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!
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!
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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- Small or Medium Zucchini
- Ground Beef
- Italian Seasoning
- Keto Marinara Sauce (click here for our recipe)
- Mozzarella Cheese
- Pepperoni (if making pizza flavored zucchini boats)
Kitchen Tools Used
Directions
To Prep:
Preheat oven to 375°F and prepare a 9×13″ baking pan with non-stick spray.
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.
Recipe 1: Italian Ground Beef Stuffed Zucchini Boats:
- Fill your zucchini boats with meat sauce and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender.
Recipe 2: Keto Zucchini Pizza Boats:
- Fill your zucchini boats with meat sauce and top generously with shredded mozzarella cheese.
- Top each boat with 2-3 slices of pepperoni and a dash of dried red pepper.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender.
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.
Learn More About Keto
- What is Keto?
- How many carbs can you eat on keto?
- Keto-friendly Food List
- What is the Keto flu and how to avoid it?
- What is a Targeted Keto Diet?
- 8 Reasons You’re Not Losing Weight on Keto
Keto Zucchini Boats Recipe (Printable Copy)
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Keto Zucchini Boats (2 Ways!)
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
Nutrition
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