Description
These Easy Ground Beef Zucchini Boats offer a healthy and delicious dinner option. Zucchini halves are filled with a savory ground beef mixture, topped with mozzarella, and baked to perfection.
Ingredients
- Zucchini (400g / 14oz): Medium-sized, firm, washed and trimmed
- Ground Beef (250g / ½lb): 90% lean recommended
- Olive Oil (30ml / 2 tbsp): Extra virgin
- Onion (80g / 2.8oz): 1 small, finely chopped
- Garlic (2 cloves): Minced
- Red Bell Pepper (75g / 2.6oz): ½, diced
- Diced Tomatoes (200g / 7oz): Canned, drained
- Tomato Paste (15g / 1 tbsp)
- Smoked Paprika (2g / 1 tsp)
- Ground Cumin (1g / ½ tsp)
- Chili Powder (0.5g / ¼ tsp): Optional
- Salt and Black Pepper: To taste
- Mozzarella Cheese (100g / 1 cup): Shredded
- Parmesan Cheese (10g / 2 tbsp): Grated, optional
- Fresh Parsley (8g / 2 tbsp): Chopped
- Lemon Zest (½ lemon)
- Chili-Infused Olive Oil (15ml / 1 tbsp)
Instructions
- Prepare Zucchini: Preheat oven to 400°F, halve zucchini, scoop out seeds, brush with oil, and bake for 10 minutes.
- Sauté Aromatics: Sauté onion and bell pepper in olive oil until translucent (3 minutes).
- Bloom Garlic: Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30 seconds).
- Brown Ground Beef: Brown ground beef, drain excess fat.
- Simmer Filling: Add tomatoes, paste, paprika, cumin, chili powder, and seasoning; simmer for 5 minutes.
- Fill Zucchini: Fill zucchini boats with beef mixture.
- Add Cheese: Top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
- Final Bake: Bake for 8-10 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Garnish & Serve: Drizzle with chili oil, garnish with parsley and lemon zest.
Notes
Salting the zucchini interiors helps prevent sogginess. Adjust chili powder to your spice preference.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 boat
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg
Keywords: zucchini, ground beef, boats, dinner, healthy, easy, bake, mozzarella, vegetables