn’t add any other seasonings because the sticks were already seasoned, and because I had decided to make some garlic tomato sauce with the left over tomatoes and figured I could drown it in that if necessary. It was not necessary!! The balance of veggies, cheese, and breadcrumbs makes this such a light and yummy dish! Saving the recipe, and may attempt your original recipe at some point. Or maybe I’ll just order fried mozzarella sticks again… <3

  29. After reading every single comment on here and all the successes with the variations, I decided to follow suit….
    Sauteed onion and minced garlic. Added that and mushrooms to the layers. It was delicious!
    I only had two roma tomatoes so those were kinda skimpy. Made this to work into our dinners for the week (just the two of us). The panko crumbs were so tasty, added seasonings to that too. I cooked it covered for 30 and uncovered for 30, let it sit for 10, it was perfect and NOT watery at all!!! Definitely making this again! So fast, easy and satisfying!

  30. Suzanne Meserve says:

    Followed the recipe as written (substituting bread crumbs with Townhouse crackers). If you’re searching for a recipe to use up your summer squash stop here, make this dish and try not to keep saying yum with your mouth full! So so delicious!!!! Thanks for posting this recipe!!!

  31. This looks good. I am going to add chicken as your notes suggest or maybe finely choppped mushrooms. Less cheese and no breadcrumbs. Sprinkle the top with Parmesan instead. I’ve done something similar. My father used to always make zucchini and tomatoes with fresh herbs growing up. Brings back memories.

  32. Pat Dougherty says:

    Has anybody tried adding diced green chiles?

  33. I didn’t want to go to the store on this lazy Saturday. So the cheese I have on hand, a some feta, and some Asiago. I was out of minced garlic so garlic powder it was. It’s in the oven now. It looked good.

  34. I would just add onions to this recipe as this is a standard in our home.
    Thank you 😊👍

  35. This was an excellent recipe. I made one similar, but it didn’t have as many seasonings, and I will say I will be making this again. Very refreshing excellent meal.

  36. Sally Robinson says:

    This was delicious. I used an Italian blend for cheese and a little more seasoning.Also I put some Parmesan in the Panko crumbs. Will definitely be repeated again and again

  37. I love this recipe! I decided to add some protein with some seasoned grilled chicken cut up in small pieces and it was so good!…great for lunch leftovers at work too.

  38. Jennifer Murphy says:

    This is amazing! I made it tonight and will definitely make this again! Thank you so much for the recipe!

  39. I made this tonight with fresh tomatoes and zucchini I bought at our local farm stand. I made for tomorrow’s meal but though I had dinner I could not leave this alone. It is fantastic and so addictive! Definitely a keeper!

  40. This was terrific! I veganized it thanks to Violife and absolutely loved it!

  41. This is the 3rd time making this. I have made it without protein and with ground Italian turkey sausage and served it to my husband and to ladies’ church group for lunch. Everyone loves it and I shared recipe a couple times. It is especially wonderful with garden fresh produce

    1. Trisha Haas says:

      Hi Nancy, thanks for the comment. You are right – fresh produce makes this casserole the best. I appreciate your comment and feedback.

  42. I have made this just as is, doubled for a crowd, and with ground turkey sausage. All were delicious and well received by those who ate it. It is the best with tomatoes fresh from garden but still good with store tomatoes. I am making again tonight for my hubby and me

  43. Made this for a family picnic, and they loved it. Returned home with an empty dish. One of the best recipes on Pinterest.

    1. Trisha Haas says:

      Wow, Lisa, that is so kind. I am glad yall loved it and a picnic sounds like so much fun!

      Trisha

  44. Annette Johnson says:

    This bright-colored casserole side-dish sure lit up an ordinary meatloaf and mashed potatoe plate. Delish.
    I used sweet cherry tomatoes cut in half instead of regular. And I used sliced fresh basil instead of dried in the recipe and also as a garnish on top. Mmmm.

  45. Followed this recipe as written. Had everything needed in hand from garden, fridge and pantry. Super easy to pull together and soooo good. Made it twice so far this summer. Highly recommend.

  46. Made it! Loved it! Even my “not so in love with veggies” family liked it! I think next time, for my family, I’ll add a bit more cheese. And I put cajun seasoning in with the bread crumbs because we like spicy too 🙂 Thanks very much!

  47. This Zucchini Tomato Casserole turned out amazing! I used our zucchini’s and tomato’s from our garden!!! Thank you so very much for sharing!!

  48. Love! My husband who hates any vegetable loved this! My 17 month old grandson kept wanting more. Family favorite!

  49. Gloria Dade says:

    My grandson does NOT like tomatoes
    or zucchini, I made this for the 1st time a couple months ago. Making it again because my grandson is bugging me to make it again
    Definitely 5 stars❗️

  50. I needed a recipe to use the extra zucchini and tomatoes I bought at Costco and found this recipe. It turned out great and was delicious.

  51. This is such an amazing dish to make. I have made it 3 times and again tonight. Sometimes I do have issues with being watery. I now cut zucchini and put a little salt on them and let stand. I also will cut tomatoes and put in a strainer. Even it it is watery it is sooooo good!!! Thx for sharing