Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef
Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef balance rich, spiced ground beef with the fresh bite of tender roasted zucchini, all capped with gooey pepper Jack. The warm chili, cumin, and jalapeño notes echo classic tacos without the tortillas, making it a satisfying weeknight Dinner or a fun game-day spread. It’s hearty yet light, with a gentle kick you can tailor to taste.
- Prep30 mins
- Cook40 mins
- Serves8
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 55 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 0 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 90 / 100
- Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
- NOVA Unprocessed or minimally processed
- 1 / 4
- Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.
How it scores for each health goal
The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.
- 26
- Heart Health
- 71
- Metabolic
- 25
- Digestive
- 22
- Inflammatory
- 48
- Performance
- 44
- General Wellness
- 1
Combine olive oil, onion, and ground beef in a skillet over high heat. Cook, stirring, until the onion becomes translucent and the beef is browned and crumbled into very small pieces, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and jalapeno pepper and stir for 2 minutes. Stir in 1 teaspoon salt, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, cumin, dried oregano, cornmeal, and black pepper. Cook for 1 minute more.
- 2
Stir in the tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the mixture thickens to your preferred texture, 5 to 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.
- 3
Use a teaspoon or melon baller to scoop out about half of the center of each zucchini to form a "boat." Sprinkle generously with the remaining kosher salt and let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
- 4
Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with a silicone liner.
- 5
Use a paper towel to blot any moisture drawn out of the zucchini by the salt. Place the boats on the prepared baking sheet and fill each with as much taco meat mixture as will fit. Top evenly with pepper Jack cheese.
- 6
Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese is browned and the zucchini is just barely tender, about 20 minutes. Test doneness with a sharp knife. Serve immediately.
- Calories 348.23 kcal Moderate 17%
- Protein 22.14 g Good Source 44%
- Carbohydrate 12.1 g 4%
- Total Fat 25.02 g High 32%
- Saturated Fat 12.18 g High 61%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 84.16 mg High 28%
- Sodium 404.79 mg Moderate 18%
- Dietary Fiber 2.99 g Moderate 11%
- Total Sugars 3.75 g --
- Added Sugars 0.63 g Low Source 1%
- Calcium 331.27 mg Good Source 25%
- Iron 2.22 mg Moderate 12%
- Potassium 383.1 mg Low Source 8%
- Vitamin A 32.02 mcg Low Source 4%
- Vitamin C 8.74 mg Low Source 10%
- Vitamin D 0.24 mcg Low Source 1%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Wheat 🌾
- Gluten
- Corn 🌽
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef is made with 16 ingredients and serves 8. It takes about 1 hr 10 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, and Cornmeal. Each serving provides about 348.23 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef made of?
- The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Cayenne Pepper, Chili Powder, Cornmeal, Diced Jalapeño Peppers. The full list of 16 is above.
- How long does it take to make Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef?
- About 1 hr 10 mins in total: 30 mins to prepare and 40 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 348.23 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 16 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef healthy?
- Chef John's Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Taco Beef has an easyChef Pro health score of 46/100. Per serving, it provides 348.23 calories and 22.14 g of protein, or 44% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of calcium. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 404.79 mg (18% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 12.18 g (61% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Corn, Tomatoes, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.
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The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.
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