Baked Zucchini Pasta

5 from 1 vote

Baked zucchini pasta is a flavorful casserole recipe that's ready in under an hour and made with simple pantry ingredients. Penne pasta and cubed zucchini are coated in a creamy herb sauce that's topped with a crunchy panko crust and baked to perfection in the oven.

Prep Time20

Cook Time15

Total Time35

Servings: servings

Calories: 338kcal

Ingredients

Casserole

12 ounces (340 g) penne pasta, uncooked
¼ cup (56 g) unsalted butter
½ medium onion, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
¼ cup (30 g) all-purpose flour
16 ounces (453 g) chicken broth
12 ounces (340 g) whole milk
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 medium zucchini, cubed

Topping

1 cup (50 g) panko bread crumbs
3 tablespoon (42 g) unsalted butter, melted
¼ teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon fresh chopped chives, as a garnish

Instructions

Casserole

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9x13 casserole dish and set aside.
In a salted pot of boiling water, cook pasta according to package directions for al dente pasta. Drain well, pour pasta into the prepared 9x13 pan, and set aside.
Meanwhile, in a saucepan over medium heat, add butter. Once hot and melted, add diced onions. Cook until onions begin to brown and turn translucent. Add garlic and flour, then cook for 1 additional minute.
Add chicken broth and milk, whisking continuously until incorporated and smooth. Bring to a simmer and cook until sauce has thickened slightly, about 3 to 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and add salt, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and zucchini, stirring to combine. Pour mixture over noodles and gently toss to coat.

Topping

In a bowl, combine bread crumbs, melted butter, and salt. Sprinkle evenly over casserole.
Bake uncovered for about 15-18 minutes, or until casserole is hot and bubbling in the center. Optionally, broil for 2 minutes to brown crust on top. Do not walk away from your oven while broiling, your crust will brown quickly.
Top with fresh chopped chives (or your favorite fresh herb) just before serving.

Recommended Equipment

Video

Notes

Leftovers will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator and reheat well in the microwave.
Optional: Add a cooked protein along with the zucchini while assembling your casserole. A can of drained tuna, shredded rotisserie chicken, cooked and crumbled Italian sausage, or leftover Thanksgiving turkey/ham are great additions.

Nutrition Estimate

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American