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 Recipe | Baked Zucchini | Low Carb Zucchini #dinner #lowcarb #keto #zucchini #sausage #dinneratthezoo Stuffed Zucchini Boats Recipe | Baked Zucchini | Low Carb Zucchini #dinner #lowcarb #keto #zucchini #sausage #dinneratthezoo

A plate of stuffed zucchini boats filled with a savory meat sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese.

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.

Hollowed out zucchini halves in a baking dish.

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.
  • Dried Italian seasoning can be found in the spice aisle of most grocery stores, or you can use my Italian seasoning recipe to make your own.

Sausage and tomato sauce in a skillet.

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.

Zucchini boats in a baking dish with meat sauce and shredded cheese.

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.

Stuffed zucchini boats filled with meat sauce and topped with melted cheese.

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

5 from 191 votes

Stuffed Zucchini Boats

AuthorSara Welch
A plate of stuffed zucchini boats filled with a savory meat sauce and topped with mozzarella cheese.
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!
Time
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time40 minutes
Total Time50 minutes
Course Main
Cuisine Italian
Serves 4

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.

Nutrition

Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 25g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Cholesterol: 102mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 1249mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 1065IU | Vitamin C: 47.6mg | Calcium: 182mg | Iron: 3.5mg

Hello! I’m Sara!

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Comments

  1. 5 stars
    Great recipe and quick to make. It’s all the savory flavors of something like lasagna or a moussaka but much less of the unhealthy filling. Definitely will make again.

  2. 5 stars
    These looks so good, a great option for a side dish. I definitely need to eat more zucchini so will give these a try.

  3. Your Zucchini Boat recipe look so healthy and delicious. I will definitely try to make this for my family and I am sure they are going to like it.

  4. I must try this recipe. It so delicious and look so easy to make and I am sure my husband and my kids will give me a warmer hug because of this.

  5. Zucchini are always a great idea. Stuffed makes it totally party appropriate, stuff whatever is very festive to me. Very nice recipe overall

  6. These zucchini boats look fabulous! I haven’t had them in so long…I think this is a perfect dish to make for the weekend!

  7. 5 stars
    Love how healthy this dish is but also a great comfort food at the same time! Great recipe Sara!

  8. 5 stars
    Oh wow, these look absolutely delicious. I am always looking for new dishes to try with my family.

  9. 5 stars
    We have zucchini here but I don’t really know how to cook them so it is really useful to find out this recipe, stuff it. Wow, I didn’t know you can also make it with eggplants. I am going to try this out.

  10. 5 stars
    These stuffed zucchini boats look and sound so delicious. I am going to be trying these soon! Thanks for sharing the recipe!

  11. omg these zucchinis!!! Look soooo delicious!!! I can’t wait to try the recipe, thanks a lot for sharing.

  12. This is such a great and delicious idea!! I love zucchini, but would never think of using this stuffing. Will try this recipe!

  13. 5 stars
    Those look super tasty. Bonus points for finding a way to get some veggies into the family, as well.

  14. Oh wow, these look easy enough to make & They look so so good. I wish my kiddos would eat more veggies, I am going to try to make these to see if I can trick them into eating more veggies! I will let ya know how its goes