Description
A delicious and crispy Zucchini Parmesan recipe featuring breaded and fried zucchini slices layered with marinara sauce and melted mozzarella cheese, then baked to golden perfection. This comforting casserole is perfect as a hearty vegetarian main or a flavorful side dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Zucchini and Breading
- 2 medium zucchini
- 2–3 egg whites (beaten until frothy)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¾ cup flour
- ¾ cup Italian breadcrumbs
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/8 teaspoon black pepper
- 20 oz. vegetable oil (for frying)
Casserole
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 2 cups mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Zucchini: Wash the zucchini and pat dry. Slice into ¼ inch thick slices, avoiding thicker cuts for better crispiness. Lay slices on paper towels and sprinkle both sides lightly with salt. Cover with more paper towels and let sit for 30 minutes up to an hour to draw out moisture. Pat each slice thoroughly dry before breading.
- Make Egg Wash and Breading: Beat the egg whites with garlic powder until frothy. In a separate bowl, combine flour, Italian breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Bread the Zucchini: Dip each zucchini slice into the egg white mixture, then coat generously with the breading mix. Use the back of a spoon to press the breading firmly onto each slice, then flip and repeat for even coverage.
- Fry the Zucchini: Heat vegetable oil to 350°F in a cast iron skillet or heavy pan, using enough oil to cover zucchini halves during frying. Fry slices for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and crispy. Fry in batches without overcrowding the pan. Add more oil as needed. Remove and drain on a cooling rack to maintain crispness.
- Assemble the Casserole: Preheat oven to 400°F. Lightly coat the bottom of a 9×13 inch casserole dish with marinara sauce. Layer fried zucchini slices in the dish, spoon marinara sauce over each layer, and sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Repeat layering until all zucchini is used, stacking or overlapping slices as desired.
- Bake: Bake the assembled casserole uncovered for 20-25 minutes until cheese is fully melted and begins to lightly brown on top.
Notes
- No need to peel zucchini unless they are jumbo-sized, which may have tough or bitter skin.
- For a lighter version, zucchini can be baked or air fried instead of fried; bake or air fry slices before assembling the casserole.
- Using a cooling rack after frying helps keep zucchini slices crisp by allowing air circulation.
- Watch the oil temperature closely while frying to avoid burning the breading.
- Serve with cheesy garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Zucchini Parmesan, breaded zucchini, fried zucchini casserole, vegetarian Italian casserole, mozzarella zucchini bake
