Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Zucchini boat with cheese and parsley on top.

These stuffed zucchini boats are made with a hearty Italian sausage filling, topped with cheese then baked until tender. An easy low carb dinner everyone will love!

Prep Time: 20

Cook Time: 30

Total Time: 50

Servings:

Ingredients

Olive oil cooking spray
5 medium zucchini (about 6 ounces each)
Salt , to taste
Ground black pepper , to taste
½ cup chopped yellow onion
1 pound mild Italian sausage
2 cloves minced garlic (2 teaspoons)
1 ½ cups marinara sauce
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
¼ cup finely grated parmesan cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella
Chopped fresh parsley , for serving

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 400°F. Spray a 9x13-inch baking dish with olive oil cooking spray.
Using a spoon, scoop out the centers of the zucchini, leaving a 1/4-inch rim around the edges, to create boats. Place on baking sheet. Lightly spray with olive oil cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Bake 10 minutes.
Spray large skillet with olive oil cooking spray and place over medium-high heat. Add onions and cook until they become soft, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in sausage, breaking into crumbles, and cook until cooked through. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
Remove from heat and stir in marinara and Italian seasoning. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Then spoon evenly into zucchini boats.
Sprinkle parmesan and mozzarella cheese evenly over zucchini boats.
Bake 15 minutes, or until cheese is melted and zucchini is tender. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.

Notes

Variations:

Meat: You could also use turkey sausage or ground beef as well. You will need to season these a little more than Italian sausage.
Vegetables: Feel free to mix in extra vegetables while cooking the meat. I love to add diced mushrooms and bell peppers when I have them.
Breadcrumbs: If you'd like a crispier top, mix together the parmesan cheese, mozzarella, and 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs to sprinkle over top.

Storage: Store leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition