Cheesy and so much fun to eat, cheeseburger zucchini boats are the BEST low-carb lunch! Kids love them and you will too.
What Are Zucchini Boats
Zucchini boats are a delicious way to cook whole zucchini. The zucchini is cut in half and then the seeds and flesh is removed. After that, all the ingredients fill the zucchini like a boat.
There are a lot of different varieties of zucchini boats, and this recipe for one that tastes like a cheeseburger. The filling is cheesy and creamy and extremely filling!
Shopping List
Before you make your zucchini boats, this is what you’ll need from the store. All of the exact ingredient amounts are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Ground Beef
- Zucchini
- Onion
- Minced Garlic
- Worcestershire Sauce
- Sugar-Free Ketchup
- Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- Cherry Tomatoes
- Bacon
- Cream Cheese
- Dijon Mustard
Ingredient Substitutions
There are a few ways that you can change things in this recipe to save yourself time or to make it taste differently the next time. If you make any changes, please let me know. I’d love to hear!
- Ground Beef – Italian ground sausage is a perfect substitute
- Tomatoes – Grape tomatoes are an easy swap
- Cream Cheese – Use plain goat cheese
Best Meat For Zucchini Boats
I used ground beef in the zucchini boats. Since cheeseburgers are made with beef, that’s the perfect choice. But you can also make them with ground turkey or chicken. But I love to make them with ground Italian sausage too – it has a lot more robust flavors. 
If you make them with ground chicken or turkey, I suggest adding a tablespoon or so of Italian seasoning.
Keto Lunch Sides
Since the zucchini boats are veggies filled with meat and cheese, they are a full lunch by themselves. You don’t need a bunch of sides to eat with them.
That is why I suggest serving a light bowl of soup with the zucchini boats. There are 7 grams net carbs in each boat, so I suggest serving a small bowl of soup.
I love this chicken and cauliflower rice soup. It’s very light but has a savory broth that warms you up.
You can try a bowl of Zuppa Toscana soup will also taste delicious together. Finally, thick chicken lemon soup is hearty enough to fill you up!
How To Store Zucchini Boats
Cheeseburger zucchini boats taste delicious for either lunch or dinner. You can make them ahead of time and heat them up right before you eat them.
Store zucchini boats in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Then, reheat them in the oven or air fryer. If you reheat them in the microwave, the zucchini boats could be too soft.
Can You Freeze Them?
Yes, you can freeze zucchini boats. Make them and then let them cool off completely. Then, wrap each zucchini boat in plastic wrap or foil and place them in a freezer bag.
They will stay fresh in the freezer for up to six months.
Making Them
Here are the step-by-step pictures of the process that you’ll follow to make this filling and delicious keto cheeseburger zucchini boats recipe. All of the ingredients and instructions are located in the printable recipe card just a little bit further below.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4
Net Carbs: 7 net carbs per serving
Directions
Add the ground beef and onions to a skillet over medium high heat. Saute until the meat is browned completely, and the onions are softened. Drain the excess grease.
Reduce the heat to medium, and stir in the cream cheese, ketchup, dijon, worcestershire sauce, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Saute until the cheese is melted and the ingredients are well combined.
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the center of each
half.
Place the zucchini halves into a well greased 9×13 baking dish. Fill the zucchini halves with the meat mixture.
Bake for 20 minutes.
Remove, and top with the shredded cheddar. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
Top with the cherry tomatoes and bacon pieces before serving.
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Keto Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats
Equipment
- Skillet
- Knife
- 9x13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 1 pound Ground Beef
- 2 Zucchini
- 1/2 Onion chopped
- 2 tsp Minced Garlic
- 1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
- 1 tbsp Sugar-Free Ketchup
- 1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
- 8 Cherry Tomatoes sliced into fourths
- 2 tbsp Bacon Pieces
- 4 ounces Cream Cheese softened
- 1 tbsp Dijon Mustard
Instructions
- Add the ground beef and onions to a skillet over medium high heat. Saute until the meat is browned completely, and the onions are softened. Drain the excess grease.
- Reduce the heat to medium, and stir in the cream cheese, ketchup, dijon, worcestershire sauce, garlic and salt and pepper to taste. Saute until the cheese is melted and the ingredients are well combined.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise, and use a spoon to scoop out the center of each half.
- Place the zucchini halves into a well greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Fill the zucchini halves with the meat mixture.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove, and top with the shredded cheddar. Bake for an additional 10-15 minutes.
- Top with the cherry tomatoes and bacon pieces before serving.
Notes
Net Carbs: 7 Net Carbs Per Serving
The nutritional information for this recipe is calculated as a courtesy and is an approximate only. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipes on this site.
Keto Zucchini Recipes
If you enjoyed making (and eating) keto cheeseburger zucchini boats, here are some more easy keto zucchini recipes you and your kids will enjoy too.
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