Zucchini boats with ground beef are a delicious and hearty vegetable dish that can be served as a main course or a tasty side to any dinner! This recipe features zucchini stuffed with ground beef, chopped onion, and bell pepper, then topped with marinara, Parmesan cheese, and breadcrumbs! It's a great way to transform your favorite summer squash into a dish that will be loved by kids and adults alike!
Easy Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
Zucchini boats with ground beef are a delicious and nutritious meal that will surely become a new family favorite! As you take your first bite, you're greeted with the juicy and flavorful beef mixture, accented by the sweet and tender zucchini flesh!
The combination of textures and flavors is truly satisfying. Whether you're looking for a hearty dinner or a creative way to sneak some veggies into your meal, these zucchini boats are a great choice!
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🥘 Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef Ingredients
It may seem like a long list of ingredients, but each ingredient is easy to find at the grocery store! You might even have them in your pantry or fridge already!
- Zucchini - 4 medium zucchini.
- Olive Oil - ½ tablespoon of olive oil (extra virgin).
- Salt & Pepper - ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste).
- Ground Beef - 1 pound of ground beef (Italian sausage or ground pork can also be used or used in combination).
- Onion - ½ cup onion (chopped).
- Green Bell Pepper (Optional) - ½ cup of green bell pepper (chopped). Feel free to use green, red, or a combination!
- Garlic - 1 teaspoon of garlic (minced).
- Marinara Sauce - 1 cup of marinara sauce (or spaghetti sauce or arrabbiata sauce).
- Italian Seasoning - 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning; try my recipe, or use your favorite brand!
- Parmesan Cheese - ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated).
- Mozzarella Cheese - ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded).
- Breadcrumbs - ½ cup of breadcrumbs (plain or Italian seasoned, or you can use a breadcrumb substitute).
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
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🔪 How To Make Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
If you've never made zucchini boats before, this recipe is beginner-friendly and quick to prepare! To begin, you will need some measuring utensils, a large skillet, a wooden spoon, and a baking sheet.
This recipe will make 4 servings or 2 zucchini halves per person. If you are serving a larger crowd, you can easily scale up the ingredients as needed.
- Prep. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Then slice the 4 medium zucchinis in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds and flesh with a spoon to create a hollow center.
- Season boats. Brush the inside of each zucchini boat with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and sprinkle with ¼ teaspoon of salt and pepper.
- Brown meat. In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until it is browned and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes). Drain any excess grease.
- Add ingredients. Add ½ cup chopped onion, ½ cup bell pepper (if using), 1 teaspoon minced garlic, and 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning to the skillet, and cook until the vegetables are tender.
- Add sauce. Add 1 cup marinara sauce to the skillet, stir to combine, then spoon the ground beef mixture into each zucchini boat, filling it to the top.
- Sprinkle cheese. Sprinkle the grated ¼ cup of Parmesan cheese, ½ cup of mozzarella cheese, and ½ cup of breadcrumbs over each zucchini boat.
- Bake. Place the zucchini boats on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the zucchinis are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve. Remove from the oven and serve the zucchini boats immediately.
These zucchini boats will pair well with any of your favorite proteins or they make an excellent main course with a wedge salad or oven-baked potato! If you're trying to stick with Italian flavors, try serving them with pasta alla norma or a quick Caprese salad. Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you prefer a milder flavor, you can use sweet Italian sausage instead.
- Feel free to add other ingredients, such as chopped mushrooms or spinach, to the sausage mixture.
- If you want a low-carb version, you can skip the marinara sauce and simply top the zucchini boats with cheese.
- If you want to save time, you can prep the zucchini boats ahead of time and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake them. Just add the sausage mixture and cheese before baking.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
If you have any leftover zucchini boats, you can store them in the fridge for a few days. Here's how to store leftover zucchini boats:
- Allow the zucchini boats to cool to room temperature.
- Place the leftover zucchini boats in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag.
- Store the container or bag in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
Reheating Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
When you're ready to eat the leftover zucchini boats, you can reheat them in the microwave or oven! Here's how to reheat leftover zucchini boats:
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Remove the zucchini boats from the fridge and place them on a baking sheet.
- Bake the zucchini boats in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes or until they are heated through.
Alternatively, you can reheat the zucchini boats in the microwave by placing them on a microwave-safe plate and microwaving them for 1-2 minutes or until they are heated through. However, microwaving the zucchini boats may result in a softer texture.
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❓ FAQ
Great question! Some variations of zucchini boats include adding different types of cheese, such as mozzarella or Parmesan. You can also use different vegetables like olives or mushrooms!
No, I would not recommend peeling the zucchini because the skin helps hold the structure and stability of these stuffed boats! Plus, the skin also has nutrients and fiber.
No, freezing zucchini boats will cause them to become soft and mushy when you go to thaw them. However, you can freeze the meat inside of the boats for up to 2 months if you'd like!
Yes! Just omit the breadcrumbs and pick out a low-carb sauce like RAO's Marinara.
😋 More Vegetable Side Dishes
- Candied Carrots - These tender carrots are combined with a sweet brown sugar glaze that everyone will love!
- Instant Pot Acorn Squash - This sweet and savory vegetable side dish is practically hands-off when you cook it in your Instant Pot!
- Creamed Corn - My homemade creamed corn recipe is way better than the canned version, plus you can use canned or frozen corn!
- Baked Cabbage Steaks - This easy vegetable side dish only requires 4 simple ingredients and is ready to serve in under 45 minutes!
- Microwave Baked Sweet Potatoes - These microwave sweet potatoes will save you so much time in the kitchen!
- Grilled Yellow Squash - This grilled squash is fork-tender and perfect for serving with your favorite BBQ dishes!
📋 Recipe
Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini
- ½ tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 lb ground beef (Italian sausage or ground pork can also be used, or used in combination)
- ½ cup onion (chopped)
- ½ cup green bell pepper (optional, chopped, you can use green, red, or a combination)
- 1 teaspoon garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 cup marinara sauce (or spaghetti sauce, or arrabbiata sauce)
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese (grated)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese (shredded)
- ½ cup breadcrumbs (plain or Italian seasoned)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Then slice the zucchini in half lengthwise, and scoop out the seeds and flesh with a spoon to create a hollow center.4 medium zucchini
- Brush the inside of each zucchini boat with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.½ tablespoon olive oil, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the ground beef, breaking it up with a spoon or spatula, until it is browned and cooked through (about 6-8 minutes). Drain any excess grease.1 lb ground beef
- Add the chopped onion, bell pepper (if using), minced garlic, and Italian seasoning to the skillet, and cook until the vegetables are tender.½ cup onion, ½ cup green bell pepper, 1 teaspoon garlic, 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Add the marinara sauce to the skillet, stir to combine, then spoon the ground beef mixture into each zucchini boat, filling it to the top.1 cup marinara sauce
- Sprinkle the grated Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and breadcrumbs over each zucchini boat.¼ cup Parmesan cheese, ½ cup breadcrumbs, ½ cup mozzarella cheese
- Place the zucchini boats on a baking sheet and bake at 375°F (190°C) for 20-25 minutes, or until the zucchinis are tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Remove from the oven and serve the zucchini boats immediately.
Equipment You May Need
Notes
- You can use sweet Italian sausage instead if you prefer a milder flavor.
- Add other ingredients, such as chopped mushrooms or spinach, to the sausage mixture. Reserve the insides of the zucchini, chop, and add to the filling mixture if desired.
- If you want a low-carb version, skip the marinara sauce and simply top the zucchini boats with cheese.
- The extra marinara (if there is any) can be poured around the base of the zucchini boats to bake in and serve with your meal, spoon over the top if desired.
- If you want to save time, you can prep the zucchini boats ahead of time and store them in the fridge until you're ready to bake them. Just add the sausage mixture and cheese before baking.
- To store: If you have any leftover zucchini boats, you can store them in the fridge for a few days.
- To reheat: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Remove the zucchini boats from the fridge and place them on a baking sheet. Bake the zucchini boats in the preheated oven for 10-15 minutes, or until they are heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat the zucchini boats in the microwave by placing them on a microwave-safe plate and microwaving them for 1-2 minutes, or until they are heated through. However, microwaving the zucchini boats may result in a softer texture.
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
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