Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats are a delicious, healthy, and incredibly simple weeknight meal that transforms humble zucchini into a satisfying, flavorful dish. This recipe is your go-to for a quick and nutritious dinner that’s both budget-friendly and incredibly versatile.
Key Ingredients for Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats
- 2 medium zucchini (about 8-10 ounces each)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound lean ground beef
- 1/2 cup finely chopped onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce (your favorite kind)
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (or your favorite cheese blend)
- Optional toppings: fresh parsley, red pepper flakes, extra marinara sauce
How to Make Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats
Get ready for an incredibly easy, incredibly delicious, and incredibly satisfying meal. These Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats come together in under an hour, proving that healthy eating doesn’t have to be complicated. The simplicity of sautéing ground beef and combining it with classic Italian flavors, then nestling it into tender zucchini boats, makes this a true weeknight winner. Expect a wonderfully rich texture and a burst of savory goodness in every bite, no matter your skill level. Prep time: 15 minutes. Cook time: 30-35 minutes.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Prepare the Zucchini: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash the zucchini thoroughly. Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh from the center of each zucchini half, creating a “boat” or hollow cavity. Leave about a 1/4-inch border of zucchini flesh around the edges. You can reserve the scooped-out zucchini flesh for another use, like adding to soups or stews, or finely chop it and add it to the ground beef mixture for extra hidden veggies.
Par-cook the Zucchini: Lightly brush the insides of the hollowed-out zucchini boats with a little olive oil (you can use some of the 1 tablespoon called for in the next step if you like, or just a touch extra). Place the zucchini boats cut-side up on a baking sheet. Bake them in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until they are slightly tender and have released some of their moisture. This par-cooking step helps prevent the zucchini from becoming watery in the final dish.
Brown the Ground Beef: While the zucchini is par-baking, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is browned throughout. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
Sauté Aromatics: Add the finely chopped onion to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Build the Filling: Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it simmer gently for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly. If you reserved and chopped any of the zucchini flesh, you can stir it in during this simmering step.
Stuff the Zucchini Boats: Carefully remove the par-cooked zucchini boats from the oven. Spoon the ground beef mixture generously into each zucchini boat, filling them to the brim.
Add Cheese and Bake: Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the ground beef filling in each boat.
Final Bake: Return the filled zucchini boats to the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a fork and the cheese is melted and bubbly and lightly browned.
Serve: Carefully remove the Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats from the oven. Let them sit for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious, healthy meal!
Why You’ll Love This Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats
You are going to absolutely adore these Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats! Their star feature is how they ingeniously transform healthy zucchini into a hearty and satisfying main course, making it a fantastic way to sneak more veggies onto your plate without anyone noticing. Plus, making these at home is a significant cost-saver compared to many restaurant meals, especially when ground beef and zucchini are on sale. The savory ground beef filling, combined with the sweetness of the tomatoes and the gooey, melted mozzarella, is a flavor combination that truly sings.
Forget those flavorless diet meals; these zucchini boats are packed with comforting, savory goodness and a delightful texture that will leave you feeling completely satisfied. They offer all the hearty satisfaction of a classic stuffed pepper or a pasta bake, but are lighter, fresher, and bursting with homegrown goodness. So why not give these Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats a try tonight? They are the perfect solution for a wholesome and delicious dinner that the whole family will devour.
Storing and Reheating Tips
Storing Leftovers:
Allow the Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats to cool completely. Transfer any leftovers to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. The zucchini will soften further as it sits, which is normal.
Freezing for Future Meals:
These zucchini boats freeze beautifully for future quick meals.
- Option 1 (Individual Portions): Once cooled, wrap each zucchini boat individually in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil. Place the wrapped boats in a freezer-safe bag or container.
- Option 2 (Batch Freeze): Arrange cooled zucchini boats in a single layer on a baking sheet and freeze until solid. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe container or bag.
Leftovers can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
Reheating:
- Refrigerator Leftovers:
- Oven: Place cooled leftovers on a baking sheet and reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until thoroughly heated through.
- Microwave: Cover zucchini boats loosely with a damp paper towel and microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, or until heated through. Be aware they may soften more when microwaved.
- Frozen Leftovers:
- Oven (Recommended for best texture): Remove the foil and plastic wrap. Place frozen zucchini boats on a baking sheet and reheat in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 25-35 minutes, or until heated through. You may want to loosely tent with foil for part of the reheating time to prevent the cheese from burning.
- Microwave: This is the quickest method. Remove from freezer packaging. Cover loosely with a damp paper towel or microwave-safe lid. Microwave on 50% power for 3-5 minutes, checking and rotating as needed, until heated through. The texture may be softer.
Final Thoughts
These Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats are a weeknight dinner dream come true, offering incredible flavor without the fuss. Give them a try soon – you’ll be amazed at how simple and satisfying healthy eating can be!
try also :
- Lentil and Sweet Potato Salad
- Cranberry Brie Bites
- Crispy Sweet Potato Bites
- Matcha Cake Recipe
- find more in Pinterest
Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Wash the zucchini thoroughly. Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh from the center of each zucchini half, creating a “boat” or hollow cavity. Leave about a 1/4-inch border of zucchini flesh around the edges. You can reserve the scooped-out zucchini flesh for another use, like adding to soups or stews, or finely chop it and add it to the ground beef mixture for extra hidden veggies.2 medium zucchini
- Lightly brush the insides of the hollowed-out zucchini boats with a little olive oil. Place the zucchini boats cut-side up on a baking sheet. Bake them in the preheated oven for about 10-12 minutes, or until they are slightly tender and have released some of their moisture.2 medium zucchini, 1 tablespoon olive oil
- While the zucchini is par-baking, heat the 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until it is browned throughout. Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 pound lean ground beef
- Add the finely chopped onion to the skillet with the browned ground beef. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.1 pound lean ground beef, 1/2 cup finely chopped onion, 2 cloves garlic
- Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Let it simmer gently for about 5-10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld together and the sauce to thicken slightly. If you reserved and chopped any of the zucchini flesh, you can stir it in during this simmering step.1 (15 ounce) can diced tomatoes, 1/2 cup marinara sauce, 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Carefully remove the par-cooked zucchini boats from the oven. Spoon the ground beef mixture generously into each zucchini boat, filling them to the brim.2 medium zucchini
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the ground beef filling in each boat.1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Return the filled zucchini boats to the oven. Bake for another 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a fork and the cheese is melted and bubbly and lightly browned.
- Carefully remove the Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats from the oven. Let them sit for a few minutes before serving. Garnish with fresh parsley or a pinch of red pepper flakes if desired. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious, healthy meal!fresh parsley, red pepper flakes