Healthy, low carb, and so easy to make, don’t miss these delicious Stuffed Zucchini Boats filled with lean ground turkey and tasty Italian flavors.
So easy to make and full of flavor, these Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the perfect weeknight dinner. Low calories (only 320 per serving!), low carbs, and so full of flavor!
This would be a great way to use up the surplus of zucchini that many gardeners get. The dish can also be made ahead and frozen for an easy and delicious zucchini freezer meal.
Stuffed Zucchini Boats is a great diet refresh recipe too. Works well with Keto diet and the Mediterranean diet, and it’s so yummy and kid friendly that the whole family will love it too.
How to make stuffed zucchini boats
The recipe couldn’t be simpler either. Just cook the filling and bake for 35 minutes. The dish can even be made ahead and refrigerated until ready to bake.
Then, stuff the hollowed out zucchini and/or yellow squash and add the filling. Lastly, top with cheese, cover with foil, and bake, removing the foil during the final five minutes of cooking.
Let the zucchini boats sit five minutes before serving. Delicious, healthy, and so easy! Makes for amazing leftovers too.
Lastly, garnish with chopped basil if desired. Enjoy!
Check out my other quick weeknight dinner ground turkey recipes like: Cheesy Taco Pasta and Green Enchilada Casserole.
Healthy Italian Dishes
Italian food doesn’t always have to be full of carbs and calories. Check out these other healthy Italian dishes that are great for any occasion.
Italian Tomato Onion Salad uses fresh tomatoes, basil, and onions.
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Eggplant Caponata is full of garden veggies and is delicious on top of bruschetta.
Easy Eggplant Parmesan is a delicious and quick way to eat eggplant.
Asparagus Ricotta Frittata is an Italian egg dish that’s great for brunch.
Sausage Kale Bean Soup is a hearty and healthy comfort food recipe.
Bruschetta Salad is a great way to use up stale bread and tomatoes!
Italian Sausage and Lentils are a traditional Italian peasant food that’s so delicious.
Turkey Vegetable Spaghetti is a hearty bolognese sauce packed with veggies.
Italian Turkey Sausage Meatballs are moist and flavorful and a healthier version of a classic.
Zucchini Ricotta Rolls Ups are low carb and full of cheesy goodness.
Baked Spaghetti with Ground Turkey is a healthier take on a family favorite.
Turkey Spinach Manicotti is a healthy and low calorie dish packed full of flavor.
Make these easy zucchini boats tonight and feel good about the healthy protein-packed meal you are eating! Be sure to comment if you try them. Enjoy!
Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 4 zucchini or yellow squash about 1 ¾ pounds total
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- ½ cup onion, diced
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 pounds ground turkey
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 15 ounce can diced tomatoes
- ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- chopped basil for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut the zucchini and squash in half lengthwise and remove seeds and some of the flesh using a metal spoon. Set aside.
- Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add in the onion and cook until softened, about 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and tomato paste and cook for another minute. Push the onion mixture to the sides of the pan and add in the ground turkey, breaking up with a spoon. Add in salt and Italian seasoning, and cook until meat is brown, about 8 minutes. Pour in the canned tomatoes (undrained) and simmer on low for 3-4 minutes until thickened. Stir in the parmesan.
- Fill the zucchini and squash cavities using the ground turkey mixture. Place in a large baking pan and top with mozzarella. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 5 minutes. Let sit 5 minutes before serving.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Have a freezer full of ground turkey in your home? Be sure to try my Top 10 Ground Turkey recipes and whip up a healthy and fast weeknight dinner in no time! It’s a great way to use up all of that ground turkey you have in the freezer.
Loved these! My daughter, who is not a fan of turkey in ANY form, thought they were absolutely delicious! My grandson couldn’t stop eating them! Loved them. Will definitely make again. Love how healthy they were also!
On your video or your recipe you do not mention anything about when you put the zucchini flesh ingredients into your recipe while putting everything together?
I don’t actually add the flesh back in but you can add it when the turkey is almost finished cooking.
Absolutely loved it!! Will do this again!
Loved making these for my family! A great crowd pleaser!! Grandkids loved this with their favourite side of ‘pasta al burro’!!
Yay! So happy you and your grandkids enjoyed these 🙂
CAN’T WAIT TO MAKE THIS………. AND I ALSO HAVE USED LEFT OVER MEAT BALLS………. CRUSH AND FILL THEM. GREAT BOATS……………….. <3
Great idea!
Would like to make these vegetarian. Ideas?io
Sautéed mushrooms, zucchini, and eggplant would make a great filling!
i have been making these for years, but i wrap them in foil and put on the grill. I prefer a vegetarian version with summer squashes shrooms, chopped zuch center without seeds, eggplant, garlic and onion ( last 3 sauteed before hand in a bit of olive oil) and Italian seasoning, s&P, and sprinkled with fresh basil as they are opened up. If i don’t have mozerella i just use a bit extra parma in the mix and on top. YUMMY. depending on grill temp i put them in back (not direct heat) for 20 min while getting other stuff ready and grilled or I put on direct heat with a bit of water in foil under zuch so it does not burn. Buon Appetitto!
Love the suggestions for stuffing and grilling them. YUM!
These were easy to make and look delicious. The only difference is I used ground up sausage…my husband is real Italian…they were delicious!
Thanks! So happy you loved them!
These are delicious. Will definitely make again. The only thing I will do differently is take the foil off a little sooner, then add the cheese. With it being covered the cheese just melted all over. It was still very good!
It’s been a while since I had these but we love them. Easy dinner with a good amount of veggies that is filling and tastes good. Your recipe reminds me of mine – soo good!
These stuffed zucchini boats will make a great weeknight meal for the entire family. My girls will love helping make these boats as well as eating them.
Agreed! My kids love helping out with this recipe 🙂
These are such a great dinner idea, delicious!
These look delicious! I’ve been planning my friendsgiving meal this week, and these might just be perfect!
delicious and healthy idea! I like finding new ways to serve ground turkey.
I cant wait to try this recipe! I am wondering with the surplus of veggies this time of year if anyone has frozen these and how they did so. Trying to. Make ahead meals..
Hi Karen. Thanks for stopping by my site! I definitely think you can make this ahead and freeze it. I would just defrost in the refrigerator and then bake when you’re ready to eat. I’ve made a similar zucchini lasagna recipe and frozen it with great results. Thanks!