Zucchini Pizza Boats

If you’re looking for a creative way to enjoy all the flavors of pizza without all the carbs, these Zucchini Pizza Boats are just the ticket. They evoke all those pizza flavors we cravebut are veggie-packed and low-carb. They’re the low-carb idea when the pizza craving strikes. These only take a few minutes to prep and you can cook them in the air fryer if you don’t feel like turning on the oven. If you make these, let us know how you customized them in the comments!

What stands out

These Zucchini Pizza Boats are the low-carb lunch appetizer or snack. The zucchini holds up well and has a bit of a bite to it, not too soft at all. The cheese gets oh-so gooey and we like to put the broiler on for the last minute for that beautiful golden color. Get creative and use whatever pizza toppings you love and have kicking around in the fridge: olives, feta, ham, and more veggies. Load ’em up!

How to Prepare Zucchini Pizza Boats

Preheat the oven to 400F (200C).

Using a knife cut the zucchini in half lengthwise.

Now, with a small spoon or melon baller scoop out the flesh from each half of the zucchini.

Now that you have two boats, you can then fill them with pizza sauce, mozzarella and pepperoni.

Finally, bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 15-20 minutes and enjoy.

Kitchen tip

Just like pizza, use whatever toppings you love: olives, bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms or pineapple would be delish!

Swaps

1. We used mozzarella cheese here, but you could use whatever cheese you like.
2. Instead of pepperoni, you can use turkey pepperoni or ham.
3. Make this vegetarian and use a plant-based pepperoni instead.
4. You can make these Zucchini Pizza Boats dairy-free with your favorite non-dairy cheese.
5. Just like pizza, use whatever toppings you like: olives, bell peppers, red onion, mushrooms or pineapple would be delish!

Serve it with

• Serve these Zucchini Pizza Boats with a nice, fresh salad for lunch such as our Wedge Salad or Simple Green Salad.
• Chicken wings are a classic pub pairing with pizza so serve these with our Hot Honey Chicken Wings or Garlic Parmesan Wings.

Questions

can these be made vegetarian?

Yes, definitely use your favorite plant-based u0022pepperoniu0022 to make these vegetarian-friendly.

can these Zucchini Pizza Boats be made dairy-free?

Yes, you can certainly make these dairy-free with your favorite non-dairy cheese.

Can we make these Zucchini Pizza Boats ahead?

You can make these ahead and reheat them, but, in our opinion, they’re best served out of the oven when the cheese is nice and melted.

can these be made in the air fryer?

Yes, you can make these Zucchini Pizza Boats in the air fryer. In our mark air fryer, we cook these at 400F (200C) until golden and melted but check on them every few minutes as every appliance is different.

can we freeze these Zucchini Pizza Boats?

We don’t think that freezing will work because zucchini hold a lot of water, but please let us know in the comments if you try.

could we make these pizzas with another vegetable?

We think that these Pizza Boats would work with Japanese eggplant as well.

WHat can we do with the zucchini pulp?

Since zucchini are so mild in flavor, you can add the pulp to a smoothie, into a pasta sauce or soup or even toss in boiling water with potatoes for mashed potatoes.

Ingredients

Makes 1 servings

• 1 zucchini, cut lengthwise
• 4 tablespoons pizza sauce, I love Rao’s
• ½ cup grated mozzarella, any cheese you like works
• 8 pepperoni slices, you can use turkey pepperoni or ham as well

Equipment

• Nakiri Knife
• Cutting Board
• Melon Baller
• Measuring Cups + Spoons
• Baking Sheet
• Parchment Paper
• Air Fryer

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 400F (200C)
2. Wash and cut the zucchini in half lengthwise. With a small spoon or melon baller, scoop the inside.
3. Now that you have two boats, you can fill them with pizza sauce, mozzarella, and pepperoni.
4. We don’t add more salt as everything is salty enough for us.
5. Bake on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper for 15-20 minutes depending on the oven and enjoy.