4.68 34 Published Jul 09, 2024, Updated Oct 07, 2024 These stuffed zucchini boats have been a favorite in our household for years. I just love that they only require five simple ingredients, they’re loaded with protein and are so easy to make! We usually enjoy them on their own or paired with a side salad like this garlicky kale salad or kale caesar salad. It’s the perfect combo if I do say so myself.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Easy to make – The best part about this recipe is you only need 5 simple ingredients! It’s also super easy to whip up, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Low carb and protein packed – This recipe is packed with a whopping 60 grams of protein, but is low in carbs thanks to the zucchini. Flavorful and satisfying – The combination of seasoned ground turkey, marinara sauce, and parmesan cheese creates a flavor packed dish that’ll keep you full and satisfied. Versatile – This is the perfect base recipe to start with. You can easily customize it with your favorite marinara sauce or add extra veggies and spices to suit your taste.
zucchini – you’ll need two medium zucchini for this recipe, which will be halved and scooped to create the boats. onion – chopped, adding flavor and texture to the turkey filling. ground lean turkey – I love using ground turkey in this dish for a leaner protein option. I usually use 99% fat free, but 93% fat free is also a great option. marinara sauce – feel free to use homemade marinara sauce, but I always go for store-bought to make this recipe a breeze! Just look for one without added sugar to keep it healthier. I love Rao’s marinara and Primal Kitchen tomato basil sauce. parmesan cheese – this is optional, so if you’re dairy free you can skip the cheese all together, but I love adding the parmesan cheese on top. It melts while baking and adds such a delicious salty flavor to the boats.
How to Make Zucchini Boats
What to Serve With Zucchini Boats
These turkey zucchini boats are definitely a meal on their own, but we usually serve them for dinner served alongside a simple side salad. This spinach salad or arugula salad are both great options. It would also be delicious served alongside this italian chopped salad, healthy pasta salad or mediterranean orzo salad. You really can’t go wrong with whatever you serve these zucchini boats with!
Ground turkey: Swap with ground chicken for a similar lean protein option. Ground beef or mild or hot Italian sausage are also great alternatives if you want something with red meat. For a vegetarian or vegan alternative, try using crumbled tempeh. Marinara sauce: Use your favorite pasta sauce flavor variation or swap it with pesto for pesto zucchini boats. Parmesan cheese: You can swap this with mozzarella cheese for a creamy melt, cheddar for a sharper taste or feta for a tangy twist. For a dairy-free option, use nutritional yeast or a vegan cheese alternative to keep it plant-based. Add veggies: Like I said feel free to add additional veggies to the turkey mixture. If you do this, make sure to add them with the onion so they can soften slightly. Chili-stuffed: Swap the ground turkey mixture with scoops of this turkey chili instead! For a vegetarian option use this vegetarian chili. Mexican zucchini boats: Make these taco zucchini boats instead! Asian zucchini boats: Swap the ground turkey mixture with the ground chicken mixture from my asian chicken lettuce wraps.
Storing Leftovers
Store any leftover zucchini boats in an airtight container in the refrigerator. They will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave before serving. I don’t recommend freezing these as the zucchini will turn out mushy after thawing.
More Turkey Recipes
Turkey Stuffed Peppers Cheesy Eggplant Casserole with Ground Turkey Turkey Cauliflower Baked Ziti Healthy Taco Salad Spinach Turkey Meatballs Turkey Chili Air Fryer Turkey Breast
Be sure to check out the full collection of ground turkey recipes here on EBF!
