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23 Stuffed Zucchini Recipes That Prove Every Meal Is More Fun In A Veggie Boat

It's what's on the inside that counts.

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mac and cheese stuffed zucchini boats
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

PSA: When you're looking to add more veggies to your meals, zucchini boats are the best. They’re easy to make (unlike, ahem, zoodles), are individual-sized, and can help you get more greens into everything from pizza to macaroni & cheese. Bonus: They’re a great low-carb option too and can be enjoyed by everyone in your family. Check out our list of 23 stuffed zucchini recipes for proof that, truly, it's what's on the inside that counts. 😉

Cauliflower baked “ziti”, pork rind-coated keto fried chicken, cashews as cheese in vegan queso… we love a good diet-friendly food hack. Zucchini are TOPS for low-carb replacements, and these stuffed zucchini recipes are particularly delicious. You can take all the flavors and ingredients of your favorite high-carb dishes and stuff them into a zucchini boat. Check out our lasagna-stuffed zucchini, our pizza zucchini boats, our zucchini burrito boats, or our tuna melt stuffed zucchini for ideas. Sure, they’re not exactly the same as pizza or pasta, but we think they hit the spot.

And don’t worry, these aren’t ALL extra healthy. Sometimes we just want to eat out of a convenient, personal-sized boat (and, sure, the added veggies don’t hurt either). Try our Italian sausage stuffed zucchini, our chicken chowder stuffed zucchini, or our macaroni & cheese stuffed zucchini to see how versatile they are. You can kind of stuff anything into a zucchini boat, so feel free to fill ‘em up with your weeknight dinner faves.

Want more healthy inspiration? Check out our favorite healthy summer recipes, our top quick & easy fruit desserts, and our best grilled vegetable ideas too.

1

Burrito Zucchini Boats

burrito zucchini boats
Parker feierbach

You won't miss the tortilla in these stuffed zucchini. They've got everything you love about your favorite burrito—black beans, corn, CHEESE—minus the carbs!

Get the Zucchini Burrito Boats recipe.

2

Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini

italian sausage stuffed zucchini
Kathryn Wirsing

A mix of bread crumbs, Italian sausage, and fontina make this one of our absolute favorite zucchini recipes. They're a great low-carb dinner, appetizer, or lunch!

Get the Italian Sausage Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

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3

Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini

mac and cheese stuffed zucchini boats
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Here’s one way to get more veggies into picky eaters’ mouths: Score and scoop out zucchini pulp, chop, and cook it down with spices into a cream sauce, then incorporate it into good ol’ kid-approved mac & cheese.

Get the Mac & Cheese Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

4

Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins

air fryer loaded zucchini skins
PHOTO: JOEL GOLDBERG; FOOD STYLING: MICAH MORTON

These loaded zucchini skins are a fresh twist on potato skins. They're stuffed with cheddar, tomato, and avocado for intense flavor you're gonna love.

Get the Air Fryer Loaded Zucchini Skins recipe.

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5

Garlicky Shrimp Zucchini Boats

garlicky shrimp zucchini boats
Erik bernstein

When you're craving pasta, these zucchini boats are a great option. Sweet, juicy shrimp bathed in a creamy tomato-Parmesan sauce, then baked with mozzarella until the umami skyrockets—the easy filling tastes almost like a creamy shrimp scampi.

Get the Garlicky Shrimp Zucchini Boats recipe.

6

Chicken Chowder Stuffed Zucchini

chicken chowder stuffed zucchini boats
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: LENA ABRAHAM

Using cooked rotisserie chicken, frozen corn, and sweet cherry tomatoes, you can have a summer chowder in under an hour, served in a crispy-tender zucchini boat. While bacon isn’t totally crucial in this dish, rendering it provides a salty, flavorful fat you can use to make this stuffed zucchini extra delicious.

Get the Chicken Chowder Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

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7

Lasagna-Stuffed Zucchini

lasagna stuffed zucchini
Park Feierbach

Lightening up lasagna with zucchini is one of our fave low-carb dinner hacks. Fill up the zucchini with everything you love about the Italian classic, and enjoy it carb-free.

Get the Lasagna-Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

8

Pizza Stuffed Zucchini

pizza zucchini boats
Kathryn Wirsing

Studded with mini pepperoni, these zucchini boats are healthy and irresistibly adorable. Top with your favorite pizza toppings too, like olives, onions, or even pineapple.

Get the Pizza Zucchini Boats recipe.

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9

Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini

buffalo chicken zucchini boats
Kathryn Wirsing

If you love all-things "Buff chick," this simple mixture of rotisserie chicken, cream cheese, and Buffalo sauce will make you melt.

Get the Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

10

Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats

dish, food, cuisine, ingredient, salad, produce, staple food, finger food, recipe, salpicon,
Courtesy of Cooking Classy

Everything you love about an iconic Philly cheesesteak, minus the bread. Don't forget to put the scooped zucchini back in—the added crunch goes perfectly with the bell peppers and onions.

Get the Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats recipe.

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11

Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Zucchini

bacon wrapped stuffed zucchini
Charlie Gillette

These spinach and artichoke dip stuffed zucchini are creamy, salty and delicious, and the bacon takes them OVER THE TOP.

Get the Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

12

Jalapeño Popper Zucchini Boats

jalapeño popper zucchini boats
Brandon Bales

Jalapeño poppers are one of our favorite appetizers, so naturally, we turned them into an actual dinner. We skipped the frying and put them into zucchini boats for an easy, low-carb take on the favorite we can't get enough of.

Get the Jalapeño Popper Zucchini Boats recipe.

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13

Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs

food, dish, cuisine, ingredient, meat, produce, À la carte food, recipe, vegetable, sausage,
Brad Holland

Hot dogs might not be what you have in mind when you think stuffed zucchini, but we're here to tell you—it should be. They kind of make a perfect, extra-summery hot dog bun!

Get the Zucchini Bun Hot Dogs recipe.

14

Tuna Melt Stuffed Zucchini

tuna melt stuffed zucchini
Chelsea Lupkin

We took our favorite tuna melt and turned it into a low-carb staple. It still has everything you love, without the bread. We love the added slight crunch of the zucchini, and with the dressing mixed right in, this is the easiest meal to make in a snap.

Get the Tuna Melt Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

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15

Loaded Zucchini Skins

loaded zucchini skins
Brandon Bales

Stuffed zucchini, as an appetizer! Topped with all the standard loaded potato skin fixings—bacon, sour cream, and green onions—you won't even miss the potato.

Get the Loaded Zucchini Skins recipe.

16

Greek Chicken Stuffed Zucchini

greek chicken stuffed zucchini
Brad Holland

These zucchini boats are infinitely adaptable. Already have goat cheese in your fridge? Use it instead of feta. Not into dill? Swap in parsley. Greek chicken for the win!

Get the Greek Chicken Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

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17

Shrimp Zucchini Burrito Boats

shrimp zucchini burrito boats
Brandon Bales

We LOVE burritos, and zucchini boats let us skip the unnecessary tortilla and go straight for the good stuff. This version has spiced shrimp tossed in with beans and corn and plenty of melty cheese—all our favorite things!

Get the Shrimp Zucchini Burrito Boats recipe.

18

Meatball Zucchini Boats

dish, food, cuisine, ingredient, zucchini, stuffed peppers, produce, staple food, comfort food, meatball,
Brad Holland

Craving a meatball sub, but avoiding bread? Try these meatball zucchini boats instead! We made ours with ground beef, but feel free to swap in your own fave meatball recipes (and sauce!).

Get the Meatball Zucchini Boats recipe.

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19

Loaded Stuffed Zucchini

loaded stuffed zucchini vertical
Joe Spit

You won't even miss the potato in this loaded low-carb dish. It's a great anytime snack, or the perfect side for an easy weeknight dinner.

Get the Loaded Stuffed Zucchini recipe.

20

Lasagna Zucchini Cups

lasagna zucchini cups
ALEXA PAYESKO

Skip the laborious lasagna for tonight and make this low-carb version instead. These cute zucchini cups are filled with everything you love about the Italian pasta classic—we bet you won't miss the noodles at all!

Get the Lasagna Zucchini Cups recipe.

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