Pizza Stuffed Zucchini
🍽️

Pizza Stuffed Zucchini

Course
Dinner
Servings

2

Tips & Tricks:

  • 🔪 Skip steps with knife if you completed the prep ideas!
  • 🍕 All topping ingredients are optional! Switch things up, add more of your favorite toppings, or ax any of these toppings you don’t like. Red onion, olives, peppers, cooked sausage or chicken are all great alternatives! Pre-cook in a pan any vegetables that create a lot of liquid such as mushrooms.

Ingredients:

  • 2-3 medium zucchinis
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 cup pizza sauce or your favorite jar marinara sauce
  • 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
  • 1/4–1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1/4 cup pepperoni
  • 2 tablespoons freshly ground Parmesan
  • 2 tablespoons dried basil, thyme, or other dried herbs
  • 1/2 bell pepper (any color)

Directions:

  1. 🔪Veg, Cheese, and Meat Prep (this can be done up to 3 days ahead)
    1. Half or quarter the pepperoni into smaller pieces.
    2. Small dice the bell pepper.
    3. Grate the mozzarella and parmesan cheeses if you purchased blocks.
  2. Oven Prep
    1. Place a rack in the center of your oven.
    2. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
    3. Lightly coat a rimmed baking sheet or 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray.
  3. Zucchini Prep
    1. Halve each zucchini lengthwise.
    2. With a small spoon, gently scrape out the center zucchini flesh and pulp, leaving a border of about 1/3 inch on all sides. If you happen to have a grapefruit spoon, those work great for this task!
    3. Mix the zucchini pulp into the pizza sauce for an extra boost of veggies!
    4. Arrange the zucchini shells on the baking sheet. Sprinkle the insides of the zucchini with salt.
  4. Stuff Zucchini
    1. Spoon the pizza sauce into each shell, filling the gap completely. You may need a little more or less for each zucchini, depending upon the size of your zucchini.
    2. Sprinkle the mozzarella over the top, then evenly sprinkle with your dried herbs and red pepper flakes (if using).
    3. Scatter on the pepperoni, bell pepper, and any other desired toppings.
    4. Sprinkle parmesan over the top of all the zucchini.
  5. Bake
    1. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until the cheese is hot and bubbly and the zucchini is tender.
    2. Remove from the oven and sprinkle with more parmesan.
  6. Serve
    1. Serve immediately with red pepper flakes or any other toppings you usually enjoy with pizza.