This Easy Cheesy Stuffed Zucchini recipe is a delicious, complete summer meal loaded with savory ground beef, melty mozzarella, and your favorite marinara sauce!
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Fried Zucchini! Zucchini Bread! Zucchini Casserole! I’m all in on all the traditional summer zucchini recipes. However, if you haven’t made this stuffed zucchini yet, you’re missing out!
Read on to get all of my tips and tricks for this delicious summer dish plus the recipe!
(Looking for a savory zucchini recipe that comes together a little bit faster? You’ll love my Sautéed Zucchini and Tomatoes!)
Recipe Ingredients
Stuffed Zucchini
Equipment
- 1 9×13 baking dish
- 1 large skillet
Ingredients
- 4 medium zucchini
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped
- ½ cup chopped white onion
- 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ cup grated parmesan cheese
- ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
- Slice the zucchinis in half lengthwise, then use a spoon to scoop out the center seeds, making a long well in each zucchini. Place the hollowed zucchini halves in the greased pan.4 medium zucchini
- Sprinkle the zucchini with the salt and set them aside.½ teaspoon salt
- Add the ground beef to a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat until it is no longer pink (about 8 minutes). Break up the beef as it cooks with a wooden spoon, making small crumbles.1 pound ground beef
- Drain the fat from the pan of cooked beef and discard.
- Add the bell pepper, onion, and garlic to the pan and stir. Cook for 4 minutes to soften the onions and peppers.1 red bell pepper, seeds removed, chopped, ½ cup chopped white onion, 1 teaspoon minced garlic
- Stir the marinara sauce into the pan of beef and add the basil. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring occasionally.2 cups marinara sauce, ¼ cup chopped basil
- Use a paper towel to pat the zucchini boats dry, absorbing the water on the zucchini.
- Brush the zucchini with the olive oil.2 teaspoons olive oil
- Scoop the beef and sauce into each zucchini boat, stuffing each zucchini as much as possible.
- Bake the stuffed zucchini for 15 minutes, then remove the pan from the oven, sprinkle the zucchini with the parmesan and mozzarella cheese, and return the pan to the oven. Bake the zucchini for another 10 minutes. The cheese will be melted and starting to brown.½ cup grated parmesan cheese, ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Enjoy the zucchini while hot as a complete meal!
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat your stuffed zucchini in 30-second increments in the microwave, or warm it in the oven.
- I don’t recommend freezing this recipe!
Nutrition
Variations
- Grab a pasta sauce that already contains beef to save a little time. Skip the ground beef portion of the recipe, and just use the meat sauce instead.
- Try using ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage in place of ground beef.
- Use yellow summer squash in place of zucchini for a whole new twist on stuffed zucchini boats. Yellow squash has a milder, sweeter flavor that is quite delicious.
- Swap the beef with your favorite plant-based meat crumbles or black beans for a vegetarian recipe.
Tips + Tricks
- Grab a pasta sauce that already contains beef to save a little time. Skip the ground beef portion of the recipe, and just use the meat sauce instead.
- Try using ground turkey, ground chicken, or Italian sausage in place of ground beef.
- Use yellow summer squash in place of zucchini for a whole new twist on stuffed zucchini boats. Yellow squash has a milder, sweeter flavor that is quite delicious.
- Swap the beef with your favorite plant-based meat crumbles or black beans for a vegetarian recipe
Quick Tip
Zucchini is one of the most abundant crops you can grow in your own garden. If you haven’t added it to your home garden, here’s a few tips to get you started! 17 Tips For Growing Great Zucchini in Your Garden
Serving Suggestions
Pair your cheesy stuffed zucchini with a simple side salad. Or, enjoy it with an Italian-inspired salad like Italian Pasta Salad or Antipasto Salad. It’s also great with a side of Homemade Garlic Bread!
Of course, you should probably make a summertime dessert to cap off a perfect meal. Stuffed zucchini for dinner with a strawberry pie for dessert sounds like the best meal ever!
How to Store
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Reheat your stuffed zucchini in 30-second increments in the microwave, or warm it in the oven.
- I don’t recommend freezing this recipe!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Full of rich, savory flavor, it’s also low-carb, gluten-free, and full of nutrients. As a result, it satisfies your tastebuds without leaving you feeling too full or heavy.
- You get veggies, protein, and plenty of melty cheese all in one meal. So, you don’t even need to add a side dish!
- This is a no-fail recipe that comes together in under 30 minutes! Perfect for lazy days and summer nights!
Share with us!
I hope you enjoy this delicious Stuffed Zucchini Recipe! If you give it a try, please share your experience in the comments below. Don’t forget to tag me on social media @allthingsmamma and use the hashtag #allthingsmamma
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This would be very easy to use a vegan recipe and instead of courgette you could use Aubergine if you have one in xx