sausage stuffed zucchini boats (Print Version)
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
4 large or 6 medium zucchini
02 -
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
03 -
1 teaspoon kosher salt, divided, adjust to taste
04 -
½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided, adjust to taste
05 -
1 pound breakfast sausage, regular or hot, or Italian sausage
06 -
1 small onion, diced into ½-inch pieces, approximately ¾ cup
07 -
1 small red bell pepper, diced into ½-inch pieces, approximately 1 cup
08 -
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, diced into ½-inch pieces, approximately 3 cups
09 -
6 cloves garlic, minced
10 -
1½ tablespoons Italian seasonings
11 -
½ cup marinara sauce, preferably homemade
12 -
4 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
13 -
2 tablespoons fresh Italian parsley, finely chopped for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Preheat oven to 350°F. Slice zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out seeds and some flesh, leaving about ¼ inch of flesh along the skin. Arrange zucchini halves on a baking sheet, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and rub to coat evenly. Season with ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper. Bake for 15 minutes.
02 -
While the zucchini is baking, heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it into small crumbles. Transfer cooked sausage to a plate, leaving grease in the skillet.
03 -
Using the same skillet, add onions and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened. Add red pepper, mushrooms, and garlic. Sauté for 3 minutes until garlic is fragrant and vegetables are tender. Season with remaining salt, pepper, and Italian seasonings.
04 -
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Stir in marinara sauce and adjust seasoning if needed. Mix in ⅔ of the shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until combined.
05 -
Generously fill each zucchini half with the prepared filling, piling it high to use all of the mixture. Top each zucchini boat with the remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake for 10 minutes until the cheese is melted. Remove from oven, garnish with fresh parsley, and serve warm.