Mexican Zucchini Boats

By Becky Hardin

Published Apr 30, 2023

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Liven up your meals with these delicious Mexican zucchini boats. Loaded with seasoned beef, beans, and veggies, they’re packed full of flavor and so easy to make!

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What’s in Mexican Stuffed Zucchini?

Made with fresh veggies and natural ingredients, these zucchini boats are high in protein, making for a healthy ground beef recipe . Everyone will love the bright Mexican flavors, and you’ll love all the healthy ingredients!

Zucchini: Look for similarly-sized medium or large zucchini so they cook evenly in the oven.
Olive Oil: Helps the beef brown without burning,
Ground Beef: I like 90% lean ground beef, but you can use fattier beef. Just be sure to drain off the excess fat to prevent soggy zucchini boats.
Onion : Adds a mild earthy and sweet flavor.
Bell Pepper: Mild, sweet, and crunchy! I like red for the pop of color, but yellow, orange, or green would also work.
Garlic: Enhances the earthy flavors of the veggies.
Black Beans + Corn: Classic Mexican flavor staples that bulk up these zucchini boats to make them super filling!
Spices: Cumin, chili powder, salt, and oregano add Mexican flair to these taco boats!
Salsa : Adds zesty freshness!
Cheese: Creamy, gooey cheese holds the filling together. I like Mexican blend or cheddar, but feel free to use your favorite!

Pro Tip: Don’t scoop out the zucchini all the way to the skin. Leave a bit of flesh to support the filling.

Variations on Stuffed Zucchini with Ground Beef

There are so many ways to change up these zucchini boats to suit your personal tastes. You could swap the ground beef for ground chicken or turkey, or you could make them vegetarian and simply add more of your favorite diced vegetables, like squash, tomato, mushroom, or peas.

For spicier zucchini boats, add some cayenne pepper to the ground beef or add some diced jalapeños to the filling. You could also swap out the cheese for pepper jack.

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These Mexican stuffed zucchini boats are great to make ahead. You can make the beef filling 2 or 3 days ahead of time and keep it covered in the fridge until you are ready to use it. It’s best not to cut and fill the zucchini more than a day ahead of time, or they can start to brown.

There’s no need to peel the zucchini in this recipe. The skin is delicate, so it is easy to slice right through. Plus, it contains a lot of nutrients!

Unfortunately, as written, this recipe is not keto-friendly. Beans and corn do not fit into the keto diet.

Cooked zucchini boats will keep well in the fridge for a couple of days. You can quickly heat them through in the microwave, but the zucchini can get a little mushy this way. I prefer to heat them in the oven at 350°F for 10 minutes, then place them under the broiler to finish them off.

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How to Store and Reheat

Store leftover Mexican zucchini boats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave in 30-second intervals until warmed through or in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes. You can broil the boats for extra melty cheese.

How to Freeze

Freeze Mexican zucchini boats in a single layer on a lined baking sheet until solid, about 1-2 hours. Tightly wrap each boat in plastic wrap before placing them in a large Ziplock bag to store for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Serving Suggestions

These zucchini boats are great with more than just salsa and cilantro. Top them with sour cream, guacamole , or pico de gallo ! They pair great with cilantro lime rice , basmati rice , or a healthy quinoa salad . Street corn pasta salad , Parmesan roasted potatoes , or a crisp taco salad would also be delish!

Ingredients1x2x3x

▢ 3 zucchini sliced lengthwise
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ ½ pound 90% lean ground beef
▢ ½ yellow onion chopped
▢ 1 red bell pepper chopped
▢ 2 cloves garlic minced
▢ 15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
▢ ½ cup corn frozen or canned
▢ 1 teaspoon ground cumin
▢ 1 teaspoon chili powder
▢ 1 teaspoon Kosher salt
▢ ½ teaspoon dried oregano
▢ ¾ cup salsa store-bought or homemade
▢ 1 cup shredded cheese Mexican blend or cheddar, divided
▢ Chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Using a spoon, hollow out the middle of each zucchini half (a grapefruit spoon works well for this) leaving enough intact around the edges so that the zucchini is still sturdy and retains its shape. Set the inside scraps aside for another use or discard. Place zucchini boats in a 9×13-inch baking dish. 3 zucchini
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add the beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula. 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ pound 90% lean ground beef
Once browned, add the onion, pepper, and garlic. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until slightly softened. ½ yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic
Add the beans, corn, and spices to the skillet and stir until well combined. 15 ounces black beans, ½ cup corn, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Add the salsa and half of the shredded cheese, mix until incorporated then turn off the heat. ¾ cup salsa, 1 cup shredded cheese
Spoon an even amount of the mixture into each zucchini half and top with the remaining cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes to fully melt the cheese.
Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve. Chopped fresh cilantro

Equipment

9×13 Baking Pan

Becky’s Tips

When removing the flesh from the zucchini, leave enough intact around the edges so that the zucchini is still sturdy and retains its shape.
Use lean ground beef for a healthier meal.
Try swapping the beef for ground turkey or chicken.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

More Zucchini Recipes We Love

Zucchini Au Gratin
Zucchini Ravioli
Oven-roasted Zucchini
Crispy Zucchini Fries
Grilled Zucchini
Crispy Baked Zucchini

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Mexican Zucchini Boats Recipe

Equipment

9x13 Baking Pan

Ingredients

3 zucchini sliced lengthwise
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ pound 90% lean ground beef
½ yellow onion chopped
1 red bell pepper chopped
2 cloves garlic minced
15 ounces black beans drained and rinsed (1 can)
½ cup corn frozen or canned
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon Kosher salt
½ teaspoon dried oregano
¾ cup salsa store-bought or homemade
1 cup shredded cheese Mexican blend or cheddar, divided
Chopped fresh cilantro optional, for garnish

Instructions

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Using a spoon, hollow out the middle of each zucchini half (a grapefruit spoon works well for this) leaving enough intact around the edges so that the zucchini is still sturdy and retains its shape. Set the inside scraps aside for another use or discard. Place zucchini boats in a 9x13-inch baking dish. 3 zucchini
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a large skillet. Once hot, add the beef and cook until browned, breaking up with a spatula. 1 tablespoon olive oil, ½ pound 90% lean ground beef
Once browned, add the onion, pepper, and garlic. Stir to combine and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until slightly softened. ½ yellow onion, 1 red bell pepper, 2 cloves garlic
Add the beans, corn, and spices to the skillet and stir until well combined. 15 ounces black beans, ½ cup corn, 1 teaspoon ground cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, 1 teaspoon Kosher salt, ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Add the salsa and half of the shredded cheese, mix until incorporated then turn off the heat. ¾ cup salsa, 1 cup shredded cheese
Spoon an even amount of the mixture into each zucchini half and top with the remaining cheese.
Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 30-35 minutes. Remove foil for the last 5 minutes to fully melt the cheese.
Garnish with fresh cilantro and serve. Chopped fresh cilantro

Notes

When removing the flesh from the zucchini, leave enough intact around the edges so that the zucchini is still sturdy and retains its shape.
Use lean ground beef for a healthier meal.
Try swapping the beef for ground turkey or chicken.

Nutrition

By Becky Hardin

Published Jul 12, 2017

This Essential Grocery List is an absolute life saver for my family on the busy weeks. When I started this journey to learn how to cook, I quickly realized that the first step in cooking is having staple ingredients on hand. I want to avoid having to run out to the grocery store every single time I prepare a new recipe. Having a well-stocked pantry has made my life in the kitchen so much simpler, because when it’s time to cook, I have what I need.

Essential Grocery List

It’s so helpful to have a basic grocery list to help me remember which foods to buy at the store. This food shopping list is my go-to!

It’s better to stock up on things like grains, seasonings and spices, baking essentials, oils, condiments, canned and frozen foods, etc. so I can just grab them when I need them. These things have a long shelf life , so I keep them in my kitchen for convenience.

However, I do have to go to the supermarket sometimes, and there’s a way to make that trip easy and hassle-free: I keep a grocery list! If I go in blindly, I’ll leave with things I don’t need, and nothing that actually helps me prepare a good meal.

In the list below, I’ve compiled everything I always have on my stock-up grocery list.

I’ve got you covered! I created an easy grocery list filled with all of the essentials. Plus there’s a free printable version that you can take with you to the grocery store. It has everything you need to stock your pantry, your freezer, and your refrigerator.

Click to get my Free Printable Grocery List

What to Buy at the Grocery Store

This is the perfect grocery list filled with all the basics and essentials. It should help get you going if you’re new to cooking, or if you’re just left staring helplessly at an empty pantry and don’t know how to fill it.

When I first started cooking, things could seem overwhelming. I quickly realized that they more prepared I could be, the more confident I felt. If you already have the basics in your kitchen, then you can shop stress-free.

So print out our easy grocery list, stock up your pantry and fridge, and you’ll be cooking in no time!