Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet

Okay, so the name Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet is a little dramatic, but I had to figure out a way to set this recipe apart from other zucchini skillet recipes.

Don’t get me wrong. All of the zucchini skillet recipes I’ve posted are good, but this one–THIS ONE is the BEST! Simple things like using fire roasted diced tomatoes instead of regular diced tomatoes, and finely chopping some celery in with the onion, garlic and carrot, really make this dish sing.

In fact, we loved it so much we made it three nights in a row. My oldest now claims it as his third favorite dinner. Chimichanga’s are his first, and Baked Teriyaki Chicken is his second. He kind of cracks me up. His top two are a little fancy, and then there’s Zucchini Skillet. It’s like the nerdy kid that somehow managed to make a name for himself with the cool kids.

If you like skillet recipes, try these:

• The Best Skillet Potatoes with Cheese and Bacon
• Zucchini Taco Skillet
• Kielbasa Rice and Veggie Skillet
• Chicken Taco and Rice Skillet Dinner
• Creamy Cajun Pasta Skillet with Kielbasa
• Chicken Zucchini Skillet with Cannellini Beans

This dinner is naturally gluten free. Also, for those who don’t do dairy, if you skip the cheese on top, it is also dairy free. With that said, if dairy isn’t a problem for you, I strongly suggest lots of cheese on top. YUM!!!!

If you have a spirilizer, this recipe works great with spirilized zucchini, too. My sister-in-law gave me this one for Christmas. The kids love to use it. It’s a very simple design and easy to use and clean.

I know I’ve mentioned a time or two in the past that I love to cook. That is still true, but the older my kids get, the older and more tired I get, which makes preparing dinner feel more overwhelming than it ever has in the past. I used to love the time it took to prep dinner. It was relaxing for me. Now it just makes me anxious, especially if I know I have three million things to do and to get people places.

One way I’m working through this slump and doing my best to still put homemade meals on the table is by having go-to skillet, crock pot, and “throw-it-together and toss-it-in-the-oven for two hours” kind of meals. Basically, the only time I make a meal that causes me to have to be in the kitchen prepping for more then 20-30 minutes is on Sunday or special occasions.

One of my favorite shortcuts for this Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet is my food processor. It chops up the vegetables in no time and allows me to sneak more vegetables into our meals. 🙂 My food processor is part of a Ninja Blender System I bought myself for our wedding anniversary 2 years ago. I LOVE IT SO MUCH! It is a permanent fixture on our counter because I (we) use it so much. It has the food processor attachment, a blender, and a magic bullet nutra-blender attachment.

Without a food processor, I would have to finely chop or grate all of the veggies in this recipe. A task that would take at least 15-20 minutes. But with the Ninja, I just throw them all in, hit the magic button, and ten seconds later everything is in tiny almost unrecognizable (once cooked) pieces. It’s so great!

My Ninja is worth its weight in gold. It has been used almost everyday, if not multiple times a day since I bought it. Cooking is fun and quicker when you have the right tools. Do yourself a favor! If you don’t already have some kind of food processor, make it a priority to get one. You’ll be so happy you did. My sister had one like this before she caved and got a Ninja like mine. It worked great and is a great option, if you don’t have the space for a big one.

By the way, this is not a sponsored post. I just love my Ninja. 

I got off on a little food processor tangent. Can’t help it. I’m becoming more and more passionate about making dinner prep as quick and painless as possible.

how to make million dollar zucchini skillet

• Cut your zucchini’s lengthwise down the middle and slice 1/4-inch-thick pieces into half moon shapes.
• Pour olive oil into a large, deep skillet. Add Italian Sausage and cook over medium-high heat until browned.

• Place celery, carrots, onion and garlic in the food processor. 
• Process into very small pieces, pea size or smaller. If you don’t have a processor, grate or finely dice them.

• Add the finely chopped or processed veggies to the skillet. Mix well.
• Add diced tomatoes, rice, water, brown sugar, salt, basil, parsley, and oregano. Mix well.

• Add zucchini pieces and mix. Get as much of the mixture under the liquid as possible. Bring to a low boil.
• Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until zucchini is tender and rice is cooked.

• Remove from heat. Remove lid and sprinkle with cheese. Put lid back on and let the cheese melt.

Tips for making Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet

• Remove casings from Italian sausage.
• Use a food processor to finely chop veggies.
• For best flavor, use fired roasted diced tomatoes.
• After sprinkling mixture with cheese, place lid back on the skillet to melt cheese faster.

More amazing zucchini recipes

Chocolate Zucchini MuffinsSausage and Zucchini Lasagna Roll-upsSauteed Zucchini and Yellow Squash with Garlic and Parmesan

4.8 from 8 reviews

Million Dollar Zucchini Skillet

 

Print

Prep time

15 mins

Cook time

25 mins

Total time

40 mins

 

This amazing skillet dinner will become an instant favorite at your house. The flavors are perfect. This is hands down the best Zucchini Skillet I have ever made!

Author: Maria

Recipe type: Skillet Dinner

Cuisine: Italian/American

Serves: 6-8

Ingredients

• 2 tsp Olive Oil
• 1 lbs Italian Sausage, casings removed
• 4 small-medium zucchini or yellow squash (4-6 cups of quartered or halved slices)
• 1 large or two small celery stalks
• 16 baby carrots or 2 small regular carrots, peeled
• ½ of a medium onion
• 3 cloves of garlic
• 1 15 oz can fire roasted tomatoes
• ½ cup long grain white rice, uncooked
• 1 cup of water
• 1 Tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp basil
• ½ tsp parsley
• ¼ tsp oregano
• 1-2 cups of Colby Jack or Mozzarella Cheese

Instructions

1. Cut your zucchini's lengthwise down the middle and slice ¼-inch-thick pieces into half moon shapes. If the zucchinis are larger, slice them lengthwise again. Then, cut into quartered slices. Set aside.
2. Pour olive oil into a large, deep skillet. Add Italian Sausage and cook over medium-high heat until browned.
3. Place celery, carrots, onion and garlic in the food processor. Process into very small pieces, pea size or smaller. If you don't have a processor, grate or finely dice them.
4. Add the finely chopped or processed veggies to the skillet.
5. Add diced tomatoes, rice, water, brown sugar, salt, basil, parsley, and oregano. Mix well.
6. Add zucchini pieces and mix. Get as much of the mixture under the liquid as possible. Bring to a low boil.
7. Reduce heat to a simmer. Cover and simmer for 20-30 minutes or until zucchini is tender and rice is cooked.
8. Remove from heat. Remove lid and sprinkle with cheese. Put lid back on and let the cheese melt while you set the table or round everyone up for dinner.
9. Enjoy!

3.4.3177

More easy dinners

Baked Sweet and Sour Chicken ThighsDisappearing Casserole {Leftover Makeover}Best Ever Tater Tot Casserole