Looking for a simple and healthy stuffed zucchini recipe? This is the best Chicken Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats recipe. Delicious and good for you, this is a great tasting easy dinner idea.
Ingredients
4medium zucchiniabout 10 ounces each
1teaspoonextra virgin olive oil
1small yellow oniondiced
2tablespoonsminced garlic
4links chicken sausagesmall dice
¼teaspoonred pepper flakes
½teaspoonsalt
½teaspoonblack pepper
½teaspooncumin
½teaspoonbasil
2cupslower-sugar marinara sauce
⅓cuppanko bread crumbs
¼cupshredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400° F. Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the centers with a spoon, saving the centers. Roughly chop the removed centers and set aside.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil, and drop the "scooped out" out zucchini in the water for 1-2 minutes to partially cook. Carefully remove with tongs and reserve on a paper towel-lined plate.
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the oil and cook the onions until they start to become translucent, 6-8 minutes.
Add the garlic, diced sausage, reserved chopped zucchini centers, red pepper flakes, salt, black pepper, cumin, and basil. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, stirring to combine.
Pour ½ cup of the marinara sauce on the bottom of the baking dish, and line the dish with the zucchini halves, cut side facing up.
Evenly fill each zucchini boat with the sausage filling, and pour the remaining 1½ cup of sauce over the tops.
In a small bowl, combine the panko and Parmesan cheese together. Evenly sprinkle the tops of the zucchini with this mixture.
Generously spray the panko crust with nonstick cooking spray.
Bake until the cheese melts and the top is golden brown, 20-25 minutes.
Notes
Tips:
To swap out the chicken sausage for ground beef or ground turkey, just cook it first, drain the fat, and add to the recipe at step 5.
For a vegetarian option, bulk the filling up with more vegetables, like a red or yellow pepper, or even quinoa instead of meat.