Super Simple Zucchini Boats
Busy?! Need a healthy, delicious week night dinner idea?! This is a simple go to for me! It takes about 30 minutes from start to finish to put together! Despite not taking much time, they deliver a delicious, healthy, flavor packed meal, and are even great as leftovers the next day, too!
What you'll need:
-1 lb lean ground meat (chicken, beef, or turkey)
- 3 to 4 large zucchini's, washed, ends cut off, halved lengthwise
-1/2 cup of diced onion
-1 cup diced bell pepper (any color or colors will do!)
- 1 tsp olive oil
-1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp dried basil
- 1/2 Tbsp garlic powder (or 2 to 3 fresh minced garlic cloves)
- sea salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup of shredded cheese
(-brown rice to serve it on top of, if you like! You could eat them by themselves too!)
How to make them:
First, preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Now-- get your zucchini ready! Make sure they are washed, you have cut off JUST the ends, and then cut them in half, lengthwise. Then, hold one half in your hand, scrap in a top to bottom motion, to remove the zucchini, leaving about a 1/2 inch thick shell. Repeat with all halves! These will be your "boats"! After you have done this with all halves, place your zucchini on a sprayed baking pan.
Bake them about 12 minutes until they begin to get tender.
WHILE your boats are in the oven, time to get your meat mixture ready.
Add 1 tsp of olive oil to a medium sauté pan. Add onion, bell pepper, ground meat, and spices.
Keep stirring it, until meat is browned and veggies are starting to soften.
(Don't forget to remove your zucchini from the oven!)
Now-- use a spoon and scoop the meat mixture INTO your zucchini boats! Top each half with a little bit of shredded cheese.
Place back in the oven for 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.
You are ready to eat! Super simple, right?! I serve mine over a bed of brown rice or quinoa.
If you like-- add some fun toppings!
I personally like jalapeños, avocado, lime, cilantro!
Enjoy!
If you make this recipe, I'd love to know how you and your family like it! :)
