These Easy Stuffed Zucchini Boats are not only easy to make, but they are also a nice low-carb dinner idea for summer. Baked Zucchini boats are also a great way to use up that zucchini crop that all seems to come in at once.
This recipe for stuffed zucchini with ground beef, marinated in a tomato-based sauce, and topped with cheese. You can use leftover spaghetti sauce on zucchini too!
Why This Recipe
Hello Friends! I am sitting here waiting for the cloud cover to dissipate. Some summer mornings we get clouds off the coast and it takes a while for the sun to come out. It's times like these when I love to write my recipes.
I made these Zucchini Boats a few days ago and wanted to share it with you today. If you are looking for ooking for a tasty meal to put together quickly, this recipe fits the bill.
I have been trying to make a few healthy meals here and there and what I love about this recipe, is that it is full of vitamins and does not contain a lot of carbs. These baked zucchini boats are delicious and flavorful!
What I also love about this Zucchini Boat recipe is that it does not take a lot of time. Ready in about 30 minutes so you don't need a ton of prep time.
Ingredients for Zucchini Boats
Zucchini – This recipe is for a traditional sized zucchini that you would find at most markets. If you are using homegrown, the squash may be larger and require more cooking time.
Sauce – This recipe uses a quick tomato-based homemade sauce. You can use a bottled sauce instead if you wish.
Cheese – I use whatever cheese I have on hand - Cheddar and Mozzarella or a Mozerella and Parmesan blend all work well.
Variations on this recipe.
You can use a jarred pizza sauce for Pizza-flavored Zucchini boats.
How to make stuffed zucchini boats
The full recipe follows, but here is a quick overview of the steps.
- Spoon out zucchini.
- Chop up zucchini that you removed.
- Ground beef in a pan with chopped zucchini.
- Add tomato sauce and tomatoes.
- Spoon into boats.
- Add cheese and bake.
Don't forget to pin this recipe.
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 3 zucchini
- ½ onion chopped
- 1 8 oz. can tomato sauce
- ½ lb. ground beef
- 1 small tomato chopped
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 1 cup cheese shredded
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400° F.
- Grease a 13" x 9 " baking pan.
- Cut zucchinis in half lengthwise and scoop out zucchini, leaving about ½ " of skin. Chop up the scooped zucchini and set aside. Place scooped "boats" into a baking pan.
- In a skillet over medium, heat onions, and ground beef until beef is browned.
- Drain meat and add tomato sauce, chopped tomato, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper.
- To the skillet, add chopped zucchini.
- Cook items in skillet 4-5 minutes.
- Spoon cooked ground beef mixture into the "boats"
- Top each boat with cheese.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
Nutrition

- You can use meat sauce in place of the ground beef mixture. Just top zucchini boats with meat sauce and cheese and bake according to the recipe.
- You can freeze zucchini boats in a freezer-safe sealed container for a quicker meal the following week.
- Store leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- You can use pre-shredded cheese for this recipe.
More Easy Zucchini Recipes
- Easy Baked Zucchini Casserole is one I have been making for years. Made with fresh zucchini and ground beef with just enough spice to make a wonderful dinner idea.
- Corn Tomato and Zucchini Salad is not only super easy to make, but it is also inexpensive to make and good for you too!
- This easy Classic Zucchini Bread is moist and buttery and full of summer goodness.
- Zucchini and Squash Casserole - A delicious and colorful side dish.
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Tamara
WOW. We have huge zucchinis from our garden. They look like baseball bats. We could feed a party with them! If we could actually have parties.. sob.
Allyssa
Thanks a lot for sharing this zucchini boats recipe! Will surely have this one again, really easy to make and tasted amazing!
Raquel
Thank you! Great to hear Allyssa!
Linda
I really enjoy these zucchini boats. They're so delicious and a life saver when I run out of time.
Jenni
Loved these! They were easy to make and tasted great. Will definitely make again!
Natalie
Oh yum! This is a perfect summer dinner. I bet my family will love this. I'm saving the recipe! 😉