How to make the best cheese stuffed zucchini boats recipe. This meatless dinner is healthy and uses Italian seasoning and a variety of cheeses to make an awesome vegetarian meal. It's a simple and easy supper that's keto, whole 30, low carb, and paleo friendly (just leave out the breadcrumbs).
In my neck of the woods, stuffed vegetables usually involve hamburger, tomato sauce and rice, or crab meat.
None of these fillings really thrill me, and I often avoid them.
At the same time, I love veggies, especially when they are fresh from my garden. I love to make them the focal point of a meal.
A few years ago, I came up with this recipe in response to a glut of zucchini and summer squash from said garden.
This filling is wonderful and would be tasty stuffed inside any number of foods, including bread, tomatoes, other types of squash, mushrooms, and almost anything else. It's so creamy and delicious!
I've also tried this filling with the addition of shredded chicken or pork. It was also really good that way. It's versatile.
What you'll need to make the best cheese stuffed baked zucchini
How to Make the Best Cheese Stuffed Zucchini
- Preheat the oven to 350º.
- Cut a medium to large zucchini in half and scoop out the seeds. Discard. Scoop out some flesh to make a shell and place the shells in a baking dish.
- Grate or finely chop the zucchini flesh. Sauté the chopped onion and zucchini flesh in olive oil until soft.
- Mix cream cheese, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese, onion and zucchini, and bread crumbs (if using). Spoon into zucchini shells in the baking dish.
- Bake for about one hour, or until zucchini is tender and filling is hot and melty. Cool slightly before serving.
A note on the breadcrumbs
The breadcrumbs in this recipe do lend the dish a nice Italian flavor, but they are not completely necessary. I used them the first couple of times I made this, but then stopped. I no longer use them and the cheese filling in the stuffed zucchini comes out just as well. Use them if you want to, leave them out if you prefer.
Check out these other zucchini dishes while you're here:
- Spicy Sriracha Shrimp with Peanut Zucchini Noodles
- Zucchini Noodles with Garlic, Lemon, & Parmesan
- Chicken Piccata with Zucchini Noodles
- Zucchini Sausage Egg Muffins Recipe (Gluten-Free and Low Carb)
- Zucchini Quiche (Gluten-Free)
- How to Make the Best Grilled Zucchini and Squash
Cheese Stuffed Zucchini
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 medium zucchini
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened (low fat tastes just as good as the full fat version in this recipe)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 small onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic pressed
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1 handfuls Italian bread crumbs optional, can be gluten-free if needed
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350ºF.
- Cut zucchini in half and scoop out seeds. Discard. Scoop out some flesh to make a shell. Place shells in a baking dish.
- Grate zucchini flesh. Sauté onion and zucchini flesh in olive oil until soft.
- Mix cream cheese, Italian seasoning, mozzarella cheese, onion and zucchini, and bread crumbs. Spoon into zucchini shells in the baking dish.
- Bake for about one hour, or until zucchini is tender and filling is hot and melty. Cool slightly before serving.
TheAngelForever says
That looks amazing! We will have to try this out soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
TheAngelForever says
That looks amazing! We will have to try this out soon. Thanks for sharing 🙂
michelle says
I really want to try this! I love zucchini, but my family; kids and husband wont really eat it! Maybe they'll try this! yum! I also just posted about Italian bread crumbs on my last post; too funny.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Oh, yum! And I have everything on hand... especially the "glut" of zucchini from the garden!
.-= Amy @ Finer Things´s last blog ..Mommy, Come Home: Productivity =-.
Amy @ Finer Things says
Oh, yum! And I have everything on hand... especially the "glut" of zucchini from the garden!
.-= Amy @ Finer Things´s last blog ..Mommy, Come Home: Productivity =-.
Snow White says
delicious! thanks.
.-= Snow White´s last blog ..Honey Oat Bread =-.
Snow White says
delicious! thanks.
.-= Snow White´s last blog ..Honey Oat Bread =-.
darnold23 says
I hope you will come join me for Crock Pot Wednesday at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. Mister Linky is up and ready for your entry.
.-= darnold23´s last blog ..CROCKPOT BEEF BURGUNDY: My Tribute to Julia Child =-.
darnold23 says
I hope you will come join me for Crock Pot Wednesday at diningwithdebbie.blogspot.com. Mister Linky is up and ready for your entry.
.-= darnold23´s last blog ..CROCKPOT BEEF BURGUNDY: My Tribute to Julia Child =-.
michelle says
I really want to try this! I love zucchini, but my family; kids and husband wont really eat it! Maybe they'll try this! yum! I also just posted about Italian bread crumbs on my last post; too funny.
Anonymous says
I've used something similar to this in stuffed mushrooms before but I honestly hadn't even considered stuffing anything else with it! Thanks so much for sharing =D
.-= mub´s last blog ..Mini Cheese Tartlets =-.
mub says
I've used something similar to this in stuffed mushrooms before but I honestly hadn't even considered stuffing anything else with it! Thanks so much for sharing =D
.-= mub´s last blog ..Mini Cheese Tartlets =-.
Ave @ Made In Canarias says
This looks so delicious! Great shot!
.-= Ave @ Made In Canarias´s last blog ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday =-.
Ave @ Made In Canarias says
This looks so delicious! Great shot!
.-= Ave @ Made In Canarias´s last blog ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday =-.
[email protected] says
I still have zucchini coming out my ears. This is a great recipe to add!
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Watermelon Cupcakes =-.
Andrea McMann says
Ooh! That makes me wish I had a glut of zucchini here! 🙂 YUM!
Andrea McMann says
Ooh! That makes me wish I had a glut of zucchini here! 🙂 YUM!
Raise Them Up says
This sounds wonderful! I can't wait to try it!
Raise Them Up says
This sounds wonderful! I can't wait to try it!
Sherry says
I'm going to have to get some zucchini. Looks delish!
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..Whipped Honey Butter =-.
[email protected] says
I still have zucchini coming out my ears. This is a great recipe to add!
Thanks for sharing!
~Liz
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Watermelon Cupcakes =-.
Susie's Homemade says
That is a YUMMY tackle!!
Susie's Homemade says
That is a YUMMY tackle!!
[email protected] says
Looks YUMMY!!! THANKS!!! Geri
.-= [email protected]´s last blog .." KEY LIME PIE " =-.
[email protected] says
Looks YUMMY!!! THANKS!!! Geri
.-= [email protected]´s last blog .." KEY LIME PIE " =-.
Brenda says
My husband is not big on zucchini, but I bet I could get him to eat this!
SweetsLady says
I'm going to have to get some zucchini. Looks delish!
.-= Sherry´s last blog ..Whipped Honey Butter =-.
Brenda says
My husband is not big on zucchini, but I bet I could get him to eat this!
[email protected] says
Really looks great!!!
.-= [email protected]´s last blog ..Tempt My Tummy Tuesday....The Tostada =-.