“Every summer, my heavenly neighbor Susan blesses me with more zucchini than I know what to do with.”

This Skillet Zucchini Parmesan is a comforting and flavorful dish that’s easy to prepare in one pan. Tender zucchini rounds are bathed in a creamy Parmesan sauce, topped with rich marinara and melted mozzarella, then baked to bubbly perfection.

Skillet Zucchini Parmesan

Ingredients:

Instructions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
2. Sauté Aromatics: Place a heavy-bottomed or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil to the pan. Once the oil is shimmering, add the sliced shallot, minced garlic, and chili flakes. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the shallot softens and becomes fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
3. Deglaze with Wine: Pour the white wine into the skillet. Increase the heat slightly and let the wine simmer, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan (this process is called deglazing). Reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer until most of the wine has evaporated.
4. Make Cream Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet with the reduced wine. Bring the cream to a gentle simmer. Once simmering, add the grated Parmesan cheese and 1/4 cup of the freshly grated mozzarella cheese to the cream sauce. Season the sauce generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Stir until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth.
5. Add Zucchini: Gently fold the sliced zucchini rounds into the creamy cheese sauce, ensuring they are well coated.
6. Layer with Marinara and Mozzarella: Remove the skillet from the heat. Spread the zucchini mixture evenly in the pan. Spoon the marinara sauce evenly over the top of the zucchini. Finally, sprinkle the remaining 1 3/4 cups of freshly grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the marinara sauce.
7. Bake: Transfer the skillet to the preheated oven and bake for 25 minutes, or until the cheese on top is melted, golden brown, and bubbly, and the zucchini is tender.
8. Cool Slightly and Serve: Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven. Let the Skillet Zucchini Parmesan cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy this creamy, cheesy, and flavorful dish as a side or a light vegetarian main course!