Baked Meaty Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Mozzarella
Halved zucchini filled with seasoned ground beef, breadcrumbs, sautéed peppers, and fresh tomatoes, baked until tender and topped with melted mozzarella. A complete one-pan meal combining vegetables and protein with Italian herbs and tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs lean ground beefground turkey1:1poultryFull guide →
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 large green pepper, chopped
- 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and chopped
- 1 ¼ cups soft breadcrumbspanko breadcrumbs1:1texture
adds:gluten
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley flakes
- 1 teaspoon dried basilfresh basil1:3herbFull guide →
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- 2 8 ounce cans tomato sauce, dividedmarinara sauce1:1sauceFull guide →
- 2 medium tomatoes, coarsely chopped
- 4 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella cheesecheddar cheese1:1dairyFull guide →
Instructions
- 1
Combine ground beef, onion, green pepper, jalapeno, breadcrumbs, egg, parsley, basil, Italian seasoning, salt, pepper, and one can of tomato sauce in a large bowl; mix well.
- 2
Stir in chopped tomatoes.
- 3
Halve zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the center, leaving about 1/4 inch from the edges.
- 4
Fill zucchini halves with meat mixture and arrange in two 13x9 inch baking dishes.
- 5
Spoon remaining tomato sauce over each boat.
- 6
Bake uncovered at 375 degrees for 45 minutes until zucchini is tender.
- 7
Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese during the last few minutes of baking.
Tips
Scoop zucchini centers carefully to maintain structural integrity for filling.
Do not overbake zucchini or boats will collapse.
Cheese melts best if added during final minutes rather than at the start.
Good to Know
Cover and refrigerate up to 3 days. Reheat covered at 350 degrees until warmed through.
Assemble boats and refrigerate unbaked up to 24 hours; add 10 minutes to baking time if baking from cold.
Serve hot directly from baking dish. Pairs well with a simple green salad or garlic bread.
Common Mistakes
Do not fill boats too full or filling will overflow during baking.
Do not skip scooping the zucchini center or boats will be too thick and won't cook evenly.
Do not add cheese at the start of baking or it will brown excessively.