Zucchini Pizza Boats

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These Zucchini Pizza Boats are the perfect solution if you’re searching for a healthier way to satisfy your pizza cravings. This recipe takes fresh zucchini, hollows it out, and fills it with all your favorite pizza toppings. It’s a great option for a low-carb diet, and the best part is you won’t feel like you’re missing out on anything.

Why You’ll Love this Zucchini Pizza Boat Recipe

Zucchini Pizza Boats are the perfect combination of healthy and delicious. They’re packed with flavor, thanks to the pizza sauce, melty mozzarella cheese, and mini pepperoni slices, but without the extra carbs from pizza dough. This easy recipe is a great way to get the whole family to eat more veggies, and it’s super customizable—add your favorite toppings like black olives, Italian sausage, or bell pepper. Plus, they’re quick to make, so they’re ideal for busy weeknights when you need something fast but tasty.

Ingredients Needed For Zucchini Pizza Boats

Here’s everything you need to make these healthy Zucchini Pizza Boats:

• Olive oil: Adds a rich, flavorful base for cooking the zucchini.
• Garlic clove: Enhances the flavor with a hint of garlic.
• Zucchini: Fresh zucchini, the star of the show, makes for the perfect pizza “boat.”
• Salt and black pepper: Essential seasonings to bring out the natural flavors.
• Pizza sauce: The base for your pizza filling; marinara sauce works great too.
• Mozzarella cheese: Shredded for that gooey, melty goodness.
• Mini pepperoni slices: Or regular pepperoni, cut into quarters for a classic pizza topping.
• Oregano: Dried, to add that signature pizza flavor.
• Fresh basil: Chiffonade for a fresh garnish that complements the flavors perfectly.

Variations

• Cheese: Swap mozzarella for parmesan cheese or add a mix of both.
• Toppings: Try adding cooked Italian sausage, red onions, or green peppers.
• Air Fryer: Use an air fryer for a quicker, crispier result.
• Sauce: Substitute pizza sauce with buffalo chicken or marinara sauce for a different flavor profile.
• Keto Zucchini Boats: Skip the pizza sauce and use a low-carb marinara sauce instead.
• Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats: Swap out the pepperoni for shredded buffalo chicken and a drizzle of ranch.
• Vegetarian Zucchini Pizza Boats: Load up with veggies like bell pepper, red onions, and black olives.
• Sausage Mixture: Use ground beef or turkey sausage instead of pepperoni for a hearty option.

How To Make Zucchini Pizza Boats

For full recipe details, including ingredient measurements, see the printable recipe card down at the bottom of this post. Here are my step by step instructions for making these zucchini pizza boats:

1. Preheat Skillet + Prep Zucchini

Preheat skillet over medium heat with olive oil and garlic.

Slice zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and some of the zucchini “meat” so that you are left with a skinny boat shape, about 1/3-1/2 inch thick.

Pro Tip: If you are using large zucchini, slice in half, this time width-wise so you have 4 ‘boats’ per zucchini. If you are using small zucchinis from the store, you can forgo this step.

2. Cook the Zucchini

Sprinkle salt and black pepper over prepared zucchini. Remove garlic from pan. Place zucchinis cut side down in pan and cover. 

Cook 5 minutes and turn. Edges should be brown. Cover and cook another 5 minutes.

3. Assemble the Boats

Transfer cooked zucchini to a sheet pan and pat dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture. 

Fill with pizza sauce and cheese, then top with mini pepperoni. Sprinkle with oregano.

4. Broil (or Bake)

Transfer the zucchini pizza boats to a preheated oven set to broil, broiling until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Garnish with fresh basil and serve hot!

Pro Tip: I like my zucchini crisp-tender, meaning it is still a little firm but not crunchy like a totally uncooked zucchini would be. If you would like a softer zucchini, all you need to do is bake the pizza stuffed zucchini at 375° F for 10-15 minutes (as opposed to broiling). This should soften things up!

Storage + Make Ahead Directions

Store any leftover zucchini pizza boats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat them in the oven, toaster oven, or air fryer to enjoy them the next day.

To Freeze: Place them in an airtight container or wrap them in parchment paper and store them in the freezer for up to 2 months. Just reheat in a preheated oven or toaster oven.

To Make Ahead: Prepare the zucchini boats up to the point of baking, then store them in the fridge. When ready to serve, simply bake them in a preheated oven until the cheese is melted and bubbly.

More Zucchini Recipes to Try!

• Zucchini Pizza Casserole
• Zucchini Fritters
• Fried Zucchini
• Lemon Zucchini Cookies
• Zucchini Brownies
• Zucchini Lemon Bread
• Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Whether you’re looking for a simple weeknight dinner or a fun way to use up that zucchini from your garden, these zucchini boats are a must-try. With just a few basic ingredients, you’ll have a delicious meal on the table in no time. The printable recipe card is below. Have a good one, friends! 🙂

If you make this recipe, I would really appreciate it if you would give it a star rating and leave your review in the comments! If you have a picture of your finished dish, post it on Instagram using the hashtag #laurenslatest and tagging me @laurens_latest.