{"id":2005834,"date":"2024-08-31T19:40:59","date_gmt":"2024-09-01T00:40:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?post_type=recipe&p=2005834"},"modified":"2024-10-21T17:44:27","modified_gmt":"2024-10-21T22:44:27","slug":"zucchini-taco-boats","status":"publish","type":"recipe","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/recipes\/zucchini-taco-boats\/","title":{"rendered":"Zucchini Taco Boats"},"content":{"rendered":"
Tacos are always a weeknight go-to, especially if you love cooking through your favorite taco recipes<\/a> to celebrate Taco Tuesday. And yet, while this casual meal is a staple you can rely on, it can get rather boring to eat the same thing over and over. So why not switch up Taco Tuesday with stuffed zucchini taco boats instead? This recipe has you making a cheesy taco filling, using it to stuff hollowed-out zucchini boats, then baking them to perfection. Plus, this zucchini taco boat recipe is easy to prep and freeze if you need another freezer meal<\/a> to add to your rotation.<\/p>\n Trim the ends off the zucchini, then slice them in half lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp, leaving about 1\/2 inch of the zucchini in the shells. Finely chop the pulp and set it aside.<\/p>\n In a skillet, cook the beef, zucchini pulp, onion, peppers and garlic over medium heat, breaking the beef apart into crumbles. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, then drain off the excess liquid. Place the skillet back on the heat and add the taco seasoning and water to create the sauce. Bring the ground beef mixture to a simmer until the sauce has thickened, one to two minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, then mix in 1\/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of the salsa, mixing well.<\/p>\n Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0F. Grease a 13×9-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or lightly brushed cooking oil. Spoon the ground beef mixture into the zucchini boats, then place them in the baking dish. Top the boats with the remaining 1\/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven, uncovered, until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with the remaining salsa and cilantro, if desired.<\/p>\n Cooked zucchini taco boats will last in the fridge for three to four days. For the best results, reheat them in the oven at 350\u00b0 for 10 or 15 minutes.<\/p>\n Yes! These zucchini taco boats are great to prep and stick in the freezer for a later date. Follow the usual instructions for this recipe, but don\u2019t bake it quite yet. Once the zucchini boats are assembled, cover the casserole dish with a well-sealed lid, then store it in the freezer for later. They\u2019ll last for up to three months in the freezer. When it\u2019s time to eat them, defrost the dish overnight in the fridge. For a quicker defrost, place the zucchini taco boats in a shallow dish of warm water for 20 minutes, then bake in the casserole dish as normal.<\/p>\n To hollow out the flesh of the zucchini, use a small spoon to scrape it out until there is about 1\/2 inch of zucchini thickness left. Remember to keep the pulp; this will be used in the taco mixture that is stuffed back in the zucchini.<\/p>\n When zucchini is cooked, it releases a lot of water and can get soggy quickly. To avoid this, sprinkle down your hollowed zucchini boats with salt, then let them sit for a few minutes. The zucchini will start to \u201csweat\u201d and release liquid thanks to the salt. Blot the boats gently with a paper towel, and this should help with the soggy texture while the zucchini boats bake.<\/p>\n While you do want to stuff your zucchini boat, you don\u2019t want to overstuff it, otherwise it will be difficult to pick up and transfer to a plate. Fill the zucchini boat with enough filling to make a mound, but not so full that the stuffing topples down into the casserole dish. The melted cheese on top will also help to keep the stuffing in place when transferring these zucchini boats to plates.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Put a fresh spin on taco night! These scrumptious “boats” are brimming with perfectly seasoned ground beef, veggies and cheese and are baked to melty perfection. \u2014Taste Recipes Test Kitchen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8105,"featured_media":2044206,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"ep_exclude_from_search":false},"tags":[303972,304032,303971,307308,304328,304292,304338,303966,307320,303887,306848,304268,307307,324623,303883,307614,307815],"categories-v2":[308503,308623,308500,310347,308984,308481,308305,308992,308495,310362,308478,309603,259483,310342,309177,308476,310591,310779],"coauthors":[199148],"recommended_recipes":[{"post_title":"Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Zucchini-Boats_EXPS_FT24_13525_EC_022824_3.jpg"},{"post_title":"Zucchini Pie","post_link":"\/recipes\/zucchini-onion-pie\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Zucchini-Onion-Pie_EXPS_FT24_158875_LH_0822_9.jpg"},{"post_title":"Avocado Crab Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/avocado-crab-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Avocado-Crab-Boats_EXPS_TOHcom24_139621_MD_P2_10_03_1b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Zucchini Lasagna","post_link":"\/recipes\/zucchini-lasagna\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Zucchini-Lasagna_EXPS_TOHAS22_3930_DR_04_07_5b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Turkey Sausage Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/turkey-sausage-zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/exps119761_SD153321D01_29_5b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Zucchini Pasta","post_link":"\/recipes\/zucchini-pasta\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Zucchini-Pasta_EXPS_FT22_38471_ST_08_23_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Zucchini Crust Pizza","post_link":"\/recipes\/zucchini-crust-pizza\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Zucchini-Crust-Pizza_EXPS_FT25_14179_AC_0515_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Spaghetti Squash Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/spaghetti-squash-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Spaghetti-Squash-Boats_EXPS_FT22_7185_ST_09_14_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Mini Zucchini Pizzas","post_link":"\/recipes\/mini-zucchini-pizzas\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Mini-Zucchini-Pizzas_EXPS_FT23_205463_ST_1201_6.jpg"},{"post_title":"Veggie Tacos","post_link":"\/recipes\/veggie-tacos\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Veggie-Tacos_EXPS_FT24_32191_JR_0823_1.jpg"},{"post_title":"Quinoa-Stuffed Squash Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/quinoa-stuffed-squash-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/exps195062_SD16B10_14_1a.jpg"},{"post_title":"Pinto Bean Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/pinto-bean-zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Pinto-Bean-Zucchini-Boats_EXPS_DODBZ20_25604_E07_21_11b.jpg"},{"post_title":"Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/buffalo-chicken-zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/07\/Buffalo-Chicken-Zucchini-Boats_EXPS_TOHD24_267388_SheriSilver_11.jpg"},{"post_title":"Summer Garden Fish Tacos","post_link":"\/recipes\/summer-garden-fish-tacos\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Summer-Garden-Fish-Tacos_exps147234_TH143192D02_07_2bC_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Cucumber Salad Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/cucumber-salad-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/Cucumber-Salad-Boats_EXPS227477_SD163617A02_05_5b__RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Watermelon Boat","post_link":"\/recipes\/watermelon-boat\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps6439_BL10469D30B.jpg"},{"post_title":"Southwest Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/southwest-zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/09\/Southwest-Zucchini-Boats_exps48521_SD1785605D10_RMS.jpg"},{"post_title":"Colorful Zucchini Boats","post_link":"\/recipes\/colorful-zucchini-boats\/","post_image":"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/exps21068_QC10362D49.jpg"},{"post_title":"Chicken Cucumber 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Cheesy taco meat stuffed in zucchini is an easy Taco Tuesday (or any day) dish that will be a hit with kids and adults alike.","recipeIngredient":["2 medium zucchini (about 8 inches)","3\/4 pound ground beef","1 small onion, chopped","1\/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper","1\/2 cup chopped green pepper","1 garlic clove, minced","2 tablespoons taco seasoning","2 tablespoons water","1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided","1\/4 cup salsa, divided","2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro"],"recipeInstructions":[{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Trim and scoop the zucchini","text":"Trim the ends off the zucchini, then slice them in half lengthwise. Scoop out the pulp, leaving about 1\/2 inch of the zucchini in the shells. Finely chop the pulp and set it aside.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Zucchini-Taco-Boats_TOHD24_277195_EricKleinberg_1.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Cook the filling","text":"In a skillet, cook the beef, zucchini pulp, onion, peppers and garlic over medium heat, breaking the beef apart into crumbles. Cook until the meat is no longer pink, then drain off the excess liquid. Place the skillet back on the heat and add the taco seasoning and water to create the sauce. Bring the ground beef mixture to a simmer until the sauce has thickened, one to two minutes. Remove the pan from the heat, then mix in 1\/2 cup of the cheddar cheese and 2 tablespoons of the salsa, mixing well.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Zucchini-Taco-Boats_TOHD24_277195_EricKleinberg_2.jpg?fit=700,1024"},{"@type":"HowToStep","name":"Assemble and bake","text":"Preheat the oven to 350\u00b0F. Grease a 13x9-inch casserole dish with cooking spray or lightly brushed cooking oil. Spoon the ground beef mixture into the zucchini boats, then place them in the baking dish. Top the boats with the remaining 1\/2 cup of cheddar cheese. Bake in the oven, uncovered, until the zucchini is tender, 25 to 30 minutes. Serve with the remaining salsa and cilantro, if desired.","image":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/Zucchini-Taco-Boats_TOHD24_277195_EricKleinberg_3.jpg?fit=700,1024"}],"recipeYield":"4 servings","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Kiersten Hickman"}],"nutrition":{"@type":"NutritionInformation","calories":" 323 calories","fatContent":"20g fat (9g saturated fat)","cholesterolContent":"81mg cholesterol","sodiumContent":"714mg sodium","carbohydrateContent":"13g carbohydrate (5g sugars","fiberContent":"2g fiber)","proteinContent":"23g protein."},"aggregateRating":{"@context":"http:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"AggregateRating","ratingValue":0,"reviewCount":0,"worstRating":1,"bestRating":5}},"video":{"data":{"status":204},"message":"No shortcode found in recipe"},"rms_legacy_id":"277195","romance_copy_dek":"Who needs tortillas when you can have zucchini taco boats? Cheesy taco meat stuffed in zucchini is an easy Taco Tuesday (or any day) dish that will be a hit with kids and adults alike.","enhanced_recipe_title":"Zucchini Taco Boats","rms_legacy_data":{"RecipeCategories":null,"Ingredients":[{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 medium zucchini (about 8 inches)","IngredientText":"2 medium zucchini (about 8 inches)"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"3\/4 pound ground beef","IngredientText":"3\/4 pound ground beef"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 small onion, chopped","IngredientText":"1 small onion, chopped"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1\/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper","IngredientText":"1\/2 cup chopped sweet red pepper"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1\/2 cup chopped green pepper","IngredientText":"1\/2 cup chopped green pepper"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 garlic clove, minced","IngredientText":"1 garlic clove, minced"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 tablespoons taco seasoning","IngredientText":"2 tablespoons taco seasoning"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 tablespoons water","IngredientText":"2 tablespoons water"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided","IngredientText":"1 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"1\/4 cup salsa, divided","IngredientText":"1\/4 cup salsa, divided"},{"CampaignId":"","IsBrandedIngredient":false,"Ingredient":"2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro","IngredientText":"2 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro"}],"FeaturedImage":"https:\/\/tmbidigitalassetsazure.blob.core.windows.net\/rms3-prod\/attachments\/37\/1200x1200\/Zucchini-Taco-Boats_EXPS_TOHD24_277195_EricKleinberg_6.jpg","RecipeId":277195,"AttachmentSourceId":null,"AttachmentSource":"Eric Kleinberg for Taste Recipes","PhotoCredit":"Zucchini Taco Boats Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste Recipes","VideoCode":null,"RecipeAttachmentFileName":"Zucchini-Taco-Boats_EXPS_TOHD24_277195_EricKleinberg_6.jpg","ContributorId":null,"Firstname":"Taste Recipes","Lastname":"Test Kitchen","City":"Milwaukee","StateDescription":"Wisconsin","IsCommunityCook":false,"ContributorAttachmentFileName":"https:\/\/cdn3.tmbi.com\/toh\/Recipe\/testkitchenapproved.png","TimeCallout":"Prep: 15 min. 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\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Trim and scoop the zucchini<\/h3>\n
ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 2: Cook the filling<\/h3>\n
ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Step 3: Assemble and bake<\/h3>\n
ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Zucchini Taco Boat Variations<\/h2>\n
\n
How to Store Zucchini Taco Boats<\/h2>\n
Can you freeze zucchini taco boats?<\/h3>\n
Zucchini Taco Boat Tips<\/h2>\n
ERIC KLEINBERG FOR TASTE OF HOME<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
How do you hollow out a zucchini?<\/h3>\n
How do you cook zucchini so it\u2019s not watery?<\/h3>\n
How much filling should go in a zucchini boat?<\/h3>\n