Slow Cooker Zucchini Casserole with Stuffing

This slow cooker zucchini casserole with stuffing recipe is a very easy recipe that you can make on the go, or for your holiday celebrations. This is a simple yet delicious casserole recipe. You can add or subtract the vegetable mixture as desired and create a main dish or side dish that the whole family will enjoy.

Delicious Zucchini Casserole

This easy casserole recipe is great for weeknight dinners or a filling side dish during the summer months. It tastes amazing when made with fresh garden zucchini. Mix it together with other ingredients to form a delicious creamy casserole.

This easy zucchini casserole makes a fabulous kind of side dish, that can also be converted into a main dish simply by adding your favorite type of meat if desired.

In addition to the recipe, we are going to provide you with some variations to the recipe, so you enjoy it with your Thanksgiving dinner or as a main dish on a weeknight this zucchini with stuffing casserole is so good, it just might be your new favorite!

Squash Casserole Recipe

Fresh Zucchini. Fresh zucchini is going to be the best option for this recipe. You will need approximately 2 to 3 medium zucchini. Of course, you can add or subtract more as desired. I do not recommend using frozen zucchini for this recipe, fresh is the best option.

Onion. I also like to add in a small yellow onion that has been finely diced. This adds flavor, but it’s important that the onion is cut into very small pieces, so it is not as noticeable. If you would prefer to add another type of onion or skip it completely feel free.

Carrots. The carrots are also a delicious addition to your slow-cooker zucchini casserole. I like to cut my carrots into very thin slices after peeling them. This gives you added flavor and color to the carrots without taking big bites.

Cornbread Stuffing Mix. As far as the stuffing mix goes, I recommend using cornbread stuffing mix, you can use other types of stuffing mixes as well if needed such as chicken or a turkey. But cornbread stuffing is my preferred.

Shredded Cheese. This casserole is amazing when you add shredded cheese to it. Some great options are adding either shredded cheddar cheese or shredded Parmesan cheese, depending on your preference.

All-Purpose Flour. A little bit of all-purpose flour will help to thicken your zucchini mixture. You can use your favorite type of flour, but we recommend using the basic all-purpose flour.

Sour Cream. Sour cream is another ingredient that you want to include. You can choose to use the original sour cream or the less fat option. The original is going to give you the best overall flavor and texture, but either way will work.

Cream of Chicken Soup. Using a can of cream of chicken soup that has not been diluted will help to give your casserole delicious flavor and add moisture.

You can use cream of chicken soup which is my preferred, or you can use cream of mushroom soup or even cream of celery soup.

Chicken Broth. Adding chicken broth to your slow cooker zucchini casserole with stuffing helps to add some moisture and flavor to the casserole dish.

You don’t need a ton, but a little bit will go a long way to make your casserole taste amazing and turn it into the ultimate comfort food.

Italian Seasoning. Adding fresh herbs to this casserole will help add flavor and color. Some of the best seasoning mixes to add are a bit of Italian seasoning.

Black Pepper. You can also add freshly ground black pepper to your casserole for some more flavor.

How to Make Slow Cooker Zucchini Casserole with Stuffing

First, we are going to start off by mixing the ingredients for the creamy sauce. Into a large mixing bowl add all-purpose flour, sour cream, cream of chicken soup, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and black pepper. Mix until combined.

Cut your zucchini into slices or cubes, whatever you prefer. Also, finely dice the onion and carrots. After they are cut, add the vegetables to the cream mixture, and stir until they are combined.

Into the crockpot, pour half of the stuffing. Evenly spread over the bottom of the pot, then add the creamy zucchini mixture, then top with shredded cheese and the rest of the stuffing mix as you would with breadcrumbs.

Cover your crockpot with the lid of your slow cooker and cook on low for an approximate cooking time of 7 hours, or high for approximately 3 ½ hours.

You can tell when your casserole is done, as it should have turned a light golden brown color, and started to bubble around the edges. And the zucchini should be soft when you insert a knife. You don’t want it to be crunchy when serving.

When the zucchini casserole is fully cooked, you can serve the delicious slow cooker zucchini casserole with stuffing and enjoy!

Tips and Tricks

Keep the Stuffing Dry. There is no need to mix the stuffing in with the creamy sauce mixture. Instead, the cornbread stuffing mix is going to stay dry and will absorb liquid as it is cooked from the sauce mixture.

Make Sure Zucchini is Cooked. Before serving your casserole, make sure that the zucchini is fully cooked. To do this you may want to insert a knife into the zucchini or a fork, to make sure that the zucchini pieces are small. In order to help your zucchini, cook fully, I do recommend to cut them into small slices, or small cubes.

Cooking Time. The cooking time outlined above is approximate, it may take a little longer or less time, depending on how thick your zucchini is cut, and your specific crockpot. Different types of slow cookers may cook faster, or slower depending on what specific type they are.

Storage

At room temperature. After your zucchini casserole, the stuffing has been fully cooked and removed from the hot crockpot, it should remain at room temperature for no more than two hours before it runs the risk of growing unwanted bacteria, and going bad.

In the fridge. After your zucchini casserole has cooled, if there are any leftovers, they can be stored in the fridge. First transfer them to an airtight container, or seal them in a plastic storage bag. Then place them into the fridge for up to 3 to 4 days.

Variations

There are many ways you can mix things up with the zucchini casserole with stuffing, and even make it into a complete meal.

Let’s first look at a few different ideas to add meat to this recipe to make it into a complete meal. Then we’ll look at other ways you can mix things up with this casserole recipe.

Chicken Zucchini Casserole

Instead of just making a zucchini casserole as stuffing, you can easily add chicken to this casserole dish and make it into a chicken zucchini casserole with stuffing, some great options are chicken breasts, or chicken thighs removed from the bones.

My preferred method is to pre-cook the chicken before adding it to the casserole, which makes for a delicious meal. You could also take an easy way out, cut a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken, and add it to your zucchini casserole for a delicious meal.

Turkey

Adding pieces of cooked turkey or ground turkey to your zucchini casserole with stuffing is another great way to make this casserole. It’s also a fabulous way to use up leftovers from Thanksgiving, or another holiday if you have turkey leftovers.

Beef

Another great meat option to add to your slow cooker zucchini casserole is pre-cooked ground beef. This is another delicious way to make a side dish into a delicious main meal.

Yellow Summer Squash

Another great variation to the zucchini casserole is to substitute the zucchini with yellow squash or to simply add yellow squash in with the zucchini. This makes a delicious summertime recipe but does not require a lot of hands-on attention.

Sweet Potatoes

Adding sweet potatoes to the zucchini casserole with stuffing is another delicious variation. You can simply peel your sweet potatoes ahead of time, and cut them into small cubes, before adding them to the casserole recipe.

Sweet potatoes make a fabulous addition that will have you thinking about Thanksgiving dinner all year round.

Different Cooking Methods

In addition to making this zucchini casserole with stuffing in a crockpot or slow cooker, you can also make it in a large casserole dish and bake it in the oven. This is a great way to prepare this recipe in a shorter amount of time.

You can follow the instructions above, instead of using a crockpot you will want to replace it with a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Then place the casserole into the oven at 375°F, and bake it for approximately 40 to 55 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender.

Still, another different cooking option is to prepare this casserole in a large skillet. While this is not my preferred method, it can be done in a pinch if needed. You will first want to sauté the zucchini, and other vegetables in the large skillet with olive oil, then add in your cream sauce and combine the dry stuffing mix.

Then stir it all together until it is heated through. This will give you a different textured outcome with the casserole because the stuffing is mixed in, instead of forming a crunchy topping.

What to Serve With

Although this zucchini casserole with stuffing can easily be converted into a complete main meal, simply by adding meat to the recipe, it can also be enjoyed as a side dish. If you are serving the zucchini casserole as a side dish you might wonder what you should serve alongside it.

A great option is to simply reheat smoked pork chops. These are such fabulous options and can allow you to enjoy a complete meal with very little hassle.

Of course, if you want to add meat directly into the zucchini casserole with stuffing, then all you have to do is add something simple like a side salad or cut up some fruit. Then you have a complete meal to enjoy very easily.

Easy Slow Cooker Recipe

This slow cooker zucchini casserole with stuffing is a very easy dinner recipe that you can make for the entire family to enjoy. Simply add your choice of meat to enjoy a complete meal all in one pan.

Plus, you can prepare it ahead of time and let your crackpot do all the hard work for you during the day so that the meal is ready to enjoy when you get home.

I hope that you will enjoy this easy crockpot zucchini casserole with stuffing. It’s also a great way to use up your Thanksgiving leftovers.

Thank you so much for taking the time to check out our recipe!

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