Cheesy beef stuffed zucchini boats are a delicious and satisfying dish filled with savory ground beef, marinara sauce, and topped with melted cheese. Perfect for a healthy, low-carb dinner option!
Author:Caroline Jones
Prep Time:15 minutes
Cook Time:25 minutes
Total Time:40 minutes
Yield:4 servings 1x
Category:Dinner
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Low Carb
Ingredients
Scale
4 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise
1 lb (450 g) ground beef
1 small onion, finely diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup marinara sauce
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C).
Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the center, leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh to create boats. Brush with olive oil and season lightly with salt and pepper.
Heat a skillet over medium heat. Cook the ground beef until browned, then add the onion and garlic. Sauté until softened.
Stir in the marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes until thick and flavorful.
Fill each zucchini boat generously with the beef mixture.
Top with mozzarella and Parmesan, covering the filling completely.
Bake for 20–25 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and deeply golden brown.
Garnish with fresh parsley and serve hot with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
Feel free to customize the cheese toppings to your preference.
These zucchini boats can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator before baking.
For a spicy kick, add crushed red pepper flakes to the beef mixture.