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Cheesy Zucchini Ham Bake

Cheesy zucchini ham bake is a delicious one-dish meal. It’s a great casserole to serve at a family dinner or bring to a potluck. This family dinner casserole is flavorful, nutritious, and easy to make. For those reasons, it’s a great dish to add to your regular meal rotation.

Baked cheesy zucchini and ham casserole in a pan and on a plate

Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables because it’s so versatile and goes with so many different foods. It’s an excellent ingredient for casseroles, stews, soups, and one-pan meals. We even like roasted or baked zucchini with nothing but a drizzle of olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Easy One-Pan Meal

One-pan meals make it easy to get dinner on the table quickly. They’re also great for cleanup because you don’t have as many pots and pans to scrub.

You’ll love the fact that your family is getting the nutrition they need while enjoying the flavors in this delicious dish

In addition to having the vegetables, you’ll get protein from the ham and minerals from the cheese and milk. In other words, you’re getting food from all of the major food groups with this dish.

It’s also super easy to prepare, which is always a good thing in my book. I enjoy cooking as long as it’s not labor intensive.

Versatility of Zucchini

I typically purchase zucchini when I go to the grocery store, even when I don’t have a dish in mind.

Not only is it packed with essential nutrients but it is also an extremely versatile vegetable. You can use it so many different ways.

For example, you can create a Mexican-flavored dish like the zucchini boat. Another way to prepare the same basic dish is to use Italian seasonings instead of salsa.

If you’re looking for a hot side dish, you can make this zucchini tomato casserole. Or for another flavorful main dish, try this Italian chicken zucchini casserole.

Zucchini can be steamed, baked, broiled, fried, and used in casseroles. Regardless of how you prepare it, you’ll still get the vitamins that you need.

You can also cut it into spirals to use in place of spaghetti or slice it lengthwise to replace lasagna. It provides quite a bit more nutrition while keeping the calorie count down.

When my children were small, I used to steam large batches of zucchini. Next, I’d run it through the food processor to pulverize it.

Afterward, I poured it into ice cube trays, froze it, and stored it in zip-lock bags.

When I made muffins, cookies, sauces, and stews, I would toss a couple of frozen zucchini cubes into the mixture. Surprisingly, no one ever caught on.

This may sound sneaky to you. But I don’t see anything wrong with adding nutrition to my family’s meals.

Cheesy Zucchini Ham Bake Nutrition Facts

As is the case with most vegetables, zucchini has quite a few vitamins. It also provides fiber, antioxidants, and some of the minerals you need to stay healthy.

This dish provides a complete meal since the ham has protein and the cheese is packed with calcium.

Delicious cheesy zucchini and ham casserole

What You’ll Need to Prepare a Cheesy Zucchini Ham Bake

This dish has zucchini, corn, ham, tomatoes, onions, cheese, milk, and nutmeg. When I’m in the mood for something spicy (which is often), I add jalapeno peppers.

You can also add salt and pepper if you want additional seasoning. If you have seasoned salt, that’s also a good option.

Corn, tomatoes, ham, onions, and zucchini are all used to make this zucchini bake.

For exact measurements of each ingredient and full directions, go to the recipe card at the bottom of the page. You can even print out the card by clicking on the “print” button.

How to Make a Cheesy Zucchini Ham Bake

First, sauté the onions until they become translucent. Next, add the cut-up zucchini and diced tomatoes.

Add the ham and corn to the skillet. Stir and continue cooking until everything in the skillet is hot. Now is the time to add the jalapeno peppers if you want them.

Zucchini, ham, corn, and tomatoes in a casserole for the zucchini bake.

After the mixture is hot and the vegetables are fully cooked, pour them into a greased casserole dish.

Combine the milk with some of the cheese in a saucepan. Heat it until the cheese melts.

Cheese and milk in a saucepan

Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper, stirring constantly. After the cheese mixture starts to bubble, pour it over the vegetables and ham.

Uncooked Casserole

Sprinkle the remaining cheese over everything. Bake until the top is golden brown.

This is such a delicious dish you might wind up putting it in your regular dinner rotation. At least it’s something you can feel good about feeding your family.

While You’re Waiting

My husband always likes to have something to munch on while he waits for dinner to cook. One of his favorite snacks is these roasted pecans.

He also enjoys snacking on veggies with this slow cooker buffalo chicken dip. Even though he’s not a big vegetable lover, he’ll eat pretty much anything with that dip.

Serving of cheesy zucchini and ham bake

Frequently Asked Questions About Zucchini

If you’re not familiar with zucchini, you probably have some questions. That’s fine because it’s always better to have more information about what you eat.

Chopped zucchini

How Can You Tell a Good Zucchini?

The best zucchini has firm, smooth skin and is heavy for the size. You don’t want one with shriveled skin because that typically means it’s not fresh.

Is Zucchini a Fruit or Vegetable?

Although most people cook it as a vegetable, it is botanically a fruit. Regardless, it is delicious and packs a powerful nutritional punch.

Does Zucchini Need to Be Refrigerated?

Ideally, you should store zucchini in a plastic bag in the crisper section of the refrigerator. Use it within four days or before it begins to shrivel.

Cheesy zucchini ham bake casserole

Dessert

After a hearty meal like this cheesy zucchini ham bake, I like to serve a lighter dessert. One of our favorites is this lemon meringue pie.

Or you might want this delicious and easy-to-make 2-ingredient apple cake. Both the pie and the cake can be made in less than an hour, so you won’t spend all day in the kitchen.

More Fabulous Recipes

If you’re like me and enjoy discovering new recipes, check out Meal Plan Monday at Julia’s Simply Southern.

More One-Dish Meals

If you like the cheesy zucchini ham bake, you’ll enjoy this mac-and-cheese with ham casserole and this shepherd’s pie.

These dishes are both comforting and nutritious. In other words, they’ll become family favorites as well.

Yield: 4 servings

Cheesy Zucchini Ham Bake

Baked cheesy zucchini and ham bake

This delicious cheesy zucchini ham bake is delicious, nutritious, and oh-so satisfying. The whole family will enjoy eating their vegetables.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 3 zucchinis cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 can of corn
  • 1/2 cup of diced ham
  • 1/2 cup of chopped tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup of chopped onions
  • 1 cup of shredded cheddar cheese
  • 2/3 cup of milk
  • 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1/4 cup of chopped jalapeno peppers (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Spray a medium casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray.
  2. In a large skillet, sauté the onions until they are translucent. Add the zucchini and tomatoes. Continue cooking until the zucchini is tender. 
  3. Add the ham and corn. 
  4. If you want to add jalapeno peppers, do it now. (Normally, I would, but I didn’t this time.) 
  5. Pour into the casserole dish.
  6. In a small saucepan, heat the milk on medium until it begins to bubble. Add 2/3 cup of cheese and nutmeg and stir until well mixed. Salt and pepper to taste.
  7. Pour the milk and cheese over the mixture in the casserole dish. Sprinkle the last 1/3 cup of cheese on top.
  8. Bake for approximately 20 minutes, until the top turns golden brown.

Nutrition Information

Yield

4

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 197Total Fat 12gSaturated Fat 6gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 4gCholesterol 42mgSodium 446mgCarbohydrates 11gFiber 1gSugar 3gProtein 13g

The nutrition information is a product of online calculators. I try to provide true and accurate information, but these numbers are estimates.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a comment on the blog or share a photo on Pinterest

Please feel free to share!

Steph

Thursday 20th of July 2023

A friend shared this with me. We're low carb, so I omitted the corn. This is so tasty! And a great way to use up large zucchinis! Thank you!

southernhomeexpress

Friday 21st of July 2023

Hi Steph. I'm so glad you enjoyed this dish!

Amanda

Saturday 18th of March 2023

It was tasty, but very runny. Next time I make it I would either include eggs or butter and flour to thicken it.

southernhomeexpress

Saturday 18th of March 2023

Hi Amanda. Great idea! Some people serve it over noodles, rice, or potatoes, but I prefer it as-is. I can't use flour to thicken food because of my gluten intolerance. However, eggs would help firm it right up.

Olga

Sunday 22nd of January 2023

I'm going to make this, sound so good! What would be a good side? I don't want to make white rice, but maybe a rice pilaf? I browsed a couple of your recipes all look delicious and I'm always looking for recipes my picky husband will eat.

southernhomeexpress

Sunday 22nd of January 2023

Hi Olga. Rice pilaf would be good. Or you can make mashed potatoes or serve it with your favorite noodles.

Lisa D.

Friday 22nd of July 2022

Hi! I'm thinking of trying this recipe, but I wanted to add sliced potatoes. Have you ever add potatoes?

southernhomeexpress

Friday 22nd of July 2022

Hi Lisa. I haven't tried that, but I think it would be delicious! You can either parboil them and add them to the casserole or cook them separately and serve the casserole over a bed of potatoes. I'll have to try that. It sounds really good! Thanks for the idea!

Jana

Sunday 24th of October 2021

Tasty but this needs to either be thickened with a true cream sauce to which you add cheese. As us it's a soupy texture rather than a casserole texture. Can serve over rice or noodles tho.

southernhomeexpress

Sunday 24th of October 2021

Hi Jana. I love this casserole over noodles or rice!

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