The Ultimate Taco Zucchini Boats

Delicious zucchini boats with ground beef, caramelized onions and bell peppers, topped with cheddar cheese and seasoning with the perfect taco seasoning. This is a perfect option for anyone looking to make a healthy meal with little ingredients and high amounts of taste and flavor.

Cooking with Zucchini

Would you believe me if I said I used to not like zucchini at ALL! I hated it! But then I realized there are a bunch of different ways to cook zucchini and use it in your favorite meals.

I first started eating zucchini as a healthier version of pizza bites! And they were soooo good! All I did was cut slices of zucchini as you would a cucumber, put a small amount of pizza sauce on them, and then add a pepperoni slice and cheese on top. And boy did that change my whole perspective on zucchini. The fact that I could make something so good as pizza bites without all the calories was music to my ears. Zucchini all about how you cook it, what you add with it, and how it’s seasoned.

After my health pizza bite find, I immediately wanted to try more and more recipes using the ingredient, zucchini, given the amount of nutrients and health benefits it has in it.

And….

That’s when this delicious recipe come up.

To make these delicious zucchini boats, cut the zucchini in half long ways and spoon out the middle of the zucchini. If you would like, you can add these centers to the ground beef mixture. Cook and combine ground beef, white onions, and bell peppers together. Add in some taco seasoning. Fill the carved zucchini’s with the ground beef filling and top with your choice of cheese. I grated some cheddar cheese and it was amazing.

This can be a great dinner with any rice or a grain of your choice on the side or a cute mid-day snack that is sure to fill you up and provide amazing nutrients to keep you energized and fueled up.

Why this recipe?

• Made with few ingredients. Chances are, you can make these with the ingredients you already have. There doesn’t need to be a long trip to the store looking for unique ingredients you’ve never bought before. The number one ingredient you need in the zucchini.
• Simple to follow instruction.
• You don’t have to be a great cook. This recipe is simple and easy. You don’t need top tier skills in the kitchen in order to successful cook this meal.
• It can be a healthy snack or filling meal. This combines all the flavors of a taco and uses a zucchini to deliver the healthy results.

What you’ll need:

Zucchini – 3 fresh zucchini’s found in the vegetable section of any grocery store.

Ground beef – I like to use 80/20% lean meet. You can also use ground turkey if you prefer. Make sure you allow time to thaw if it is frozen.

Bell peppers and onion – These two ingredients give a lot of added flavor. You can use any color pepper you would like. I prefer red peppers and a white onion.

Taco Seasoning – Getting a packet of taco seasoning will really simplify the recipe. If you wish you add your own seasoning, I recommend chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper.

For another great dinner recipe try this Simple and Healthy Pesto Caprese Chicken.

How to Make Zucchini Boats

Step 1:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare the zucchini. Cut each one in half long ways so you have are left with 6 halves. Then, take a spoon and carve out the center of the zucchini to create a bowl or spoon shape. Put the 6 halves into a cake pan and set aside for later.

Step 2:

In a large sauce pan, heat a little oil on medium heat. Cut the bell pepper and onion into small pieces and add them into the pan. Let cook for about 5 minutes. 

Step 3:

Add the ground beef into the pan with the onion and pepper and cook on medium until brown. You may need to remove the excess fat and built up oil from the beef after it is cooked. 

Step 4:

Sprinkle in the taco seasoning and stir on together. Spoon out the filling and put into the zucchini boats. Top with cheese, place in the oven and cook for 20 minutes. 

Recipe Q&A

How do I make homemade taco seasoning?

If you wish to make your own homemade taco seasoning, add in chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper instead of the taco seasoning packet.

How can I make this vegetarian?

If you wish to make this vegetarian, you can substitution the meat for beans, quinoa, sweet potatoes, or anything other ingredient you wish. This is a very flexible recipe so you can add or substitute as you wish and make it your own.

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