Zucchini Rice Casserole with Stuffing Mix

A warm, cheesy vegetable casserole made with tender zucchini, fluffy rice, carrots, and a crispy stuffing topping. Perfect as a comforting side dish or a light vegetarian meal!

Ingredients

6 cups zucchini, sliced or chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup carrots, shredded
3 cups cooked rice
1 box (6 oz / 170g) stuffing mix
1 can (10.5 oz) cream of chicken or cream of mushroom soup
½ cup sour cream
½ cup milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tbsp butter, melted
1 tsp garlic powder
½ tsp black pepper
Salt, to taste
1 tsp dried parsley or Italian seasoning

Instructions

Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
Lightly grease a baking dish.
In a large bowl, combine the zucchini, chopped onion, shredded carrots, and cooked rice.
Add the cream soup, sour cream, milk, garlic powder, pepper, and herbs. Mix well.
Stir in half of the shredded cheese.
Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish.
Sprinkle the stuffing mix evenly over the top.
Drizzle the melted butter over the stuffing.
Cover with foil and bake for 25 minutes.
Remove the foil, sprinkle the remaining cheese on top, and bake for another 10–15 minutes, until golden and bubbly.
Let it rest for 5 minutes, then serve warm.

Recipe Details

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 35–40 minutes
Total Time: About 55 minutes
Servings: 8

Nutrition Information (Approx. per serving)

Calories: 280 kcal
Protein: 8g
Carbohydrates: 35g
Fat: 12g
Fiber: 3g
Sugar: 4g

Nut Information

This recipe contains no nuts as written.

However, check the labels of the stuffing mix, canned soup, cheese, and other packaged ingredients for possible nut cross-contamination if serving someone with a nut allergy.

Q&A

Q: Can I use brown rice instead of white rice?
A: Yes! Brown rice works perfectly and adds extra fiber.

Q: Can I make this casserole vegetarian?
A: Yes. Use cream of mushroom or cream of celery soup instead of cream of chicken.

Q: Can I prepare it ahead of time?
A: Yes. Assemble the casserole, cover, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.

Q: Can I freeze it?
A: Yes. Freeze the baked casserole in an airtight container for up to 2 months.

Q: How can I make the topping extra crispy?
A: Bake uncovered during the final 10–15 minutes until the stuffing topping is golden brown.

Author
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Sara Mitchell

Sara Mitchell is an expert restaurant content creator who writes easy-to-read guides about CAVA and other Mediterranean fast-casual chains in the United States. She covers locations, menus, prices, and hours, making it simple for visitors to find nearby restaurants and what to order quickly.

With years of experience in restaurant research and local SEO, Sara creates accurate, user-friendly guides that work for both people and search engines. Her goal is to help users go from search results to their nearest restaurant or menu choice with as few clicks as possible.