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Keto Zucchini Boats (2 Ways)

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Our Stuffed Keto Zucchini Boats are quick, easy and delicious! We’ll show you how to make them Italian seasoned or pizza flavored — both are meaty, cheesy and under 5g net carbs!

cutting a bite of low carb stuffed zucchini boats

Easy Stuffed Keto Zucchini Boats

When you’re first starting the keto diet, it can be a bit overwhelming figuring out what to eat and finding easy recipes that the whole family can eat.

That’s why I love ground beef stuffed zucchini boats — it is an easy recipe with lots of nutritious veggies, ready in about 30 minutes, and it is a comfort food that even kids will love!

What’s inside? 

We started with a base of tender roasted zucchini and layered it with seasoned ground beef, flavorful low carb marinara sauce, and then topped it with lots of melty cheese. 

The base recipe is Italian flavored, but I’ll also show you a quick twist to make these into Pizza Zucchini Boats too! 

Ground beef is one of the most versatile ingredients because you can use it so many ways! If you have a lot of ground beef in the fridge or freezer and are looking for more inspiration, check out our 15 top keto ground beef recipes here!

Related: For another one of our favorite Keto zucchini recipes, try our Keto Zucchini Lasagna!

casserole dish filled with keto stuffed zucchini, topped with pizza sauce and cheese

Why I Love This Recipe:

  • Ready in about 30 minutes
  • Only 5g net carbs per serving!
  • One recipe that can be made two different ways!

Ingredients

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Kitchen Tools Used

Directions

To Prep:

Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13″ baking pan with non-stick spray.

cooking ground beef and onions in pan

While oven heats, cook your meat sauce:

  • In a medium skillet over medium heat, sauté ground beef until it starts to brown.
  • Add seasoning and chopped onions and cook until onions are translucent.

Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle containing seeds so that you have long hollow zucchini boats.

scooping middle out of zucchini to make zucchini boats

Recipe 1: Italian Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats:

  1. Fill your zucchini boats with meat sauce and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  2. Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender.

scooping meat sauce into zucchini boats

Recipe 2: Keto Zucchini Pizza Boats:

  1. Fill your zucchini boats with meat sauce and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  2. Top each boat with 2-3 slices of pepperoni and a dash of dried red pepper.
  3. Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender.

sprinkling cheese on ground beef stuffed zucchini boats

Related: Try our Pizza Flavored Keto Stuffed Tomatoes too!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Marinara Sauce Keto?

Many fruits, including tomatoes, are often included on lists of foods to avoid on keto because they naturally contain sugar.

However, one serving of our homemade low carb tomato sauce only contains about 2-3 grams of total carbs (depending on the amount of sauce you actually consume). That’s not much at all!

The way I look at it is that tomatoes pack so much nutrition, they are worth the carbs. If you’re doing a moderate keto diet of 30-50 grams of carbs per day, it should be no problem to accommodate 2-3 grams of carbs from this sauce.

Is It Ok to Use Store-Bought Shredded Cheese on the Keto Diet?

Always check labels when purchasing store-bought shredded cheeses, as they sometimes contain added starches and carbs. The safest bet when on a keto diet is to buy blocks of your favorite cheeses and shred yourself.

Can You Eat the Skin on Zucchini Boats?

Absolutely! When slow roasted, the zucchini skin becomes quite tender. The skin is also a more concentrated source of nutrition, as the zucchini’s flesh is mostly water.

I recommend using a small to medium sized zucchini for this recipe, as the skin will be thinner and more palatable. Extra-large zucchini can develop a tougher, more bitter skin.

Is Zucchini Good for Weight Loss?

Zucchini is generally considered one of the best vegetables to eat on a low carb diet, containing less than 3g net carbs per cup. It is also a good source of Vitamin C, making it a nutritious addition to any meal.

Another plus for zucchini is its low calorie density and high water content — this helps you feel fuller, without a large calorie load.

spatula serving keto stuffed zucchini boats from casserole dish

Learn More About Keto

Keto Zucchini Boats Recipe (Printable Copy)

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Keto Zucchini Boats (2 Ways!)

Our Stuffed Keto Zucchini Boats are quick, easy and delicious! We'll show you how to make Italian low carb flavor or pizza zucchini boats with one recipe!
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time30 mins
Total Time35 mins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Keto
Keyword: gluten free, Italian, low carb
Servings: 6 boats
Calories: 259kcal
Author: Stacey
Cost: $6

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 onion chopped
  • 1 cup keto marinara sauce
  • 3 zucchini halved
  • 1/2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375°F.
  • In a medium skillet over medium heat, sauté ground beef until it starts to brown. Add seasoning and chopped onions and cook until onions are translucent.
  • Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the middle containing seeds so that you have long hollow zucchini boats.
  • Fill your zucchini boats with meat sauce and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
  • Optional: To make pizza zucchini boats, top with pepperoni and crushed red pepper.
  • Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender.

Video

Notes

Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate only; actual values will vary based on the exact ingredients used and amount of recipe prepared.
Net Carbs: 5g per boat

Nutrition

Calories: 259kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 118mg | Potassium: 545mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 810IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 93mg | Iron: 2mg

Pin our Keto Zucchini Boats on Pinterest:

2 photo vertical collage of zucchini stuffed with meat, pizza sauce, and cheese; text overlay "Keto Stuffed Zucchini Boats"

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