Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats
Tender zucchini is filled with a hearty, herb-seasoned ground beef mixture enriched with onion, garlic, tomato paste, and fresh basil, then finished with melted mozzarella. Italian-inspired flavors make these boats a comforting, family-friendly choice for a weeknight dinner or casual gathering.
- Prep10 mins
- Cook35 mins
- Serves4
- DifficultyMedium
easyChef Pro health score
Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.
- Glycemic ImpactFair
- 56 / 100
- Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
- Nutritional DensityPoor
- 15 / 100
- Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
- Energy DensityGood
- 91 / 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.
- 28
- Heart Health
- 68
- Metabolic
- 52
- Digestive
- 28
- Inflammatory
- 61
- Performance
- 54
- General Wellness
- 1
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
- 2
Drizzle olive oil over the zucchini and season with salt and pepper. Place it on the prepared baking sheet.
- 3
Bake in the preheated oven until the zucchini is fork-tender, 30 to 45 minutes.
- 4
While the zucchini is cooking, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir the ground beef with the onion and garlic until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Stir in the dried basil, dried oregano, and garlic salt.
- 5
Combine tomato paste with water in a small bowl. Mix thoroughly. Drain the fat from the beef mixture if needed. Add the tomato paste mixture and heat through. Turn off the heat, add the fresh basil leaves, and mix until well blended.
- 6
Remove the zucchini from the oven; leave the oven on. Scoop the meat mixture generously into each zucchini quarter and sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese. Return to the oven and bake until the cheese is melted, about 5 minutes.
- Calories 548.2 kcal High 27%
- Protein 63.43 g Good Source 127%
- Carbohydrate 24.49 g 9%
- Total Fat 27.28 g High 35%
- Saturated Fat 17.57 g High 88%
- Trans Fat 0.0 g Low Source 0%
- Cholesterol 163.61 mg High 55%
- Sodium 872.19 mg High 38%
- Dietary Fiber 7.37 g Good Source 26%
- Total Sugars 8.78 g --
- Added Sugars 2.49 g Low Source 5%
- Calcium 542.2 mg Good Source 42%
- Iron 17.61 mg Good Source 98%
- Potassium 746.5 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin A 153.55 mcg Moderate 17%
- Vitamin C 14.25 mg Moderate 16%
- Vitamin D 0.0 mcg Low Source 0%
Values are per serving. Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet.
- Milk 🥛
- Tomatoes 🍅
- Garlic 🧄
- Onions 🧅
About This Recipe
Italian Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats is made with 17 ingredients and serves 4. It takes about 45 mins and is rated medium. Key ingredients include Beef, Black Pepper, Dried Basil, and Dried Oregano. Each serving provides about 548.2 kcal, and is a good source of protein.
Recipe Questions
- What is Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats made of?
- The main ingredients are Beef, Black Pepper, Dried Basil, Dried Oregano, Fresh Basil. The full list of 17 is above.
- How long does it take to make Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats?
- About 45 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 35 mins to cook.
- How many calories are in one serving?
- One serving provides about 548.2 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
- Is Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats easy to make?
- This recipe is rated medium, with 17 ingredients and 6 steps.
- Is Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats healthy?
- Italian-Inspired Stuffed Zucchini Boats has an easyChef Pro health score of 51/100. Per serving, it provides 548.2 calories and 63.43 g of protein, or 127% of the Daily Value. It is a good source of dietary fiber, calcium and iron. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 872.19 mg (38% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 17.57 g (88% of the Daily Value). It contains Milk, 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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