Description
What You’ll Need: Classic lasagna flavors in a lighter package—tender zucchini boats stuffed with savory beef marinara, creamy ricotta, and gooey mozzarella. Weeknight-easy, crowd-pleasing, and low-carb.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Zucchini Boats
- 4 large zucchini, halved lengthwise (scoop to leave ~1/4-inch shell)
- 1 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
For the Meat Sauce
- 1/2 yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1/2 lb lean ground beef
- kosher salt (to taste)
- freshly ground black pepper (to taste)
- 1 cup jarred marinara sauce
- crushed red pepper flakes (a pinch)
Cheeses & Garnish
- 1 cup creamy ricotta cheese
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- freshly chopped parsley (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prep oven & zucchini: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Halve zucchini lengthwise and scoop out flesh, leaving about a 1/4-inch shell. Pro tip: Score the flesh in a crisscross pattern to make scooping easier. Chop the scooped zucchini to add to the sauce (optional).
- Cook meat sauce: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sauté onion 5 minutes until translucent; add garlic 1 minute. Add ground beef and cook ~5 minutes, breaking it up, until no longer pink; drain excess fat. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in marinara and a pinch of red pepper flakes; simmer a few minutes. (Stir in chopped zucchini flesh if using.)
- Layer the boats: Arrange zucchini in a baking dish. Spread a layer of ricotta into each boat. Spoon beef sauce on top, then sprinkle evenly with mozzarella.
- Bake: Bake 15 minutes, or until zucchini is tender-crisp and cheese is melted and bubbling with light golden spots.
- Garnish & serve: Remove from oven and garnish with chopped parsley. Serve hot and cheesy.
Notes
Timing: Dinner is ready in about 45 minutes. Add 5–10 extra minutes if your zucchini are very large. For meal prep, assemble ahead and bake just before serving.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 8
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 15
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 25
