Recipes For Meat Stuffed Zucchini

Stuffed zucchini, Middle Eastern style! In this recipe, the humble zucchini act as vessels for a special stuffing of spiced rice and ground beef with tomatoes and fresh herbs. See my step-by-step tutorial for foolproof, and absolutely delicious results!

When nostalgia takes me back to certain foods and flavors, sometimes all I have to help me is my memory to try and recreate foods I love.

But today is one of those very infrequent and fortune times when my mom happens to be right here in my kitchen! And with her help, I was able to recreate the stuffed zucchini of my childhood.

Stuffed Zucchini (punjene Tikvice)

You already know how much I adore zucchini-- sauteed in a skillet; in the form of a boat topped with tomato and feta; rolled around feta and grilled; or these light Baked Zucchini Sticks. Whatever way zucchini is served, I love it!

First, the zucchini are hollowed out using a vegetable corer like this one. Then they are filled with a hearty, spiced filling of rice and ground beef or lamb. Finally, the stuffed zucchini are cooked in red sauce until the filling is cooked through the zucchini is perfectly tender.

It may seem labor intensive, but these stuffed zucchini are easier to prepare than you think. And the result is worth every effort!

Beef Stuffed Zucchini Recipe Recipe

In a large bowl, combine the stuffing ingredients of rice, ground beef, fresh parsley, dill, diced tomatoes, water, olive oil and spices. Mix by hand to combine.

Now, remove the tops of 3 tomatoes and remove the core to hollow out the tomatoes making room for the stuffing. Do this using a corer like this one; amelon baller or even a spoon may work here.

With a knife, remove the very top of the zucchini, then cut each zucchini in half to make shorter zucchini for stuffing. Now you need to hollow out the zucchini to make room for the stuffing.Insert your corer about ¾ of the way into the zucchini, making sure not to poke the bottoms. Twist the corer and pull out the zucchini cores or hearts. Do this a few times, and gently scrape the sides of the zucchini until you have hollowed each out making room for the stuffing. You'll want to leave about ¼ inch rim of zucchini.

Minced Meat Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Lightly oil the bottom of a large deep cooking pan like this one. Slice the remaining tomato and spread over the bottom of the pan. Now add the onion slices and the cores (or hearts) of the zucchini. Sprinkle with a little salt and pepper.

Now, using your hands, gently stuff the hollowed tomatoes with the rice stuffing. Then loosely stuff the zucchini with the rice stuffing about ¾ of the way (do not over-stuff or crowd the rice stuffing in the zucchini or it will not fully cook. Remember, rice needs room to expand as it cooks).

Arrange the stuffed tomatoes somewhat in the center of the cooking pan, then add the zucchini (stuffed side up) around them. Tilt the zucchini a little, this helps them cook nicely through using less liquid (it also allows the lid to close nicely on the pan).Now add the tomato sauce and water. Sprinkle lightly with salt and pepper.

Easy Stuffed Zucchini Recipe

Place the pan on the stove and cook on medium-high heat until the liquid starts boiling. Turn the heat down, cover and simmer for for 50 minutes until the zucchini is tender and the rice stuffing is fully cooked.Transfer to a serving platter or individual bowls. Top with the sauce from the cooking pan. Enjoy!

I'm Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I'm all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you're here...This Stuffed Zucchini Recipe with Ground Beef also has red pepper, onion, and basil, and just 1/4 cup cooked brown rice per serving. You can switch out the rice for cauliflower rice or use regular long zucchini for this recipe if you prefer.

Back when I had a bigger garden I fell in love with cute round zucchinis, so when I saw these lovely striped Heirloom 8-Ball Zucchinis at the farmers market, I had to get some. And it’s almost August 8, when a neighbor might leave some zucchini on your porch, so I did appreciate the irony of buying zucchini when people are trying to give it away!

Cheesy Stuffed Zucchini

But the heirloom 8-Balls were perfect for this Stuffed Zucchini Recipe with Ground Beef that has red pepper, onion, and basil with just 1/4 cup of cooked brown rice per serving (and you can switch that out for cauliflower rice if you want a low-carb option).

Whichever way you make them, I think you’ll love this stuffed zucchini with fresh chopped basil and a generous amount of dried fennel seed adding layers of good flavor. And just in case someone does leave zucchini on your post on August 8, take a look at my 50 Amazing Zucchini Recipes for more help with how to use it!

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

Whole30 Italian Beef Zucchini Boats

If you’d like to try growing these cute round zucchinis, one of the most common varieties is called 8-Ball Zucchini. Those are the ones I’d always look for when I had a big garden and was growing several varieties of zucchini. But there are are actually quite a few varieties of round summer squash in a variety of colors and round squash like this is grown all over the world.

If you just have regular long zucchini, just cut the zucchini lengthwise and use this recipe to make zucchini boats instead. And if you end up with some of those huge giant zucchinis, use my trick of making Stuffed Zucchini Cups.

You can check out The Top Ten Low-Carb Zucchini Recipes if you want to see the most popular ideas for zucchini on my site!

Easy Italian Stuffed Zucchini Boats

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

Serve the Stuffed Zucchini with Ground Beef with something like Cucumbers Caesar, Balsamic Spinach Salad, Tomato, Olive, and Fresh Mozzarella Salad, Tomato, Egg, and Olive Salad with Gorgonzola Vinaigrette, or Low-Carb Italian Pasta Salad for a low-carb meal.

This stuffed zucchini recipe will keep well in the fridge and can reheats easily for another dinner, so it’s been added to a category called Weekend Food Prep where you’ll find recipes you can prep or cook on the weekend and eat during the week!

Tomato And Ground Meat Stuffed Zucchini

If you don't have round zucchini, use 4-6 regular long zucchini or make zucchini cups from a giant zucchini. If you want fewer carbs, use 1 cup frozen cauliflower rice instead of the rice. Let the cauliflower rice thaw on the counter for a bit, and saute it for a few minutes with the veggies to be sure it gets fully cooked.

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

Did you make this recipe? Please leave a star rating (under the PRINT button in the recipe) or share a photo of your results on Instagram! THANKS!

Mediterranean Zucchini Boats (easy & Healthy!)

This Stuffed Zucchini Recipe with Ground Beef would make a great main dish or side dish for phase two or three of the original South Beach Diet. If you want a low-carb meal, use cauliflower rice instead of the rice, or try my very popular Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Cups.

Use Zucchini Recipes to find more recipes like this one.Use the Diet Type Index to find more recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

This recipe was first posted in 2007, when I made the stuffed zucchini with 8-Ball Zucchini from my garden. The photos were updated in 2015 and the recipe was last updated with more information in 2023.

Vegetarian Quinoa & Feta Stuffed Zucchini

We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.These stuffed zucchini boats are filled with a hearty sausage mixture, then topped with plenty of cheese and baked to perfection. An easy low carb meal option that the whole family will enjoy!

There are so many different ways to eat zucchini, I often serve side dishes such as parmesan zucchini and zucchini gratin. But my favorite way to make zucchini is to stuff it and serve it as a main course.

Stuffed zucchini boats is a classic dish that never goes out of style. It’s an especially good choice

Zucchini Mahshi (stuffed Zucchini With Beef And Rice) — Jewish Food Society