Delicious Oven-Baked Zucchini Parmesan Recipe

Make mealtime memorable with Zucchini Parmesan, a casserole that brings crispy zucchini, marinate, and mozzarella together.

Zucchini Parmesan Recipe

This recipe combines thin, breaded zucchini slices that are fried until crispy. They are then layered with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, and baked to make a delicious casserole. It’s a great way to use up summer zucchini and turns simple ingredients into a tasty meal with a mix of crunchy, saucy, and cheesy layers.

Ingredients

• 2 medium zucchini
• 2-3 egg whites, beaten until frothy
• ½ teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
• 2 cups mozzarella cheese
• 20 oz. vegetable oil, for frying

Breading

• ¾ cup flour
• ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs
• ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Prepare the Zucchini:
   • Wash the zucchini and pat dry.
   • Slice into ¼ inch slices, try not to cut thicker than that, or they won’t be as crispy.
   • Place over paper towels and sprinkle evenly with a light layer of salt.
   • Flip and repeat with more salt. Top with more paper towels.
   • Let it sit for 30+ minutes, preferably up to an hour. Pat them each completely dry prior to dredging.
2. Prepare the Egg Wash:
   • Beat the egg whites and garlic powder until frothy.
3. Prepare the Breading:
   • Combine the breading ingredients in a small bowl.
4. Coat the Zucchini:
   • Dip each zucchini slice into the egg whites, then coat generously in breading mix.
   • Use the back of a spoon to pat the breading onto the zucchini. Flip, and repeat.
5. Fry the Zucchini:
   • Heat vegetable oil to 350° (medium-high heat), preferably in a cast iron skillet. Use enough to cover them about halfway.
   • Add more oil while they cook as needed.
   • Fry for 2-3 minutes per side, until golden brown. Leave room around each one so they will crisp on the outside. Watch carefully as they fry, once they start to brown, it happens fast.
   • Set aside on a cooling rack, this allows air to circulate around them and keeps them crisp.

Assemble the Casserole

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Preheat the Oven:
   • Preheat oven to 400°.
2. Layer the Marinara and Zucchini:
   • Spoon marinara sauce on the bottom of a 9 x 13 casserole dish, just enough to coat it lightly.
   • Top with a layer of fried zucchini.
   • Spoon marinara sauce over each one, then sprinkle with a layer of mozzarella cheese.
   • Repeat until you’ve used all of the zucchini. You can make clean stacks or overlap them around each other.
3. Bake the Casserole:
   • Bake, uncovered, for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and begins to brown.
4. Serve:
   • Serve with Cheesy Garlic Bread.

Serving Suggestions

• Zucchini Soup
• Eggplant Rollatini
• Broccoli Pasta
• Egg Roll in a Bowl
• Baked Tacos
• Taco Spaghetti

Tips and Tricks

• Salt the zucchini slices before cooking to draw out moisture, which helps achieve a firm, crispy consistency rather than soft and watery.
• Let the salted zucchini sit for at least 30 minutes up to 1.5 hours, sandwiched between paper towels to absorb the extracted water.
• Use egg whites for dipping as it adheres the breading without overwhelming the zucchini.