Description
Chicken zucchini boats bring zesty flavors to your dinner table. Lean protein and garden-fresh vegetables combine in a light, satisfying meal that delivers maximum taste with minimal effort.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) ground chicken
Green Vegetables:
- 4 zucchini
- 7 green onions, diced
Seasonings and Sauces:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) oil
- 6 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 grams) red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) toasted sesame seeds
- ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon (113 grams) honey
- ⅓ cup (80 milliliters) soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) ketchup
- 2 teaspoons (10 milliliters) rice vinegar
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) sesame oil
Instructions
- Carefully halve zucchini lengthwise and gently excavate the inner flesh using a spoon, creating boat-like vessels with approximately 1/4-inch thick walls.
- Lightly coat zucchini boats with olive oil, ensuring even coverage, and position them cut-side down in a 9 x 13 inch (23 x 33 centimeters) baking dish.
- Roast zucchini in a preheated oven at 400°F (200°C) for 15-20 minutes until slightly tender but still maintaining structural integrity.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook ground chicken, breaking it into small crumbles until no pink remains and meat reaches 165°F (74°C) internal temperature.
- Create a dynamic sauce by whisking together honey, low-sodium soy sauce, ketchup, apple cider vinegar, sesame oil, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes in a separate bowl.
- Pour sauce into the skillet with cooked chicken, reducing heat to medium-low and allowing mixture to simmer for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens and coats the meat.
- Incorporate finely chopped green onions and toasted sesame seeds into the chicken mixture, stirring gently to distribute evenly.
- Remove zucchini boats from oven and carefully fill each with the seasoned chicken mixture, ensuring generous and even distribution.
- Optionally garnish with additional sesame seeds and green onion slices before serving immediately while warm.
Notes
- Elevate your dinner game with these zesty, protein-packed zucchini boats bursting with Asian-inspired flavors.
- Zucchini transforms from simple vegetable to stunning vessel, creating a low-carb meal that’s both nutritious and incredibly satisfying.
- Perfectly roasted zucchini provides a tender base for spicy, sweet ground chicken that dances with complex seasonings.
- Lean protein meets garden-fresh vegetables in this quick, one-pan wonder that impresses without demanding hours in the kitchen.
- Sesame seeds and green onions add delightful crunch and fresh finishing notes, turning a basic recipe into a restaurant-worthy dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 350 kcal
- Sugar: 16g
- Sodium: 760mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 4g
- Carbohydrates: 25g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 60mg