This low-carb Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chilec is so delicious, I’d even buy zucchini to make it during the winter! And this delicious breakfast featuring zucchini and green chiles also has cottage cheese so it’s low in carbs and high in protein!

PIN the zucchini breakfast casserole to try it later!

Zucchini and Green Chile Breakfast Casserole in casserole dish with salsa and sour cream

This low-carb Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles has cottage cheese, sharp cheddar cheese, zucchini, and green chiles and this is a great answer to the “What shall we make with zucchini?” opportunity that gardeners face every year. And even when zucchini season is winding down it can be a challenge to keep up with it!

That’s why I’m reminding you of this long-time favorite breakfast idea for this week’s Friday Favorites pick. I think breakfast casseroles with zucchini are perfect for late-season zucchini, when you don’t mind turning on the oven!

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  • cottage cheese
  • zucchini
  • Olive Oil (affiliate link)
  • Spike Seasoning (affiliate link), or use any seasoning mix you like on eggs
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • can of diced green chiles (affiliate link)
  • eggs
  • half and half, heavy cream, or milk
  • grated sharp cheddar cheese

How to keep zucchini from being watery in Zucchini Breakfast Casserole:

This version of a zucchini breakfast casserole is a recipe where a bit more or less zucchini won’t matter, but to keep the zucchini from being watery in the finished dish, I trim away some of the inner white part, and then saute it with the green chiles for extra flavor and to evaporate some of the liquid.

What kind of green chiles did I use?

The diced green chiles used in this recipe are Anaheim Chiles, which are a popular chile pepper that’s grown in California. This is a mild but flavorful chile that’s versatile to use in recipes. I wouldn’t use Jalapeno chiles for this recipe unless you want it to be much more spicy!

Don’t want cottage cheese in the Zucchini Breakfast Casserole?

I use drained cottage cheese here to make this breakfast casserole creamy and add protein, but you can also just use more cheese and skip the cottage cheese if you prefer. Use low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese, whichever you prefer.

How low in carbs is the Zucchini Breakfast Casserole?

This breakfast casserole with zucchini has only about 6 net carbs per serving with 23 grams of protein, so this is such a healthy breakfast option and it’s also delicious!

More about making breakfast casseroles:

Before you make this you may also want to check out my tips and master recipe for Low Carb and Keto Breakfast Casseroles which has instructions for different sizes of pan and ingredient options for this type of breakfast casserole. And there’s a link in the complete recipe for a bigger size in case you want to make a larger one.

Can the zucchini breakfast casserole be frozen?

I don’t like to freeze this type of breakfast casserole with egg because they release water when they thaw, but this is a perfect idea to make for Weekend Food Prep, then keep the leftover casserole in the fridge to eat during the week.

Want more zucchini recipes?

Low-Carb Zucchini and Green Chile Breakfast Casserole process shots collage

How to make Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles:

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

  1. Put the cottage cheese in a fine strainer, rinse with cold water, and let it drain, leaving just the cheese curds to use in the finished dish. (Or skip this and just use a bit more cheese.)
  2. Cut zucchini into fourths lengthwise, then cut away the inner white part, leaving about 1/2 inch of white on the zucchini skin. Chop zucchini into same-size pieces.
  3. Saute the zucchini over very low heat for about 4-5 minutes, seasoning with Spike Seasoning (or other all-purpose seasoning blend). 
  4. Then add the can of diced green chiles, stir into the zucchini, and continue to cook for another 4-5 minutes. (You don’t want the zucchini completely soft, so be sure the heat is low.)
  5. Layer the cooked zucchini, cottage cheese, and grated cheese in a flat casserole dish, pour beaten eggs over the other ingredients, then take a fork and gently stir so ingredients are evenly distributed in the eggs.
  6. Bake until the eggs are set and top is lightly browned.
  7. Serve hot, with some salsa and sour cream to add at the table if you prefer!
  8. And the last photo shows my favorite way to eat this, with a big dollop of sour cream and some salsa spread over the top!

Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles shown in baking dish on napkin.

More Delicious Breakfasts with Green Chiles:

Weekend Food Prep:

The zucchini breakfast casserole recipe has been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep  to help you find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles
Yield: 6 servings

Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 35 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes

This low-carb Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles is a delicious breakfast to make with zucchini.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup cottage cheese, rinsed and drained well (see notes)
  • 1 medium zucchini, about 8 inches long (or even more)
  • 2 tsp. olive oil for sauteing zucchini and chiles
  • 1 tsp. Spike Seasoning (optional but recommended, or use any seasoning mix you like on eggs)
  • salt and fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1 4 oz. can diced green Anaheim chiles
  • 10 eggs, beaten well
  • 1 T half and half (see notes)
  • 1 cup grated sharp cheddar cheese (see notes)

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 375 F/190C. Spray 7X11 inch or 8X8 inch casserole pan with nonstick spray or olive oil.
  2. Put cottage cheese in a colander placed in the sink and rinse thoroughly with cold water to wash off the “cream”, then let drain.
  3. Wash zucchini, cut lengthwise into fourths, then cut away the inner white part of the zucchini, leaving not over 1/2 inch thickness of white still on the skin.
  4. Discard white part, and cut remaining zucchini strips crosswise into same-size strips.
  5. Put olive oil into nonstick frying pan and saute zucchini over low heat for 4-5 minutes, seasoning with Spike Seasoning (affiliate link), salt, and pepper.
  6. Then add undrained green chiles and cook another 4-5 minutes. (Zucchini should still be pretty firm when you turn off the heat, so be sure you have it on low.)
  7. Layer zucchini/green chile mixture, drained cottage cheese, and cheese into casserole dish.
  8. Beat eggs with half and half, cream or milk and pour over other ingredients.
  9. Use a fork to gently stir so that zucchini, green chile, cottage cheese, and cheese is evenly distributed in the egg mixture.
  10. Bake at 375 for about 25-30 minutes, or until mixture is set and top is nicely browned.

Notes

Use more cottage cheese if you’d like; either low-fat or full-fat cottage cheese is fine. Use heavy cream or milk instead of half and half if you prefer. Use more or less cheese, to taste.

Click Here for Larger Size from Original Recipe that makes 10-12 servings

This recipe created by Kalyn.

Nutrition Information

Yield

6

Serving Size

1

Amount Per Serving Calories 331Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 11gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 351mgSodium 784mgCarbohydrates 7gFiber 1gSugar 4gProtein 23g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe?

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Square image of Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles in baking dish.

Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
If you use full-fat cottage cheese and cheese and cream or half and half, this Zucchini Breakfast Casserole with Green Chiles would be perfect for low-carb or Keto diet plans. Made with low-fat cottage cheese, low-fat cheese, and milk, this is a great breakfast option for the original South Beach Diet. You can make this on the weekend, cut into serving size pieces, and keep in the fridge for an easy breakfast to pop in the microwave before work. (Microwave just until hot to prevent it from getting rubbery.)

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Breakfast Recipes to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this recipe:
This zucchini breakfast casserole recipe was posted in 2008. It was updated with better photos in 2013 and was last updated with more information in 2024.

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