These stuffed zucchini boats are filled with a hearty sausage mixture, then topped with plenty of cheese and baked to perfection. An easy low carb meal option that the whole family will enjoy!
There are so many different ways to eat zucchini, I often serve side dishes such as parmesan zucchini and zucchini gratin. But my favorite way to make zucchini is to stuff it and serve it as a main course.
Stuffed zucchini boats is a classic dish that never goes out of style. It’s an especially good choice during the summer when everyone’s gardens are overflowing with squash. What I love about this dish is that it’s easy to customize the flavors to your liking and is naturally low in carbs!
How do you make stuffed zucchini boats?
This recipe starts with zucchini, which are hollowed out, seasoned, then placed in a baking dish. A simple meat sauce is made with Italian sausage, marinara sauce, garlic and onions. The sauce gets piled into the zucchini shells, then everything is topped with cheese and baked until gooey and browned.
Tips for stuffed zucchini boats
- You can use mild or hot Italian sausage, pork or turkey sausage, or even ground beef for this recipe.
- Use your favorite brand of marinara sauce. I typically use Newman’s Own or Classico.
- You can also make this recipe with yellow squash, or even hollowed out small eggplants!
- While I typically use mozzarella cheese in this dish, other great choices would be parmesan, fontina or provolone.
Can you freeze zucchini boats?
I don’t recommend freezing zucchini boats, simply because the zucchini will be quite mushy upon thawing. That being said, you can absolutely freeze the meat filling for these boats for up to 2 months. Simply thaw the filling, spoon it into fresh zucchinis, then add cheese and bake.
Stuffed Zucchini Boat Variations
This is an Italian style stuffed zucchini, but there are so many other great ways to fill your squash!
- Mexican: Make a filling with 1 lb ground beef, 16 ounces tomato sauce, 4 ounces diced green chiles, 3/4 cup black beans and 1/2 cup corn, then top with cheddar cheese and bake.
- Asian: Make the filling for my chicken lettuce wraps, spoon it into the zucchini, then bake.
- Vegetarian: Make a filling with sauteed onion, 2 cups cooked grains such as rice or quinoa, 1 diced red bell pepper, salt, pepper, 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese, and fresh herbs.
Is zucchini healthy?
Zucchini is packed with nutrients such as folate, Vitamin B6, potassium, manganese, Vitamin C and and Vitamin K. Zucchini is low calorie, low in carbohydrates and high in fiber. Zucchini also protects against inflammation, aids in digestion, improves thyroid function and is beneficial for your eyes.
This recipe is a great way to get some veggies into your kids. You can even assemble your zucchini boats earlier in the day, then store them covered in the fridge until you’re ready to bake them. I make this recipe all the time and it always gets rave reviews!
More great Italian recipes
Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini
- 1/2 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 pound mild Italian sausage casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion finely diced
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- cooking spray
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Coat a large rectangular baking with with cooking spray.
- Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, then trim off the stem ends. Use a spoon to carefully scoop the flesh out of the zucchinis.
- Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, salt and pepper over the zucchini shells. Arrange the zucchini in the baking dish.
- Heat the olive oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 4-5 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spatula.
- Add the onion and cook for an additional 4 minutes or until onion is softened. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
- Season the sausage and vegetable mixture with salt and pepper.
- Pour the marinara sauce into the pan and bring to a simmer; cook for 5 minutes.
- Spoon the meat mixture evenly into the zucchini shells, then top with the shredded cheese.
- Bake for 25 minutes, or until zucchini is tender and cheese is melted and golden brown.
- Sprinkle with parsley, then serve.
Donna says
This was perfect! Delicious! Quick, too! I’ll be making these from now on! Just as is!
Thanks!
Nancy says
When my boyfriend found out stuffed zucchini was for dinner he turned his nose up. He tried it and devoured it, this is definitely a keeper recipe.
Dawn says
Can these be made in advance and placed in the freezer for about a week?
Sara says
I wouldn’t recommend it as the zucchini will be very soft and watery when thawed.
Gary says
You could also use a can of Manwich and top with cheddar/jack as kind of an american version if you didn’t always want to make it Italian style. I have done that a couple times and it’s delish!
Debbie says
Where is all the sugar coming from, the sauce?
Sara says
You can look for a sugar free marinara sauce and then there shouldn’t be any sugar in the recipe.
Urbashi says
This tasted so so good!!!! Going to be added to my list of meals on rotation Haha
Judy R. says
Made these tonight. Used ground beef and added mushrooms. Deeeelicious!!! 3 rd time I have made them.
Vicki says
So delicious…have made several times and everybody loves it. Thanks
Christy says
Amazing! Reminiscent of sausage pizza without all the carbs. Will be making this often!
Karen says
This recipe was so good! My husband and two girls who are definitely meat eaters, gave this meal two thumbs up! They even asked for seconds! Happy Mom!
Lisa Prosser says
I just made this for my husband, mother-in-law and myself. I did alter the recipe a little. I don’t like chicken sausage so I used shredded rotisserie chicken breast in some and Ground beef in others, also I added sautéed onions, peppers and mushrooms to the meets. My husband and I have trouble with dairy products so I used mozzarella goat cheese instead. We all loved it, thank you!
Laura Hatfield says
Loved the recipe. Made exactly according to the recipe, but made ahead. Did not cook for two days. The zucchini had a chance to release the water which enabled the zucchini to cook tender in the oven. Will definitely make this again!
Diane says
My zucchinis are very very large. Should I maybe put them in the oven for a little bit before I fill them since they may take longer to cook than needed?
Sara says
That should be fine to pre cook them!
Sharon says
Once we scooped out the insides of the zucchini, aren’t they added back into the filling , Cooked with the meat perhaps
Sara says
I don’t add it back but you can if you prefer!
Karen Farley says
It never tells you when to add that scooped out zuchinni back in, but then it says to spoon the meat and veggie mixture back into the shells. I figured this was an error, so I cooked the insides for a few minutes in some oil, then added all the other meat and sauce etc back in until it was boiling before spooning into the shells.
cindy russom says
I would add the zucchini too!!
Gidget Hall says
I’m making this tonight with some large homegrown zucchini from our garden. I’m doing the Mexican version with ground turkey, taco seasoning (my own version), onion, garlic, black beans and mexicorn. About to go in the oven with some cheddar on top. Can’t wait to try this!!
Louise says
Made this for dinner last night and it was delicious. Husband asked for it again using different ingredients.
Christine Ripka says
My son loves this recipe! I didn’t have Italian sausage, just cooked up some breakfast sausage and added a little more Italian seasoning! Great recipe. Used this also as a base for making stuffed green peppers except with zucchini . Thanks!
Toni Ober says
Tasted great! I used large squash, and for the the filling I used vegetarian sausage crumbles in place of real sausage. It was perfect!
Diane W says
I made the Mexican Zucchini Boats tonight for dinner. Amazing! So delicious! Definitely a keeper recipe for all those zucchini (yellow and green) grown in our garden. For the Mexican version, I followed directions using elk burger which is a lean meat, black beans, cumin, corn, green chilies, spaghetti sauce, etc and garnished with sharp cheddar and cilantro. YUM! Oh, I loved the dollop of plain Greek Yogurt.