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Four delicious Turkey Taco Zucchini Boats filled with ground turkey, black beans, corn, and melted cheese, topped with avocado and cilantro in a baking dish.
Daniel

Turkey Taco Zucchini Boats

These flavorful turkey taco zucchini boats are a healthy and satisfying weeknight meal, packed with savory ground turkey and melty cheese.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American, Mexican
Calories: 360

Ingredients
  

For the Zucchini Boats
  • 3 medium zucchini
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil plus more for rubbing
  • 0.5 teaspoon kosher salt divided
  • 0.25 teaspoon black pepper divided
For the Turkey Filling
  • 1 pound lean ground turkey (93/7)
  • 0.5 cup yellow onion finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons taco seasoning or 1 packet (about 1 oz)
  • 10 ounce canned diced tomatoes with green chilies undrained (like Rotel)
  • 0.5 cup frozen corn kernels thawed
For the Topping
  • 1 cup shredded Mexican blend cheese

Equipment

  • Baking Dish
  • Large skillet
  • Spoon or Scoop

Method
 

Prep the Zucchini
  1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Wash the zucchini, then slice each one in half lengthwise. Using a spoon or a small scoop, carefully hollow out the seeds and some of the flesh from the center of each zucchini half, leaving about a quarter-inch border. Lightly rub the zucchini boats with a little olive oil, and season them with a pinch of salt and pepper. Place them in a 9x13-inch baking dish.
Make the Turkey Filling
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the diced onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until softened and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  2. Add the ground turkey to the skillet. Break it up with a spoon and cook until it's fully browned and no pink remains, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
  3. Stir in the taco seasoning, diced tomatoes with green chilies (undrained), and thawed corn kernels. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the liquid to slightly reduce. Taste and add remaining salt and pepper as needed.
Assemble and Bake
  1. Carefully spoon the hot turkey taco filling into each hollowed zucchini boat, mounding it slightly if needed.
  2. Sprinkle the shredded Mexican blend cheese generously over the top of each stuffed zucchini boat. Bake for 20-25 minutes, or until the zucchini is tender when pierced with a fork and the cheese is melted and bubbly with golden edges.
  3. Remove from the oven and let rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy your delicious turkey taco zucchini boats!

Notes

Don't discard the scooped-out zucchini flesh! You can finely chop it and add it to the turkey filling for extra veggies, or save it for another dish like a frittata or soup.
Customize your spice level by adding a pinch of cayenne pepper or a diced jalapeño to the turkey filling, or choose a mild or hot taco seasoning.
These boats are fantastic with a dollop of Greek yogurt or sour cream, a spoonful of salsa, or a sprinkle of fresh cilantro for garnish.