Description
These Cheesy BBQ Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats are a delicious and healthy dinner option, combining tender zucchini filled with a savory mixture of shredded chicken, BBQ sauce, sautéed onions and garlic, and melted sharp cheddar cheese. Baked to perfection, they offer a flavorful low-carb twist on classic BBQ chicken with a cheesy, gooey finish.
Ingredients
Scale
Zucchini Boats
- 4 medium zucchini, sliced in half lengthwise
- Olive oil, for greasing pan and brushing zucchini
Chicken Filling
- 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ red onion, finely diced
- 1 pound cooked shredded chicken breast (about 2 1/2 cups; can use rotisserie chicken)
- 1 cup low sugar BBQ sauce, divided (e.g., Stubb’s Spicy BBQ Sauce)
- 1 1/4 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese, divided
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Grease a 9×13 inch baking pan with olive oil to prevent the zucchini from sticking during baking.
- Prepare Zucchini Boats: Slice each zucchini lengthwise and carefully scoop out the center flesh, leaving about a 1/4-inch rim to form the ‘boats’. Place the zucchini halves in the greased pan and brush them with olive oil to enhance roasting and flavor.
- Sauté Onions and Garlic: In a skillet, heat olive oil and sauté the finely diced red onion and minced garlic until soft and fragrant. This builds the flavorful base of the filling.
- Mix Filling: Transfer the sautéed onion and garlic to a bowl. Add the shredded cooked chicken, half of the BBQ sauce, and half of the shredded cheddar cheese. Mix thoroughly to combine all ingredients evenly.
- Fill Zucchini Boats: Spoon the chicken mixture generously into each prepared zucchini boat, filling each cavity evenly.
- Top the Boats: Drizzle the remaining BBQ sauce over the filled zucchini boats and sprinkle the remaining shredded cheddar cheese on top for a cheesy finish.
- Bake Covered: Cover the baking pan with foil and bake in the preheated oven for 35 to 45 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the zucchini is tender but not mushy.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven, garnish with fresh cilantro and sliced green onions for added freshness and flavor, then serve warm.
Notes
- Use zucchini of similar size to ensure even cooking.
- You can substitute rotisserie chicken for convenience.
- Adjust BBQ sauce amount to taste if you prefer it more or less saucy.
- For extra flavor, sprinkle some smoked paprika or chili flakes in the chicken filling.
- These zucchini boats are great for meal prep and store well in the fridge for up to 3 days.
