Pizza Zucchini Boats

Zucchini pizza boats make a delicious meal if want a healthier alternative to pizza. It’s easy to make these pizza boats and they’ll be done in just half an hour.

Also try cheesy vegetable casserole, crispy air-fried onion rings (yes they’re still a vegetable!), zucchini muffins, or Instant Pot vegetable soup.

Why You’ll Love It

Easy: You don’t need to be an Italian pizza chef to create these wonderful zucchini pizza boats. The recipe is really simple to follow, whether you cook much or not. Oh, and it’s quick too, with minimal prep time, so your zucchini pizza recipe can be on the table all ready to eat in just 30 minutes!
Kid-friendly: Picky kids might not be especially enthused if informed that zucchini is what’s for dinner. But when they discover dinner is zucchini pizza boats with all their favorite pizza toppings, they will change their tune and give it 5 stars!
Healthy(ish): This is the kind of food that tastes sinful but is actually about 50% zucchini, which means it’s not bad for you. In fact, it’s pretty balanced all round! Oh, and they’re gluten-free too! And you can even use a sugar free marinara sauce to make them even more virtuous!

Stuffed Zucchini Pizza Boats Ingredients

A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below

Zucchini: Forget the enormous marrows and choose small zucchini for making your pizza boats, perhaps ones that are 5 or 6 inches in length.
Pizza sauce: Any kind of pizza sauce works, so reach for whatever you usually enjoy.
Cheese: Mozzarella cheese is always great on pizza, regardless of whether it’s a traditional one or a zucchini based one, and a little parmesan cheese on top is good too.
Pepperoni: Since you’re topping a small zucchini half rather than a garbage can lid sized pizza, you will want to use those mini pepperoni slices, not the huge ones that would hang over the sides (well, unless you’re trying to hide the zucchini from the kiddos!)
Seasonings: Italian seasoning is a good all-rounder. I love dried oregano so usually add a pinch of that too. Red pepper flakes add a kick of heat, but you can omit this if you don’t want the spice.
Red onion: Feel free to sub yellow onion if you prefer, or even sweet onion.

How to Make a Zucchini Pizza Boats Recipe

For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card

Prepare the zucchini: Wash your fresh zucchini and cut in half lengthwise, then scoop out the flesh and seeds with a small spoon to make a hollow. Arrange the zucchini halves on a prepared baking sheet (greased with a little olive oil) and sprinkle with Italian seasoning, salt and pepper.
Add the toppings: Divide the pizza sauce between each zucchini boat and add shredded mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and onion (plus any other toppings you want).
Bake the zucchini pizza boats: Bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a preheated 400 degrees F oven, until the zucchini is tender.
The finishing touches: Sprinkle grated parmesan cheese on the zucchini pizza boats, along with some red pepper flakes (if liked) and serve hot.

Substitutions and Variations

Different sauce: You can use any pizza sauce, marinara sauce or tomato-based sauce you want on your zucchini pizza boats. Not a tomato fan? Try something different like alfredo sauce or creamy mushroom sauce.
Change up the seasonings: Italian seasoning is a good all-rounder, but you can substitute dried oregano if you want, add some fresh basil (keep some for garnish too) or use garlic salt or even something totally different like Cajun seasoning.
Another meat: Sometimes I make my zucchini pizza boats with hot Italian sausage instead of pepperoni. I find the sausage mixture combines really well with the mozzarella and pizza sauce. Turkey sausage would be another idea for your low carb zucchini boats, or you could use turkey pepperoni on your pizza boats.
Zucchini alternatives: You can typically find zucchini year round, not just in zucchini season, but feel free to substitute yellow squash or even experiment with eggplant or bell peppers.

Serving Suggestions

Side dishes: Although these healthy zucchini pizza boats are a low carb dish, if you’re not necessarily following a keto diet, you might like to pair your pizza boats with some garlic bread or truffle polenta fries. These side dish casseroles are all worth a look.
Dessert: Follow up with jello parfait cups or strawberry shortcake.

How to Store Zucchini Pizza Boats

Store: Keep leftovers in one layer in an airtight container and eat within 3 or 4 days.
Freeze: They will thaw out mushy and unappetizing, so it’s best not to freeze these.
Reheat: You can reheat these in the microwave or in a warm air fryer or oven.