Crock Pot Italian Zucchini Recipes

CROCKPOT ITALIAN ZUCCHINI MEATLOAF

Steps:

• In a large bowl, add all ingredients for meatloaf and mix thoroughly with your hands to combine.
• Line the bottom of a large slow cooker with double folded aluminum foil, criss cross. Make sure to make the flaps, so it will be easy for you to lift the meatloaf once it's ready. Spray the bottom with cooking spray.
• Place the mixture in crockpot and using your hands shape it into meatloaf. Cover and cook on Low for 6 hours or on High for 3 hours.
• Spread ketchup on top of meatloaf and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook until cheese is melted, about 5 minutes. Remove meatloaf from the slow cooker, garnish with parsley, cut into 10 slices and serve warm with whole wheat spaghetti or quinoa. Any whole grain side would work.

CROCK POT ITALIAN ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Spray a slow cooker container with olive oil-flavored cooking spray. In prepared container, combine zucchini and onion. Add undrained tomatoes, Italian dressing, and sugar (or splenda). Mix well to combine.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Mix well before serving.

ITALIAN-STYLE STUFFED ZUCCHINI SQUASH (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• To toast pine nuts, place them in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until golden or about 5 minutes.
• Place the zucchini halves in the bottom of an oval shaped slow cooker.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the tomato sauce and vinegar.
• In another small bowl, combine the onions, garlic, rice, parsley, basil, pepper, along with 2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce-vinegar mixture.
• Fill the zucchini halves with the rice mixture.
• Top with the remaining tomato sauce-vinegar mixture.
• Cover and cook on LOW until the rice is tender, 4 to 6 hours.
• Garnish with the pine nuts, fresh herbs, and cheese.
• Makes 2 main dish servings or 4 side dish servings.

SLOW-COOKER ZUCCHINI CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease inside of slow cooker with butter or cooking spray.
• Place zucchini and onion in microwavable dish; drizzle with 1 tablespoon of the melted butter. Cover with plastic wrap; microwave on High 7 to 8 minutes or until the zucchini is just tender and has released much of its liquid. Drain; place in slow cooker.
• Mix 1 cup of the crushed crackers with half of the cheese, the chicken broth and sour cream. Mix in salt. Pour over zucchini; gently stir to coat. Cover; cook on High heat setting 2 hours.
• Toward end of cooking, toss remaining cracker crumbs with remaining melted butter. Toast cracker crumbs in skillet until just golden and crisp. Stir in remaining cheese and the parsley. At end of cook time, turn off slow cooker; remove cover, and sprinkle toasted cracker crumb mixture over top of casserole. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

SLOW COOKER ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Mix celery into cooked sausage; cook and stir until celery is softened, about 10 minutes.
• Combine sausage mixture, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, salt, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, basil, and garlic powder in a slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.