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Zucchini Pizza Boats – Ready In 25 Minutes!

Zucchini Pizza Boats – Ready In 25 Minutes!

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These delicious zucchini pizza boats are a healthier alternative to regular pizza, and are so incredibly easy to make! Fill these zucchini boats with your favorite toppings for a delicious vegetarian meal you don’t have to feel guilty about later…


zucchini pizza boats

With veggies as the main star in this dish, these delicious zucchini pizza boats are a healthier alternative to regular pizza. They’re so incredibly easy to make and can be made for each person’s preferences. Fill these zucchini boats with your favorite toppings for a delicious meal you don’t have to feel guilty about later.

When our neighbor dropped off some fresh zucchinis from her garden, I politely accepted them, closed the door, and turned up my nose.

I’m not a huge zucchini fan, but over the last few years, I’ve been trying different foods and flavors. This is especially true now that I’m pregnant and this baby seems to love everything I don’t.

I can’t remember the exact moment or dish I tried with zucchini in it that made me dislike them, but it’s been on my list of foods to avoid for years…until now.

Easy Zucchini Pizza Boats

 

Even though I had an aversion to zucchini, I didn’t want them to go to waste since my neighbor put so much time and love into growing them. But to be honest, I didn’t know how to incorporate them into a tasty dish my family (or myself) would enjoy.

My hubby patted my pregnant belly and said, “I’m sure you’ll come up with something – you have two brains in your body right now, after all…”

 He’s such a funny guy. I obviously married him for this humor :).

And he was right. That entire night, I dreamed of pizza and I woke up wanting pizza for breakfast!

And then it hit me – what if I combined the two? Pizza and zucchini! Like a veggie pizza, but with veggies for the crust. That’s how this zucchini pizza boat recipe was born.

It’s now one of my favorite recipes to make, and I find myself lingering around my neighbor’s yard when her zucchinis are in season so I can offer to take some of them off her hands!

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Why Zucchini is Healthy for You

Zucchini is a summer squash that’s part of the gourd family (which also includes pumpkins and cucumbers). They’re low in calories but high in nutrients like vitamins A and C, potassium, and folate.

They’re also a good source of fiber which can help with digestion and weight loss.

When choosing zucchini at the store, look for ones that are small and firm with shiny, deep green skin. Avoid any that have bruises or are dull in color.

How Long Does Zucchini Last In the Fridge?

Zucchini will last in the fridge for up to a week but is best used within the first few days for the freshest flavor.

When stored properly in a plastic bag or container, zucchini will last the longest in the crisper drawer of your fridge.

If you notice your zucchini starting to soften or get wrinkled, it’s still okay to use. The texture might not be as perfect, but it will still taste good!

It’s time to get rid of zucchini when it starts to turn brown or moldy.

Here’s how I made these delicious Zucchini Pizza Boats…

 

How To Make Zucchini Pizza Boats

This recipe is so simple and can be tailored to your family’s preferences. I like to make them vegetarian, but you can certainly add pepperoni or your favorite pizza toppings.

For this recipe, I used four whole zucchinis, sliced in half lengthwise. This created eight total zucchini boats.

You can use more if you have them on hand, or double the recipe, but you’ll need to grab another baking sheet and increase the oven baking time by several minutes. I found that 8 boats were perfect for my large baking sheet.

Using a melon baller, I removed the insides of the zucchini (you can also use a spoon) leaving about a 1/3″ border around the boat so it could hold the sauce, cheese, and toppings while baking. I saved the insides to combine with banana for a yummy, moist zucchini banana bread recipe that I’ll share with you guys here soon!

In the hollowed-out boats, I filled the zucchini with pizza sauce, cheese, and a few yummy toppings we had on hand (olives, red onions, and spinach).

I started with sprinkling the bare boats with some kosher salt and filled them up 3/4 of the way with pizza sauce. I then used a spoon to spread the sauce evenly around the inside of the boats.

You don’t need to fill your boats up to the tippy-top, but don’t be shy with your sauce!

I sprinkled some shredded mozzarella cheese onto the boats and topped each with a coarse dusting of Italian seasoning.

Next, I added on some toppings (these boats are topped with olives, spinach, and red onions) and sprinkled some parmesan cheese on top.

I baked these zucchini pizza boats at 375 for 20 minutes, and then set the oven to low broil for 3 minutes with the boats on the top oven rack.

They came out of the oven a beautiful golden brown color, cooked to perfection, and ready to eat!

Zucchini Pizza Toppings

Make your zucchini pizza boats however you like them! Here are some of our favorite ideas for toppings:

  • Olives
  • Spinach
  • Red onions
  • Pepperoni
  • Sausage
  • Mushrooms
  • Bell peppers
  • Pineapple
  • Jalapeños
  • Red onions
  • Diced ham
  • Diced tomatoes

The possibilities are endless. When it comes to making your own pizza boats, feel free to get creative! In fact, this is a great dinner or lunch recipe that you can get the whole family involved in. Let everyone top their own pizza boats with their favorite toppings, then put them in the oven!

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe as much as we do! If you make it, be sure to snap a photo and tag me on Instagram so I can see your creation!

 

 

 


I hope you all enjoyed this recipe – feel free to share your thoughts in the comments below, and let me know how your zucchini pizza boats turned out!

*Recipe originally published November 2019, updated May 2022..

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