Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats are the healthy weeknight meal you'll want to make again and again. This is a seriously easy recipe that's full of delicious flavor without all the guilt!
4mediumzucchini, cleaned, halved length-wise and seeds scooped out.
Cooking spray
½teaspoonKosher salt+ additional for precooking the zucchini
¼teaspoonground black pepper+ additional for precooking the zucchini
1Tablespoonolive oil
1mediumonion, finely diced
1mediumred bell pepper, seeded and finely diced
2-3clovesgarlic, minced
1poundground turkey
1teaspoonItalian seasoning
3TablespoonsRomano cheese
18 ounce cantomato sauce
4ounceswater(½ of the empty tomato sauce can)
1mediumtomato, seeded and finely diced
1cupcooked rice
1cupMozzarella cheese
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees and line a sheet pan with parchment or a silicone liner.
Place zucchini halves cut-side up, onto the pan. Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste. Bake for 10 minutes and then remove from the oven and set aside.
While the zucchini bakes, heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
Add onion and peppers to the pan and saute for around 4 minutes to soften.
Add garlic and saute for 1 minute more.
Add ground turkey and brown, breaking up with a wooden spoon around 3-5 minutes.
Reduce heat to medium and season with ½ teaspoon salt, 1/ teaspoon pepper, Italian seasoning, Romano cheese, sauce, water and diced tomato. Saute for 5-7 minutes.
Add cooked rice and stir to combine, remove from heat.
Divide mixture between each zucchini boat and sprinkle each with mozzarella cheese.
Bake uncovered for 15 more minutes and serve immediately.