Description
Ground Beef Zucchini Boats are a mouth-watering and nutritious dish that combines the savory flavors of seasoned ground beef with the natural goodness of zucchini. This recipe is not only easy to make, but it also offers a hearty meal that is light on carbs while being rich in protein and essential nutrients.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 medium zucchini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, plus more for drizzling
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1 can (15 ounce) tomato sauce or marinara
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley or basil for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F.
- Rinse the zucchini under cold water and pat them dry. Trim off the ends and slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center flesh, leaving about a 1/4-inch border, and chop the scooped-out flesh finely.
- Arrange the hollowed zucchini halves cut side up on a large baking sheet. Drizzle them lightly with olive oil and season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Pre-bake the zucchini in the oven for 10 minutes.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sauté the finely diced onions for about 3 to 4 minutes until tender. Add the ground beef, breaking it apart while it cooks for 5 to 6 minutes until browned. Drain any excess fat.
- Stir in the minced garlic, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Add the reserved chopped zucchini flesh and the can of tomato sauce, stirring well. Let simmer for 5 to 8 minutes until thickened.
- Carefully remove the pre-baked zucchini from the oven and fill each with the ground beef mixture, mounding it just above the edges.
- Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over each filled boat, followed by a light dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
- Bake for 20 to 25 minutes until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and lightly golden brown.
Notes
Serve as a main dish or side. Pair with a crisp green salad or warm crusty bread.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 boat
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 10g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 70mg