Description
Zucchini Boats deliver a tasty low-carb meal that comes together faster than your weeknight dinner planning. Packed with seasoned ground beef and melted cheese, these boats make your dinner table feel like a quick culinary destination.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound ground beef
Main Vegetables:
- 4 medium zucchinis, halved lengthwise and scooped out
- 1 small onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Extras:
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Crank your oven to 375°F and grab a baking sheet for the zucchini boats.
- Slice 4 zucchinis down the middle and carefully hollow out their centers using a spoon.
- Brush the zucchini halves with 1 tablespoon olive oil and arrange them on the baking sheet.
- Pre-roast the zucchini boats for 6 minutes at 375°F to soften their texture.
- Heat another tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Sauté the diced onion until it turns translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Toss in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the skillet and break it apart while cooking until completely browned.
- Drain any excess fat from the meat mixture.
- Stir in 1 cup tomato sauce, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, ½ teaspoon paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Let the meat mixture simmer for 5 minutes to develop deeper flavors.
- Carefully spoon the seasoned beef into your pre-roasted zucchini boats.
- Sprinkle 1 cup of shredded cheese generously over each boat.
- Return the boats to the 375°F oven and bake for 15 minutes until the cheese melts completely.
- Remove from the oven and let cool for 2-3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- For lower-carb lovers, zucchini boats are a fantastic alternative to traditional pasta dishes and keep meals light and nutritious.
- Ground turkey works perfectly as a leaner protein substitute if beef isn’t preferred or for those watching fat intake.
- Pre-baking zucchini helps remove excess moisture and prevents soggy boats, ensuring a firm, delicious texture in every bite.
- Experiment with different cheese blends like mozzarella and parmesan for extra flavor complexity, and consider adding red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 27-29 minutes
- Category: Beef
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 385 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 26 g
- Saturated Fat: 9 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 9 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg