Taco Zucchini Boats - Cooking Classy (2024)

Published June 7, 2018. Updated October 10, 2018

Every summer you know I’m all about those Zucchini Boats. These Taco Zucchini Boatsare the perfect use for the abundance of summer zucchini. They’re jam packed with flavor, they’re perfectly filling, and have less carbs than the traditional flour or corn tortilla tacos. Talk about great way to get your veggie quota in for the day!

Zucchini Boat Recipes

I’ve already shared Lasagna Zucchini Boats, Chicken Enchilada Zucchini Boats, Zucchini Pizza Boats and even Philly Cheesesteak Zucchini Boats (oh and then last week I made a Chicken Parm Zucchini Boat but they were gross so obviously they didn’t make the cut here).

So you can see during summer it’s time to make zucchini boats. And now this newest addition of zucchini taco boats might just be my favorite because tacos are life! In other words you need to try these.

Ingredients for This Recipe

• Zucchini (4 or 5 medium)
• Olive oil
• Yellow onion
• Ground turkey (ground beef can be substituted)
• Fresh garlic
• Chili powder
• Ground cumin
• Tomato sauce
• Chicken broth
• Cilantro
• Lime
• Mexican Cheese
• Roma tomatoes

How to Make These Zucchini Boats

First you’ll preheat the oven and scoop out that zucchini center portion to make room for the filling. Then place them in two baking dishes and brush lightly with olive oil and season lightly with salt.

Then you’ll roast those in the oven until almost tender. Meanwhile prepare the taco filling by sauteing onion in olive oil. Then add in ground turkey and garlic and saute to cook through. Stir in seasonings and saute briefly then stir in chicken broth, tomato sauce and black beans and simmer 5 minutes then stir in 2/3 of the cilantro and the lime.

Spoon that taco filling into the roasted zucchini and sprinkle with cheese. Then return to oven and cook to melt cheese and finish cooking zucchini through until tender.

Finish with tomatoes and cilantro and your other favorite toppings (like sour cream and Mexican hot sauce). Serve them warm.

Tips for This Recipe

• You should be able to fill about 5 zucchini (I’ve made these three times now and have had enough for 4 1/2 – 5 zucchini) or go with 3 or 4 zucchini and have a little extra filling for a taco salad for lunch the next day. How many zucchini you’ll need will just depend on the size of your zucchini. I should be about 2 1/2 lbs.
• The baking time can vary a little depending on the size of the zucchini, if they’re fresh or not as fresh, how much filling was scooped out, and how tender you like the zucchini so just keep an eye on them near the end of roasting. You may need to add a little more time.
• These make good leftovers so even if you don’t have many people to serve consider making a full batch for meal prep.

More Zucchini Recipes to Try

• Garlic Lemon and Parmesan Oven Roasted Zucchini
• Zucchini Oat Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Smoked Sausage Zucchini and Brown Rice Skillet