Stuffed Zucchini Boats filled with Italian sausage and tomatoes are a new go-to healthy dinner idea. Topped with cheese, parsley and bread crumbs, you can’t go wrong with this zucchini dish.
Stuffed Zucchini
We found another dinner recipe we love!!! Recently, the hubby and I have been trying to eat a little bitter and have been increasing the amount of protein and veggies we eat while attempting to lessen the amount of carbs we have. It’s pretty sad considering we love our carbs, but it’s been fun trying to come up with new recipes for us to enjoy.
We’ve always loved Zucchini (hello, Fried Zucchini and Parmesan Zucchini) but had it more as a side dish. We wanted to try making Stuffed Zucchini Boats to make it more of a dinner idea and used Italian sausage and traditional Ragu sauce, and it was amazing!
I knew we’d have to add cheese because my husband is slightly obsessed so that’s what we did. We topped it off with Mozzarella cheese, garlic salt and basil. The result?? A SUPER simple and super yummy dish that I will definitely be adding to the rotation. I admit the kids weren’t too excited about it, but I think that’s because they don’t like sausage in general and think it’s “spicy”. 😉
How to Make Stuffed Zucchini Boats
These Stuffed Zucchini Boats are easy to make but take just a little bit of time. You’ll begin by scooping out the interior flesh from each zucchini. Be sure to keep this because we’ll need it to fill the boats later. 😉 From there you’ll need to do the following:
- Cook up sausage in a medium pan with olive oil. Add your spices, the zucchini flesh (that was scooped out) and tomatoes.
- From there you will spoon this mixture into your zucchini boats (which should be in a 9×13 pan). Top with breadcrumbs and cheese and bake for 20-22 minutes.
NOTE: If you want even more flavor, add your favorite tomato sauce/pizza sauce to your meat to make the dish even better!
Do you eat the skins on zucchini boats?
Yes, you do! It becomes super soft once cooked and is great to eat when enjoying this stuffed zucchini.
Zucchini Boat RecipeS
There are so many ways to change up these zucchini boats! This is a bit of an Italian version with the Italian sausage, tomatoes, breadcrumbs and cheeses. Here are some more ideas on how to change up these stuffed zucchinis.
- Zucchini Taco Boats – hamburger meat, chili powder, cumin, cheese, olives, tomatoes, avocados
- Zucchini Lasagna Boats – Ricotta, Mozzarella, & Parmesan cheeses, beef, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning
- Chicken Parmesan Zucchini Boats – chicken, garlic, marinara, cheeses and basil
- Zucchini Burrito Boats – beans, beef, spices, cheeses, tomatoes, olives and cilantro
- Chicken Broccoli Zucchini Boats – chicken, chopped broccoli, cheese, sour cream, spices
So many varieties to try!
How to Freeze Zucchini Boats?
Let cool slightly and then place in freezer safe container or bag and freeze. You can keep this in the freezer for up to 1 month. When you are ready to cook it, place in fridge overnight to thaw and then reheat. You need to be careful because zucchini can get mushy when frozen, so we don’t do this too often.
How to Reheat Zucchini Boats?
This can be reheated in the microwave, but we like to reheat in the oven by heating it through and often broiling for the last minute or two since zucchini tends to get mushy.
YUMMY! I love zucchini, and am so excited we tried this out. I’d love to hear if any of you have tried these before and would love to hear your zucchini boat variations.
What to serve with Zucchini Boats:
For more great Zucchini recipes, check out:
- Fried Zucchini
- Zucchini Ribbons and Pasta
- Baked Zucchini Fries
- Parmesan Crusted Zucchini
- Zucchini Chicken Alfredo Roll Ups
- Cheesy Zucchini Casserole
Stuffed Zucchini Recipe
Stuffed Zucchini Boats filled with Italian sausage and tomatoes are a new go-to healthy dinner idea. Topped with cheese, parsley and bread crumbs, you can't go wrong with this zucchini dish.
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini cut in half, lengthwise
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 16 oz. mild Italian sausage
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 2 medium tomatoes chopped
- salt & pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan
- 1/2 cup Mozzarella shaved
- 1/4 breadcrumbs
- 2 tbsp parsley chopped
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400.
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Scoop out the interior flesh from the zucchini using a spoon and set aside (do not throw away). Place zucchinis in 9x13 pan.
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Add olive oil to a medium pan and cook sausage with garlic. Add onion powder, zucchini flesh, tomatoes, salt and pepper. Cook for 4-5 minutes.
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Spoon this mixture into each zucchini boat. Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and cheeses and bake for 20-22 minutes. ENJOY!
Looks like so much fun! Healthy and delicious 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
You’re welcome!! It’s a great and simple recipe. Let me know if you give it a try. 😉
YUM! This looks amazing! Unfortunately my hubby cant have the cheese (boo! because I LOVE cheese!) so we usually just grill our zucchini with some olive oil, salt and pepper.
Bummer about your hubby, but grilling the zucchini sounds great too!!
Oh, I used to make these and I totally forgot about them! My husband and I loved them! Thanks for reminding me!
You’re welcome! There are just so many possibilities too. Thanks for stopping by. 😉
Just ate these for dinner. I didn’t use red sauce. They are great!
His had steak & onion. Mine had ground beef & portobello mushrooms & onions.
Topped with pepper jack & mozzarella.
Thank you for the post,
Now I’m making more lol. I only made one and we each ate half. Still hungry as they weren’t that long. So what dies that mean??? That means husband approved!
LOL! SO glad they were a hit. The best part about this recipe is that it can be modified to your liking. Yours both sound yummy!
I made these tonight for supper. They were delicious. I used hamburg instead of the sausage because that’s what I had in the freezer. Worked well. Since there are only two of us here, I cut the recipe in half, and still have enough for another supper. Served with garlic toast
PERFECT!! The best part of this recipe is being able to change it up every time! Hamburger meat would be great. 😉
This recipe looks amazing! thanks for sharing…the ribbons and pasta looks great, too!
Thank you!! I hope you’re able to give it a try and enjoy it. 😉
I was so inspired by this post I decided to make them for dinner tonight. I got some zuchinni from a friend’s garden, but not the little ones. These are on the large size, probably 14 inches long. I figure that means more I can scoop out and more filling I can add!
Cant wait to eat!! Also serving with garlic toast. Yummmmm!!
YUM!! How did these turn out?!
This feeds about 8-10. 🙂
These are so tasty! We filled ours with marinara, chopped yellow pepper, sausage, brown rice, green onion and topped with white cheddar. YUMMY! Thank you for the recipe. 🙂
Oooh, your versions sounds amazing. SO glad you liked them. 🙂
Any suggestions on what to do with the middle of the zucchini with this mean instead of throwing it out?
You could peel the middle, so it’s like shoe strings and add it to pastas or salads. You could add it to breads, too! I have some great recipes with zucchini on the blog:)
another hit in our house from Lil’Luna! The Hubby was not sure at first but then ate them up like nothing and was very impressed-thanks for another great low carb recipe!.
LOL…you’re welcome! Aren’t they delicious?? Glad you found another keeper!!
Just got an Air Fryer, Looking forward to learning how to Cook with it!!!
How fun! Hope you like it! You’ll have to try these!
These are so easy and delicious! I really want to eat 2 boats, but I will let it settle before I decide! ????
LOL!! They are a new favorite of mine! Thank you for letting me know!
Love the zucchini boat! Thank you for sharing your creativity!
You are so welcome!! Thank you for trying them!
I love that this is a healthier dinner option! Adding to the menu for next week!
Me too!! Let me know what you think 🙂 Hope you like them!
I’m addicted to all things zucchini and these literally look like heave.
I am too!! Love recipes with zucchini! These are delicious. I hope you try them!
This looks delicious! Looks delicious and so easy to make! !
Thanks so much!! They really are 🙂
Love these! A great low carb option 🙂
Thank you!! Yes, they are a tasty, healthier option!
I am drowning in zucchini so this is perfect for us!
Wish I was…love recipes with zucchini! I hope you like these!
These sound delicious, but then i saw the Nutrition facts. It says per serving. Is there really 2231 calories and 185 fat grams in each one or is that for all 4?
trying the zucchini boats for my fussy grandchildren will substitute ground beef for sausage
I hope they like them! They are pretty tasty!
I was a little hesitant trying these, but I wanted to say I tried & they were so good!! I couldn’t believe how much flavor they have! I will definitely make them again!
Wow! These look absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for sharing the recipe! I can’t wait to make them for my kids.
Glad to share!! They are super tasty. I hope your kids love them!
I followed the suggestion to add spaghetti sauce to my meat. I really loved how it turned out. So delicious!
I Read the nutrition info. The serving size was not given. How am i to calculate properly?
these make the perfect with almost any meal! delicious!
Thank you! We are trying to make smarter food choices and this was healthy and delicious!
Lovely!
LilianNe in norway 🙂
Awe, thank you so much!!
Can you make this ahead of time and put in REFRIGERATOR before baking? I would like to make it and take it to my daughters for them to have an easy dinner. New baby in the house….
You sure could 🙂 How exciting! Congrats!
I have not cooked this yet but thank you for EXPLAINING what to dO with the scooped Zucchini & that the skins can be eaten also. ManY recipes leave these facts out. Also, the other ways to cook it w/other meAts & spices.
You are so welcome!! I hope you like it!
I tried your , I think it was some kind of chicken with mayo? anyway I have tried your recipes before and they are delicious. I like your down to earth personality too. I am going to try the zucchini boats today. thanks
Awe, you are so sweet! Thank you for trying my recipes!!
This recipe was great! We used chilli infused olive oil, hot Italian sausage and tomatoes from the garden. We had cheddar cheese so that went on top. It was delicious!
Sounds delish! Thank you for sharing that!
use a grapefruit spoon makes the scrape out easy
Great idea! Thanks!