This easy Zucchini Tomato Bake is the ultimate healthy side dish! Just 6 ingredients and 30 minutes for a cheesy, herby vegetable casserole the whole family will love.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This zucchini tomato bake is a summertime staple that works year-round. It’s a healthy side dish that pairs with everything from baked zucchini fritters to turkey burgers.
Here are some more reasons we love it and you will too:
- Quick and simple: Just a few minutes of prep and 25-35 minutes in the oven.
- Versatile: Zucchini and tomato are easily adaptable to what you have on hand! Swap out the spices or cheese to experiment with different flavors.
- Diet-friendly: Whether you need meat-free, gluten-free, or low-carb this zucchini tomato casserole can fit into your lifestyle.
- Smells delicious: As a final bonus, according to my family, it smells like pizza while baking – even kids love it!
During the summertime my kitchen is always brimming with local zucchini and tomatoes. If you only have zucchini on hand, make healthy zucchini casserole instead.
Reader’s Review
I am so glad I stumbled upon this recipe on Pinterest. We used zucchini and cherry tomatoes straight from the garden and it turned out perfect and so delicious! Not even our children complain about eating their vegetables for dinner when this is on the table. It has become a part of regular rotation. Thank you!
Chelsey
Ingredients for Zucchini Tomato Bake
This vegetable bake requires just 6 ingredients plus cooking spray, salt and pepper! If you would like more traditional casserole, try zucchini lasagna.
- Zucchini: I used two large green zucchinis. If using small zucchini, make sure you have 2 pounds. You can use yellow squash or even a combination of the two. Any variety of summer squash works well.
- Tomatoes: Grape tomatoes or cherry tomatoes are my favorite for this zucchini tomato casserole. However, you could also use larger varieties like vine tomatoes or heirloom tomatoes.
- Garlic: And lots of it. This really amps up the flavor! Feel free to slightly reduce the amount, if preferred, but be sure to use only fresh garlic cloves and not from a jar or garlic powder.
- Herbs: I used 1 teaspoon dried herbs (in total, not each) to toss with the zucchini and tomato mixture, and there are plenty of options: dill, basil, oregano, Italian seasoning. Use 1 alone or a combination of several. I also use fresh parsley or fresh basil to garnish.
- Parmesan cheese: Freshly grated will taste best.
- Spices: Salt and black pepper.
Substitutions and Variations
- Sliced veggies: You can slice 1/4-inch thick rounds from the vegetables rather than chunks and layer them alternating between zucchini and tomatoes, on their sides, within the baking dish. This is great for presentation!
- Vegetables: Yellow or green summer squash work in this recipe. Sliced onion or leeks will also pair well with the zucchini and tomato.
- Meat: Add diced cooked chicken, sausage or any cooked protein. If adding raw, I recommend to use diced boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs as they cook fast. If you would like to add any ground meat like ground turkey, saute it first with a few seasonings to taste.
- Spices: To add heat add a dash of red pepper flakes. Paprika (smoked or plain) and onion powder also work well with these ingredients.
- Cheese: Instead of Parmesan cheese, you could use mozzarella cheese or another melty cheese like cheddar.
- Vegan: Replace the Parmesan with your favorite vegan melty cheese or just omit.
- Bread crumbs: For a crispy topping, add 1/8 cup or more of breadcrumbs near the end of baking time.
How to Make Zucchini Tomato Bake
From prep to finish, this recipe is on the table in only 30 minutes. Perfect for those lazy hazy days of summertime!
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray an 8 x 8 or 9 x 11-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Combine the ingredients: In a large bowl, add your chopped zucchini and tomatoes, dried herbs, grated garlic, and Parmesan cheese. Stir your cheese mixture and vegetables to combine.
Transfer to prepared baking dish: Bake uncovered for 25 minutes for zucchini with slight ‘bite’, or 35 minutes if you like more tender results. I recommend checking for doneness with a fork or knife after 25 minutes.
Remove from the oven: And garnish with basil or parsley and serve hot or warm.
How to Serve
This zucchini tomato bake is so versatile! It works particularly well with Italian and Mediterranean dinners as well.
Here are my suggested pairings:
- As a meatless main: Serve alongside crusty garlic bread or high-protein cottage cheese bread.
- Proteins: Instant Pot whole chicken or air fryer lamb chops.
- Seafood: Lemon butter baked cod or grilled shrimp skewers.
- Grains: Serve over a bed of quinoa, brown rice, or couscous.
How to Make Ahead and Store
Make ahead: You can prepare the chopped vegetables and ingredients in the baking dish up to 2 days before baking.
Store: Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: I don’t recommend it. Both zucchini and tomatoes are moisture producing vegetables and would not hold up well to being frozen.
FAQs
Use whole grape or cherry tomatoes. If using larger tomatoes, salt the slices and let them rest on paper towels for 10 minutes to draw out excess moisture before adding to the dish.
Do not overcook! Check for doneness at 25 minutes. Also, bake the casserole uncovered to allow steam to escape.
I haven’t tried but I’m pretty sure you can use frozen chopped zucchini. Do not thaw and try to bake casserole at 400 degrees F for 20 minutes and play it by ear after that. Frozen zucchini need to be cooked at higher temperature and faster.
More Healthy Zucchini Recipes to Try
- Pasta with zucchini and tomatoes
- Caprese chicken with zucchini and tomatoes
- Mediterranean zucchini boats
- Chicken zucchini casserole
- Ground turkey and zucchini
- Zucchini potato bake
- Tex Mex chicken and zucchini
You may also be interested in this list of over 45 healthy zucchini recipes!
Zucchini Tomato Bake
Equipment
Video
Ingredients
- 2.5 pounds zucchini, cut into quarters (2 large)
- 10 ounces grape tomatoes, cut in halves, or 2 large tomatoes, diced
- 5 large garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 teaspoon dried basil and oregano, or Italian seasoning
- 3/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/3 cup parsley or basil, finely chopped
- Cooking spray, I use Misto
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and spray 8×8 or 9×11-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Set aside.
- In a large mixing bowl, add zucchini, tomatoes, garlic, Parmesan cheese, dried herbs, salt and pepper. Stir to combine.
- Transfer to a prepared baking dish and bake uncovered for 25 minutes for crunchy zucchini or 35 minutes if you like well cooked vegetables. I recommend checking for doneness with a fork or knife after 25 minutes.
- Remove from the oven, garnish with basil or parsley and serve warm.
Notes
- Store: Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Do not freeze, it will be too watery and mushy upon thawing.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Made this tonight for dinner and it was delicious! I did add a little bit of extra cheese but I add extra cheese to everything 🙂 I chopped the veggies over the weekend and it only took five minutes tonight to throw everything else together. Easy, quick and delicious!!
Chopping in advance – I should learn from you. I suck at prep. Probably because I cook so much, and then clean after, I can’t loath an idea of prepping for a week on Sunday lol.
I love this dish!! I actually mix in cooked quinoa seasoned with adobo seasoning and it’s always a crowd pleaser!!
That sounds very good!
Have been making this in a skillet for years. Zucchini round slices, brown on one side in 1/2 olive oil 1/2 butter, turn, add garlic and tomatoes, season with Mrs. Dash, remove and plate when zucchini browned on second side. Lightly top with parmesan cheese. Am now anxious to try your baked version. It would require a little less effort. Thanks for sharing.
Very similar concept. In Ukraine they pan fry zucchini this way but in flour. Yummy but a lot of oil because flour soaks it in haha.
This may have been said before, but I just entered everything into my WW app – and with the new point system, it shows it being only 1 point per serving! Woo Hoo! Looks delish – adding it to the menu this week. Thank you for sharing 🙂
Just made this for lunch, it was great. I coarsely grated the zucchini and it turned out fine. Great way to use up the abundance of fresh tomatoes and zucchini from the garden.
This was perfect as a side dish for crock pot lasagna. With a salad and garlic bread, it was wonderful. I did use half zucchini and half crook neck (yellow) squash cuz that’s what I had but didn’t change the recipe otherwise. Absolutely delicious and so healthy! Thanks!!!
Glad you enjoyed and it worked for you, Shelley!
I made this dish tonight for the third time since I discovered it on pinterest a few months ago. I love it and decided to find out more about the person who created it. Thanks so much for sharing. I look forward to checking out other recipes on your site.
Thanks, Wanda. Please don’t feel shy to leave me a comment on a dish you try.
I used 2- 16 oz. packages of frozen zucchini, a drained can of tomatoes with garlic, reduced the garlic cloves in the recipe to 4, and did 1 tsp. each of the spices. A little strong, but that’s what I get for not looking at the comments first. Really good. I will tweak it a bit more (less spices) and try it again.
Local farmers garlic is stronger than store bought. Sure, adjust to taste.:)
Neighbor had just given me zucchini and heirloom tomatoes from her garden tonight and so I Pinterested those ingredients and found your fabulous recipe…guess what’s for dinner tonight??!! ? Thank you!!!
I just bought heirloom tomatoes first time myself yesterday. Pricey but good. Enjoy!
This was great! It had good flavor to it with the garlic in it. Only thing it was hard to eat the basil since it was frozen when we cut it and chewy. Is it better to leave basil in the fridge instead?
Did you bake it from frozen? Why was the basil frozen?
We froze the basil to keep it longer. But the dish we made and baked the same day.
Was basil frozen in chunks or ice cubes? Whole or chopped? Sounds like bigger chunks didn’t have enough time to defrost during baking. Break into smaller pieces.
It was frozen whole in its package. Another site I looked up said to put them into vases or glasses with water on the bottom and cover them. Are you saying I can freeze them if they are cut up?
Oh I see. If you freeze it whole then you have to let it thaw a bit and then chop before adding to the dish. You can also freeze in an ice cube tray with a bit of water.
P.S. By the way I sent my BLC Spark team links to some of your recipes.
Thank you so much!!!