Undoubtedly, pizza is always a fan favorite. While it’s tough to beat such a classic dish, this zucchini pizza boat recipe definitely deserves its own recognition. It delivers all the glorious pizza flavor you know and love, but without the heavy carb loaded crust. As a result, you’ve got a delicious meal that’s filling and surprisingly light. Not to mention, you can easily customize the toppings with sausage or chicken for extra protein.
Ingredients:
- 4 medium zucchinis
- ¼ tsp kosher salt
- 1 cup pizza sauce
- 1¼ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 2 tsp Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup mini pepperoni (or regular size pepperoni, sliced into bite sized pieces)
- 2 tsp freshly ground Parmesan
- 2 tsp chopped fresh basil or thyme
Directions:
Step 1
First, position a rack in the center of your oven and preheat to 375°F. Then, lightly coat a baking sheet or 9×13 inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. However, you can also use a silicone baking mat if you prefer.
Step 2
Next, cut each zucchini in half lengthwise. With a spoon or even a melon baller, carefully scrape out the center of the zucchini, leaving about ¼ inch on each side. Arrange the zucchini shells on the casserole dish or baking sheet and sprinkle the hollowed out area generously with salt.
Step 3
After that, scoop the pizza sauce evenly into the hollowed out zucchini halves. Depending on how big your zucchinis are, you may need a bit more sauce than listed. You can spoon out as much as you want, but don’t feel like you absolutely have to fill the entire zucchini all the way to the top.
Step 4
Next, sprinkle the mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then go back through and sprinkle out your Italian seasoning and red pepper flakes. Place your pepperoni and whatever toppings you want on top. Last but not least, sprinkle a bit of Parmesan cheese over everything.
Step 5
Put your zucchini boats in the oven and bake for 18 to 20 minutes, until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is bubbly and hot. If you want to take it a step further, switch your oven over to broil and cook for an extra minute or two, until the cheese is slightly browned. Carefully remove the baking pan from the oven and top with fresh herbs. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Click here to learn more healthy, delicious recipes!
About The Author
