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This easy beef stuffed zucchini is the perfect healthy, low-carb meal! It’s packed with vegetables, protein, and flavor.

Beef stuffed zucchini on a baking sheet.

These beef stuffed zucchini boats are the perfect, easy, healthy dinner, which happens to be low-carb! Whether you are trying to limit grains or just add more vegetables, zucchini boats are a great option.

These zucchini boats are stuffed with a delicious ground beef and marinara sauce (or nomato sauce!) mixture that is packed with flavor.  They are gluten-free, paleo, and easily made AIP.

The Ingredients for Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats

  • Zucchini. Hallowing out the zucchini provides the perfect, low carb vehicle for the delicious ground beef stuffing!
  • Ground Beef.
  • Marinara Sauce. You can use this marinara sauce to make the recipe AIP.
  • Shredded Cheese. This is optional and you can use dairy-free cheese as well.
  • Avocado Oil, Garlic, and Onion.
  • Salt and Italian Seasoning. 
  • Parsley. For topping!

How to make Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats

  • Prepare the zucchini. Slice the zucchini in half vertically and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh inside the zucchini. Place on the baking sheet and spray with avocado oil spray (or brush with avocado oil). Set aside.

Scooped out zucchini on a baking sheet.

  • Brown the beef, onion, and garlic with Italian seasoning. Crumble the ground beef until browned and the onions are translucent.  Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  • Stuff the zucchini with the beef mixture and sprinkle with cheese (if using).

Beef stuffed zucchini boats ready to go into the oven.

  • Bake for 20-25 minutes or until the zucchini is softened and the filling is bubbly. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before topping with chopped parsley and serving with a fork and knife.

How do you reheat beef stuffed zucchini boats?

The best way to reheat the zucchini boats is in the oven for about 5 minutes or until warm and bubbly.

Can you freeze beef-stuffed zucchini boats?

Zucchini isn’t the most freezer-friendly vegetable, so I wouldn’t recommend freezing this recipe as a whole. However, you can easily freeze the beef filling. When you’re ready to make your zucchini boats, simply defrost the filling and make the recipe as directed.

What do you do with the leftover zucchini?

Don’t toss the leftover zucchini after you scoop them out! Save it to add to soups, and sauces, or even chop some of it up and add it to the ground beef base for this recipe.

What other toppings can you add?

  • Sliced olives
  • Chopped basil
  • Diced red onion

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Easy Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats

  • Author: Michelle
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 3 servings 1x
  • Diet: Gluten Free
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Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 3 large zucchinis
  • 2 tsp avocado oil
  • 1/2 lb ground beef
  • 1/2 onion, diced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp Italian seasoning
  • Salt to taste
  • 1 cup marinara sauce of choice
  • 1/3 cup shredded cheese (optional, sub-dairy-free cheese)
  • 2 tbsp chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 375 F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Slice the zucchini in half vertically and use a spoon to scoop out the flesh inside the zucchini. Place on the baking sheet and spray with avocado oil spray (or brush with avocado oil). Set aside.
  3. Using a large pan, preheat on medium heat and add the beef, onion, and garlic, and season with Italian seasoning. Crumble the ground beef until browned and the onions are translucent.
  4. Stir in the marinara sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Remove from the heat.
  5. Stuff the zucchini with the beef mixture and sprinkle with cheese (if using). Transfer to the preheated oven and bake for 20-25 minutes or until the zucchini is softened and the filling is bubbly.
  6. Remove from the oven and allow to cool slightly before topping with chopped parsley and serving with a fork and knife.

Notes

Use this marinara sauce for AIP.

Save the inside of the zucchini flesh to add to soups, sauces, etc!

All nutritional information are estimations and will vary.

 

  • Prep Time: 20
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Main Dishes
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: Global

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 152
  • Fat: 9.6g
  • Carbohydrates: 11.6g
  • Fiber: 2.8g
  • Protein: 5.6g