Italian Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- For the Zucchini Boats
- 4 medium zucchini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- For the Filling
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes, drained
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Topping
- Extra mozzarella for baking
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the centers.
- Brush zucchini with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and place in a baking dish.
- Sauté ground beef with onion and garlic until browned.
- Add tomatoes, marinara, and seasonings; simmer.
- Stir in mozzarella and Parmesan until melted.
- Spoon the meat filling into zucchini shells.
- Top with extra mozzarella and bake 20–25 minutes until bubbly.