This Italian Vegetable Casserole is a delicious and easy way to enjoy baked vegetables. Made with hearty root vegetables, tender squash, peppers, fresh tomatoes and seasoned with oregano, garlic, and olive oil, these baked vegetables are NEXT LEVEL!
Serve this Baked Italian Vegetable Casserole with crusty Dutch Oven Bread and a tossed Greek Salad for a hearty meatless entree, or pair the baked vegetables with Chicken Marsala or Rotisserie Chicken for a delicious side.
If you are looking for new ways to enjoy vegetables, this Vegetable Casserole fits the bill.
Potatoes and onions are seasoned with oregano, garlic, and olive oil and roasted until tender. Then topped with a medley of summer squash, peppers, and fresh tomatoes, turning these baked vegetables into a unique vegetable casserole that is filled with Italian flavors.
Not only is this dish healthy and economical, but it is swoon-worthy! The flavors of the vegetables married with the rich tomato sauce create a dish that makes you want to lick your plate--well, at least use a slice of homemade Italian bread to soak up the richly flavored sauce.
This simple dish is a favorite dish to prepare for company, either as a side dish or as a vegetarian entree that is hearty and always impresses.
Seriously, these Italian Baked Vegetables are seriously one of the tastiest, easiest vegetable dishes to prepare. And the flavors always impress!
Key Ingredients
- Vegetables: You need about 8 cups total of vegetables for this casserole. Use any combination of potatoes, sweet potatoes, carrots, onions, yellow squash, bell peppers, or zucchini. Just keep in mind that the more root vegetables used, the heartier the dish will be.
- Spagehtti Sauce: The spaghetti sauce is key to flavoring this vegetable casserole. It adds moisture and flavor. Homemade Spaghetti Sauce or jarred sauce both work great.
- Fresh Tomatoes: The sliced tomatoes are optional, but roasting tomatoes add a unique sweet flavor and delicate texture to this vegetable casserole.
- Seasonings: The vegetables are seasoned with olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Feel free to omit the crushed red pepper flakes to control the heat.
- Parmesan (optional): The cheese finishes the dish with a salty, earthy finish. But feel free to omit the Parmesan cheese to keep this casserole vegan and dairy-free.
How to Make an Italian Vegetable Casserole
- Wash and dry the vegetables. There is no need to peel the potatoes, as the skins are filled with nutrients.
- Cut the potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, and carrots if using into into 1-inch cubes. It is important to cut the vegetables to the same size so that the vegetables cook up evenly.
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the vegetables with a bit of olive oil, garlic, salt, pepper, oregano, and crushed red pepper flakes. Toss to evenly coat the root vegetables in the oil and seasonings.
- Spread the seasoned vegetables out into a 9x13 baking dish and bake until just beginning to become tender.
- Meanwhile, dice the squash, zucchini, and peppers into 1-inch chunks and place into the same mixing bowl used to season the root vegetables. Add in a bit more oil and seasonings and toss to coat. If using fresh tomatoes, slice into ½-inch thick slices.
- Remove the potato mixture from the oven and spread the peppers and squash mixture evenly over the potatoes and onions.
- Dollop with spaghetti or marinara sauce and top with fresh sliced tomatoes, if using.
- Return to the oven and bake until the vegetables are fork tender.
- Serve with Parmesan Cheese, if desired.
Storage and Reheating
You can store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 5 days in the refrigerator. You can opt to reheat by individual servings in the microwave on a heat-safe plate or warm the entire casserole by baking at 350 degrees F for 20-25 minutes, or until warmed through.
I love serving the leftovers over brown rice or pasta for an easy way to stretch the leftovers into another meal. It is quite delicious.
Recipe FAQs
Other good options for vegetables for this recipe would be pattypan squash, mushrooms, parsnips, or turnips. Root vegetables, such as parsnips would need to be roasted with the potatoes, while more tender vegetables, like mushrooms, would be added with the spaghetti sauce.
The oil will add a lot of flavor to the vegetables and help them to crisp up. However, if you are on an oil-free diet, feel free to use 2-3 tablespoons of vegetable broth instead. You will need the broth so the vegetables don't dry out.
Not at all! In fact, if you don't care for roasted tomatoes, simply use the spaghetti sauce.
No! I love the flavor and the heartiness that the spaghetti sauce adds to the baked vegetables. It makes it feel more like a casserole. However, you can simply use sliced tomatoes OR omit both the tomatoes and sauce and the dish will still be delicious.
More Delicious Vegetable Recipes
If you enjoyed this simple Baked Vegetable Casserole, I would love for you to leave a comment and a 5-star review below.
Italian Vegetable Casserole
Ingredients
- 3 sweet potatoes
- 3 russet potatoes
- 1 large onion
- 2 small yellow squash
- 1 bell pepper
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt divided
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon oregano divided
- ⅛ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic divided
- 1 cup spaghetti sauce
- 2 large vine-ripened tomatoes
- ¼ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease a 2-quart or 9x13" casserole dish with olive oil.
- Scrub all the vegetables and dry well. Dice the potatoes, onion, squash, and peppers into 1-inch cubes. Slice the tomatoes into ½-inch thick slices.
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the potatoes and onions with 1 ½ tablespoons of oil, ½ tablespoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon oregano, pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes if using.
- Spread out the root vegetables into the prepared pan and bake for 30 minutes.
- Meanwhile, toss the squash and peppers (and/or any other tender vegetables) with the remaining ½ tablespoon oil, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon oregano, and ½ tablespoon of garlic.
- Remove the casserole from oven and spread the squash and peppers over the root vegetables. Top with spaghetti sauce and sliced tomatoes and return to the oven to bake for 20-22 minutes, or until the potatoes are fork tender.
- Serve warm with fresh Parmesan cheese if desired.
Sandy
Excellent stuff! Made for one of our two weekly meatless meals. Added the cheese at end and popped in oven for a few more minutes. Husband loved it. Maybe next time a little more red pepper flakes.
Kristen Chidsey
Thanks for sharing Sandy! I am so happy to hear you and your husband enjoyed 🙂