Stuffed Zucchini Boats With Ground Beef (Print)
Tender zucchini boats loaded with seasoned beef, fresh herbs, and melted mozzarella for a satisfying weeknight meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables
01 - 4 medium zucchinis
02 - 1 small onion, finely chopped
03 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
04 - 1 medium tomato, diced
05 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped plus extra for garnish
→ Meats
06 - 1 lb ground beef
→ Dairy
07 - 3 oz shredded mozzarella cheese
08 - 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
→ Pantry Staples
09 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
10 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
11 - 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
12 - 1 teaspoon dried oregano
13 - 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
14 - Salt and pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Set oven to 375°F for baking the stuffed zucchini boats.
02 - Cut zucchinis lengthwise and scoop out pulp, leaving 1/2-inch thick shells. Chop the reserved pulp.
03 - Heat olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion 2-3 minutes until softened, add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
04 - Add ground beef to skillet, breaking apart with spoon. Cook 5-6 minutes until browned. Drain excess fat if needed.
05 - Mix in chopped zucchini pulp, diced tomato, tomato paste, oregano, basil, salt, and pepper. Cook 4-5 minutes until combined and liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat. Stir in breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and fresh parsley until evenly distributed.
07 - Place zucchini halves in baking dish. Fill each shell with beef mixture, pressing gently to pack tightly.
08 - Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over stuffed zucchini boats.
09 - Cover baking dish with foil. Bake at 375°F for 20 minutes.
10 - Remove foil and continue baking 10-15 minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly.
11 - Garnish with additional fresh parsley. Serve hot.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- The beef filling becomes impossibly savory as it bakes inside the zucchini shells
- Lefovers reheat beautifully for lunch the next day, if there are any
02 -
- Overcooking the zucchini before filling makes them collapse in the oven, so keep that half inch shell sturdy
- Draining the beef too thoroughly leaves the filling dry, but too much fat makes the zucchini soggy
03 -
- Use a piping bag to fill the boats if you want them to look extra neat
- Grate some extra zucchini into the filling to sneak in more vegetables