These Air Fryer Zucchini Boats are a quick and easy weeknight meal with tons of fresh flavor! Great for vegetarians with keto and low-carb options, too!

cooked zucchini stuffed with tomatoes, peppers, and cheese on a white plate

Recipe Overview

These Air Fryer Zucchini Boats are a great low-carb way to get a bunch of flavor stuffed in without a bun or shell!

These are packed with onion, bell pepper, fresh tomatoes, and a host of seasonings. They make a great weeknight dinner in a flash or an awesome party recipe to mix it up every time you make it!

Wanna make it keto? Lose the breadcrumbs and swap them for pork rinds!

If you’re like me and on a huge zucchini kick, you’ll love these Air Fryer Zucchini Chips with a great crunch!

How to make them

steps to make stuffed zucchini boats in an air fryer
  1. Once your zucchini is halved and scooped out, warm your oil in a skillet and add the onions and bell peppers. Then, sauté until softened, about 5 minutes.
  2. Gather up your seasonings: Paprika, minced garlic, and Italian seasoning. We’ll add this later.
  3. Brown whatever protein you’re using — I chose ground beef for this recipe! Once browned, add your seasonings!
  4. Now, measure out half of your mozzarella cheese and the panko breadcrumbs and mix into the skillet.
  5. Time for the boats! Stuff an even amount into each zucchini and place it into your air fryer basket or onto your air fryer tray.
  6. Air fry at 350 degrees F/176 degrees C for 8 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and air fry for another 2 minutes.

How to Serve Zucchini Boats

stuffed zucchini boat cut into pieces on a white plate next to an air fryer basket

These gluten-free zucchini boats are a great low-carb alternative for pizza, tacos, and whatever other flavor combinations you can create!

With this Italian spin, I like to serve it with a little marinara dipping sauce, which you could also drizzle on top after cooking.

How to make ahead of time

This is a great dish for a party, and I LOVE to make most party recipes ahead of time to have less stress.

Cut and scoop your zucchini and mix up your filling. Stuff the zucchini boats and refrigerate until time to start cooking!

The cooking times in this recipe should work — just make sure the filling and zucchini boats are warmed through before adding the final bit of mozzarella.

pieces of a stuffed zucchini boat on a white plate with a fork
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Air Fryer Zucchini Boats

Air Fryer Zucchini Boats are a quick and easy weeknight meal with tons of fresh flavor! Great for vegetarians with keto and low-carb options, too!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time25 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 421kcal
Ken

Equipment

Ingredients

  • 4 medium zucchini
  • 2 tablespoons oil
  • 1 cup onion diced
  • 1 cup bell pepper diced, any color
  • 1 pound protein ground beef, turkey sausage, beyond meat alternative
  • 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic minced
  • 1 ½ cups fresh tomatoes diced
  • â…” cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1 cup mozzarella divided into ½-cup portions

Instructions

  • Cut the zucchini in half longways. Scoop out the centers and discard.
  • In a skillet over medium heat, warm the oil. Then, sauté the onion and bell pepper until soft.
  • Add your chosen protein and cook until browned.
  • Next, add the spices and minced garlic.
  • Then, add the diced tomatoes. Stir to combine.
  • Add the panko breadcrumbs and ½ cup mozzarella cheese to the skillet.
  • Evenly distribute the skillet mixture into the zucchini boats. Place the zucchini boats into the air fryer basket or on an air fryer tray.
  • Air fry at 350 degrees F/176 degrees C for 8 minutes. Top with remaining cheese and air fry another 2 minutes.
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Notes

Tips: The cook time will depend on the size of your zucchini, large and thick zucchini will take longer. It is easier to microwave them to get a hard start on the cooking process.
Alternatively, you could cook the zucchini (without the stuffing) in the air fryer for 5 minutes.
To make this keto: Replace the breadcrumbs with equal amount pork rinds.
Pro Tip: This recipe can be made in the air fryer unit with a basket or the air fryer oven. If you are using the air fryer oven, use the middle rack and select the “Air Fry” function.

Nutrition

Calories: 421kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 347mg | Potassium: 1270mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 3096IU | Vitamin C: 94mg | Calcium: 243mg | Iron: 5mg
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Air Fryers can vary greatly. Please take the time to learn your specific air fryer. You may need to adjust times and temperatures based upon your air fryer. All though this website attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, the information should only be considered an estimate. Varying factors such as different product types, different brands, etc. can change nutritional information. It is your responsibility as a consumer to read all labels to make sure the ingredients fit your dietary needs as well as calculate your own nutritional information as a double check.
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2 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing this recipe. I am new to the air fryer. I have a Secura and love it so far, but need good recipes that are quick and fairly low cal. Look forward to more of your recipes.
    Beverly in Mississippi

    1. Thanks so much Beverly! Great to have you here. Are you part of our email newsletters? That may be very helpful for you! 🙂 Thanks for being part of our community!

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