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Easy Ground Beef and Rice Stuffed Zucchini Boats

ground beef and rice stuffed zucchini boats - featured image
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A quick and easy dinner recipe featuring zucchini boats stuffed with a savory mixture of ground beef, rice, and spices, topped with melted cheese. Perfect for a comforting and satisfying weeknight meal.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 medium zucchinis (6–8 inches long)
  • 1 pound ground beef (80/20 preferred)
  • 1 cup cooked white or brown rice
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup tomato sauce
  • 1 cup shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Fresh parsley or cilantro, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
  2. Rinse zucchinis and slice each in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and some flesh to create hollow boats, leaving about 1/4-inch thick walls. Set scooped flesh aside.
  3. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Add ground beef to skillet and cook until browned and no longer pink, about 6-8 minutes. Season with salt, pepper, cumin, and smoked paprika while cooking. Stir occasionally.
  5. Chop reserved zucchini flesh finely and stir into beef mixture. Pour in tomato sauce and simmer for 3-4 minutes to meld flavors and reduce excess liquid.
  6. In a mixing bowl, combine cooked rice with beef mixture until evenly mixed. Adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Arrange hollowed zucchinis in a baking dish. Spoon beef and rice filling into each boat, pressing lightly to fill all nooks.
  8. Sprinkle shredded cheese evenly over each stuffed zucchini.
  9. Bake for 20-25 minutes until zucchini is tender and cheese is melted and golden.
  10. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley or cilantro, and let cool for a few minutes before serving.

Notes

To prevent soggy zucchini, leave about 1/4-inch thick walls when hollowing and avoid overfilling. Cooking rice drier than usual helps keep filling from becoming mushy. For extra crisp cheese topping, broil for last 2-3 minutes watching carefully. Filling can be prepared ahead and stored separately from zucchini. Freezing filling separately is recommended to avoid watery zucchini after thawing.

Nutrition

Keywords: zucchini boats, ground beef, stuffed zucchini, easy dinner, weeknight meal, healthy dinner, baked zucchini, rice stuffing

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/easy-ground-beef-and-rice-stuffed-zucchini-boats-recipe-for-perfect-dinner/