Stuffed Zucchini Boats with Ground Beef Recipe

Stuffed zucchini boats with ground beef turn a simple summer vegetable into a hearty, low-carb dinner. Halved zucchini are scooped out and filled with a savory Italian-seasoned ground beef mixture, then baked with melted cheese. Each serving provides 32g of protein with just 10g of carbs, making this one of the most satisfying gluten-free low-carb dinners in your weekly rotation.

Ingredients

• 4 medium zucchini (about 1.2kg total)
• 400g ground beef (90% lean)
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 can (400g) diced tomatoes, drained
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• 1/2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp chili flakes
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 cup (115g) shredded mozzarella cheese
• 2 tbsp fresh basil or parsley, chopped

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Halve each zucchini lengthwise. Using a spoon, scoop out the flesh, leaving a 1cm shell. Chop the scooped flesh roughly and set aside.
3. Place zucchini halves cut-side up on the baking sheet. Brush lightly with olive oil, season with salt, and pre-bake for 10 minutes.
4. While zucchini pre-bakes, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes until soft.
5. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds.
6. Add ground beef, breaking apart. Cook for 6-7 minutes until fully browned. Drain excess fat.
7. Add the reserved zucchini flesh, diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Stir to combine. Cook for 3 more minutes until most liquid evaporates.
8. Remove pre-baked zucchini from the oven. Spoon beef filling generously into each shell, mounding it up.
9. Sprinkle mozzarella cheese over each boat.
10. Return to oven and bake for 15 more minutes until cheese is golden and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve immediately.

Tips & Variations

• Pre-baking the zucchini shells for 10 minutes before filling prevents them from being undercooked when the filling is already hot.
• For extra flavor, add 2 tbsp of grated Parmesan to the beef filling.
• Swap ground beef for ground turkey or Italian sausage (removed from casings) for different flavors.
• Add 1/4 cup of cooked quinoa or cauliflower rice to the filling to increase volume and fiber.
• These reheat well: cover with foil and reheat at 350°F (175°C) for 12 minutes, or microwave covered for 2-3 minutes.

Nutrition Breakdown

Calories: 398 kcal

Protein: 32.2g

Fat: 21.6g

Carbs: 23.3g

Fiber: 5.3g

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