Description
This easy and quick stuffed zucchini boats with ground beef recipe brings simple and healthy dinner ideas to your table with the best flavor and texture. Perfect for weeknight dinner or meal prep or even a casual party or potluck this dish delivers comfort without extra effort and gives you reliable results every time with minimal ingredients and a satisfying finish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 medium zucchini
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small diced onion
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Zucchini is cut lengthwise and centers are scooped out creating long boat shapes and the removed flesh leaves uneven edges and visible depth inside each half.
- Ground beef is combined with diced onion and garlic and the mixture turns from pink to browned with small crumbles forming and onion pieces softening into the meat.
- Tomato sauce is poured over the browned mixture and it spreads unevenly coating the meat and creating a thicker and slightly glossy texture with red tones blending through.
- The meat mixture is spooned into each zucchini half and it sits slightly piled and uneven with some edges exposed and some filling spilling slightly over the sides.
- Shredded cheese is scattered over the filled zucchini and during baking it melts unevenly and forms soft melted patches with light golden spots and the zucchini softens and edges wrinkle slightly.
- Cooked zucchini boats are placed on a plate with slight overlap and visible melted cheese and browned edges and the filling looks juicy and slightly settled into the zucchini shells.
Notes
Pro Tips:
- Use medium zucchini for even cooking
- Let filling cool slightly before stuffing
- Do not over bake to avoid mushy texture
- Add extra cheese for richer finish
Storage: Store leftovers in the refrigerator in a sealed container and reheat until warm. Freezing is possible before baking for longer storage.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving