Description
Zucchini Pizza Boats are a delicious and healthy twist on traditional pizza, using fresh zucchini halves as the base. These low-carb ‘boats’ are filled with marinara sauce, mozzarella cheese, and your favorite pizza toppings, then baked to perfection for a fun, family-friendly meal or snack.
Ingredients
Scale
For the Zucchini Boats:
- 2 medium zucchinis
- 1 cup marinara sauce (or pizza sauce)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices (or other toppings like bell peppers, mushrooms, or olives)
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley for garnish (optional)
Optional Toppings:
- Sliced black olives
- Diced bell peppers
- Cooked sausage or ground beef
- Fresh spinach
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Prepare the Zucchini: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the zucchinis in half lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out the center of each zucchini half, leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh to create a boat shape. Save the scooped-out zucchini for another use, such as smoothies or stir-fries.
- Season the Zucchini: Lightly sprinkle the inside of each zucchini boat with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning if using. This adds flavor to the base and enhances the overall taste.
- Fill the Zucchini Boats: Spoon marinara sauce generously into each zucchini boat. Top the sauce with shredded mozzarella cheese and your choice of toppings like pepperoni, olives, or bell peppers to customize the flavor.
- Bake the Zucchini Boats: Place the filled zucchini boats on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking. Bake in the preheated oven for 15-20 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is melted and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let cool slightly. Garnish with fresh basil or parsley if desired. Serve warm and enjoy your healthy and fun zucchini pizza boats!
Notes
- You can customize the toppings based on your preferences or dietary restrictions.
- Leftover scooped zucchini flesh can be used in smoothies, soups, or stir-fries to reduce waste.
- For a lower-fat version, use part-skim mozzarella or reduce the cheese quantity.
- If you want the zucchini boats crisper, bake for an additional 5 minutes but watch carefully to avoid burning.
- These pizza boats are perfect for a low-carb or gluten-free diet.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Appetizer
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Keywords: Zucchini pizza boats, healthy pizza, low-carb pizza, gluten free pizza, vegetable pizza, baked zucchini recipe
