LAYERED GROUND BEEF AND ZUCCHINI LASAGNA CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (set oven rack to lowest position).
• Grease a 13 x 9-inch baking dish.
• Bring about 5 cups water to a boil in a saucepan.
• Add in the sliced zucchini; simmer for 3 minutes or until just crisp-tender; drain on paper towels or a clean tea towel then cool.
• In a skillet cook the ground beef with onion, dried chili flakes, basil and oregano until the beef is no longer pink; drain fat.
• Add in garlic and continue cooking the beef until lightly browned.
• Add in the pasta sauce; cook for about 10-15 minutes, season with salt and pepper; remove from heat.
• In a bowl mix together the ricotta with egg/s, garlic powder, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, dried parsley; mix to combine, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Arrange all of the zucchini slices in the bottom of the baking dish (the slices do not have to be in one layer) then sprinkle with about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.
• Dollop HALF of the ricotta mixture over the breadcrumbs, then cover with HALF of the beef mixture, then sprinkle about 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top.
• Repeat the layers with remaining 1/3 cup breadcrumbs, ricotta mixture, then meat mixture (reserve the remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese for the top after baking).
• Sprinkle 1/2 cup or more Parmesan cheese over the top of the meat mixture.
• Place the baking dish on a baking sheet to catch any spills.
• Bake uncovered for about 44-50 minutes or until heated through.
• Sprinkle remaining 1 cup mozzarella cheese on top and return to oven for another 5-8 minutes.