Description
This Zucchini Pizza Boats recipe is a delicious and healthy twist on traditional pizza. Using zucchini halves as a base, these boats are filled with marinara sauce, topped with melted mozzarella cheese and your favorite pizza toppings, then baked to perfection. Perfect for a low-carb, gluten-free meal that’s quick and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
Zucchini Boats
- 4 medium zucchinis, halved lengthwise and seeds scooped out
Toppings
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup pepperoni slices or other preferred toppings (e.g., mushrooms, bell peppers, olives)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil, chopped (for garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Prepare a baking sheet by lining it with parchment paper or lightly greasing it to prevent sticking.
- Prepare Zucchini Boats: Slice the zucchinis in half lengthwise and carefully scoop out the center seeds to form boat shapes. Season each zucchini half lightly with salt and pepper to enhance flavor.
- Add Sauce: Evenly spread a spoonful of marinara sauce into the hollowed center of each zucchini boat, coating the base thoroughly to build the pizza foundation.
- Top with Cheese and Toppings: Generously sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese over the sauce, then add your choice of toppings such as pepperoni slices, mushrooms, or bell peppers to customize your boats.
- Season: Sprinkle dried oregano and garlic powder over the topped boats to infuse them with classic pizza flavors.
- Bake: Place the prepared zucchini boats on the baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes. Bake until the zucchini is tender and the cheese is melted, bubbly, and slightly golden.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and optionally garnish with freshly chopped basil. Serve immediately to enjoy warm, flavorful zucchini pizza boats.
Notes
- You can customize toppings based on preference—vegetables like mushrooms or olives work great for vegetarian options.
- For extra crispness, broil the boats for 1-2 minutes at the end, watching carefully to prevent burning.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheat in the oven for best texture.
- To reduce sodium, use low-sodium marinara sauce and cheese.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute mozzarella with vegan cheese alternatives.
