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    Home » Recipes » Healthy Recipes » Mexican Zucchini Boats

    Mexican Zucchini Boats

    Published: Mar 8, 2019 · Modified: Mar 10, 2021 by Sherri · This post may contain affiliate links · 3 Comments

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    Closeup of Mexican Zucchini Boats recipe in a casserole dish

    These Mexican Zucchini Boats are a fabulous low carb alternative for taco night. Seasoned ground turkey, added veggies and topped with cheese and cilantro for mouthwatering yum.

    My love of making zucchini boats started with these Italian Chicken Zucchini Boats and these Mushroom Stuffed Zucchini.

    Closeup of Mexican Zucchini Boats recipe in a casserole dish

     

    I decided to have Taco Tuesday a day early and whipped up these Mexican Zucchini boats for dinner.  Swapping out the taco shell for zucchini gives you a great low carb option.

    Closeup of Mexican Zucchini Boats recipe in a casserole dish

    Ingredients Needed:

    Ground Turkey – I seasoned 99% fat-free ground turkey with a tablespoon of this easy homemade taco seasoning. You can also use a teaspoon each of cumin, chili powder, and garlic as well.

    Zucchini – Use 4 large zucchinis

    Black Beans – Use canned black beans or cook your own from dried beans and freeze them to use in recipes like this.

    Sweet Corn – Use canned or frozen corn.

    Onions – I used red onions for this recipe but feel free to use sweet onion or green onions too.

    Salsa – Use any of your favorite brand of mild, medium or hot.

    Red Bell Peppers – Use green, orange or yellow bell peppers too if you’d like.

    Shredded Cheese – Mexican blend is my favorite but Monterey Jack, Cheddar, Colby or Mexican Queso fresco is great too.

    Optional toppings – cilantro, avocado, sour cream or Greek Yogurt,

    How to Make Taco Zucchini Boats

    Preheat oven to 375°F.

    Place ¼ cup of salsa in the bottom of a 9×13” glass baking dish or spray with non-stick spray.

    Using a small spoon or melon baller, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving about ¼-inch thickness on each half.

    zucchini halves with pulp scooped out in a dish

    Brown turkey in a large skillet until about ½ cooked.

    Add red bell pepper, onion, chopped zucchini, and taco seasoning then sauté until meat is thoroughly cooked.

    Add corn, beans, and salsa

    Stir and cover, simmer on low for about 20 minutes.

    Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats with the meat mixture.

    Top each with cheese.

    uncooked mexican zucchini boats in a casserole dish

    Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through.

    Top with cilantro and serve with salsa and light sour cream or fat-free plain greek yogurt on the side.

    Substitutions/Variations:

    Although I love using ground turkey, feel free to use ground beef or shredded chicken instead.

    Make them vegetarian by leaving out the meat and doubling up on the beans.

    Substitute pinto beans for black beans.

    If you like spicy Mexican meals, go ahead and add those sliced jalapeños or an ⅛ teaspoon cayenne pepper to the meat mixture!

    Try these other spectacular Mexican recipes too:

    Cowboy Caviar

    Mexican Chicken Zucchini Skillet

    Barbacoa Recipe

    Easy Creamy Chicken Enchiladas

    Cilantro Lime Chicken Fajitas

    Stuffed Red Peppers with Brown Rice and Turkey

    Vertical closeup of Mexican Zucchini Boats recipe with chicken, black beans and cheese and cilantro in a casserole dish
    Closeup of Mexican Zucchini Boats with black beans and cilantro recipe in a casserole dish

    Mexican Zucchini Boats

    These Mexican Zucchini Boats are a fabulous healthier alternative for taco night. Seasoned ground turkey, added veggies and topped with cheese and cilantro for mouthwatering yum.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 20 minutes
    Cook Time: 50 minutes
    Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 395kcal
    Author: Sherri Hagymas

    Ingredients

    • 4 medium zucchinis cut in half lengthwise
    • 1 lb 93% – 99% lean ground turkey
    • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
    • 2 teaspoon cumin
    • 1 teaspoon chili powder
    • 1 cup mild salsa
    • ½ small red onion diced
    • 2 tablespoon red pepper diced
    • 1 cup corn frozen or canned
    • 15 ounce can black beans drained and rinsed
    • ½ cup Reduced fat cheddar or Mexican blend shredded cheese
    • ¼ cup chopped scallions or cilantro for topping

    Instructions

    • DIRECTIONS
    • Preheat oven to 375°F.
    • Place ¼ cup of salsa in the bottom of a 9×13” casserole dish or spray a with non-stick spray.
    • Using a small spoon or melon baller, hollow out the center of the zucchini halves, leaving about ¼-inch thickness on each half.
    • Brown turkey in a large skillet until about ½ cooked.
    • Add red bell pepper, onion, chopped zucchini, and taco seasoning and sauté until meat is throughly cooked.
    • Add corn, beans, and salsa
    • Stir and cover, simmer on low for about 20 minutes.
    • Using a spoon, fill the hollowed zucchini boats with the meat mixture
    • Top each with 1 tablespoon of reduced fat cheddar or Mexican blend shredded cheese
    • Cover with foil and bake 30 minutes until cheese is melted and zucchini is cooked through.
    • Top with cilantro and serve with salsa and light sour cream or fat free plain greek yogurt on the side.

    Notes

    Nutritional information includes 93% ground turkey

    Nutrition

    Serving: 2halves | Calories: 395kcal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 1061mg | Potassium: 1429mg | Fiber: 12g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1275IU | Vitamin C: 48.3mg | Calcium: 183mg | Iron: 5.3mg

    Nutritional Disclosure

    Nutritional facts are estimates and are provided as a courtesy to the reader. Please utilize your own brand nutritional values to double check against our estimates. Nutritional values are calculated via a third party. Changing ingredients, amounts or cooking technique will alter the estimated nutritional calculations.

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    Sharing of this recipe to social media is both encouraged and appreciated. Please share the direct link back to the recipe. Copy/Pasting and/or screenshots of the recipe to any social media is strictly prohibited. Content and photographs are copyright protected

    More Healthy Recipes

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    Filed Under: Healthy Recipes, Main Dishes, Recipes

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    Sherri Hagymas leaning on a counter with a white coffee mug

    Hi there! I’m Sherri I love creating a variety of easy recipes that anyone can make and enjoy! From healthy to comforting, I hope you find something that inspires you!.

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