Best Cheesy Stuffed Zucchini Recipes

8-BALL ZUCCHINI STUFFED WITH CHEESY CHICKEN AND RICE

Steps:

• Cover chicken breasts with salted water and brine in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry. Season with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
• Grill until browned and no longer pink in the center, 15 to 20 minutes, flipping halfway through cooking time. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the center should read at least 165 degrees F (74 degrees C).
• While chicken is cooking, bring water and rice to a boil in a saucepan. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until rice is tender and water has been absorbed, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Cut tops off the zucchini and scoop out the seeds. Set aside.
• Heat butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Saute onion in the hot butter until soft, 5 to 7 minutes. Add flour; cook and stir until browned, about 1 minute. Pour in milk; season with salt and pepper. Continue to cook and stir constantly until it starts to thicken. Stir in Cheddar cheese until melted.
• Cut cooked chicken into bite-sized pieces. Stir chicken and rice into the cheese sauce. Fill zucchini with the cheesy mixture and place on a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until softened, 20 to 25 minutes. Serve.

CHEESY GROUND BEEF & ZUCCHINI STUFFED PEPPERS

Steps:

• Heat grill to medium-high heat.
• Brown meat in skillet; drain. Meanwhile, bring water to boil in large saucepan. Add rice; cover. Simmer 5 min. Remove from heat; let stand 5 min.
• Drain meat. Add to rice with zucchini and 1 cup each pasta sauce and cheese.
• Place 1 pepper half in center of each of 6 large sheets of heavy-duty foil; fill with meat mixture. Top with remaining sauce and cheese. Bring up foil sides. Add 1 Tbsp. water to each packet. Double-fold top and ends to seal each packet, leaving room for heat circulation inside.
• Grill 20 to 25 min. or until filling is heated through and peppers are crisp-tender. Cut slits in foil to release steam before opening each packet.

ZUCCHINI BOATS STUFFED WITH CHEESY GRITS

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Cut each zucchini in half lengthwise to create 2 long pieces. Scrape a small, ideally pointed spoon down the center of the zucchini halves to remove and discard the flesh, leaving about 1/4 inch of flesh intact. Place the zucchini boats on the prepared baking sheet.
• Place a saucepot over medium heat and add the butter. Heat until melted, then brush the cavities of the zucchini boats with the butter. Add the chicken stock and reserved hominy liquid to the remaining melted butter and heat until simmering. Whisk in the grits and reduce the heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the grits have softened and thickened, about 15 minutes. Stir in the pimientos, beans, chives, 1/2 cup cheese and 1/2 cup hominy (save the remaining hominy for another use). Season to taste. Remove from the heat and allow to cool briefly. (The grits will continue to thicken as they cool.)
• Sprinkle the zucchini boats with salt and pepper. Spread about 1/4 cup of the grits into each zucchini boat, mounding the filling over the edges. Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the boats.
• Roast until the boats have softened and the cheese just starts to brown, 20 to 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the fresh parsley and serve immediately.

CHEESY STUFFED ZUCCHINI BOATS

Steps:

• 1. Wash the zucchini or squash thoroughly, then add to a large pot, and cook in boiling salted water for about 10 minutes until they are tender but still firm. Then drain and allow to cool slightly. I used the microwave in two intervals of about 10 minutes each.
• 2. Spray a 9 X13 size casserole dish with non stick cooking spray. Set aside till needed. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• 3. Remove the stems from zucchini, then cut each in half lengthwise.
• 4. With a medium size spoon, remove the centers of each zucchini, and add it to a medium size bowl. Add each zucchini half to the prepared casserole dish.
• 5. Add coconut or canola oil to a large skillet, and add the chopped veggies, and cook about 3 to 4 minutes until crisp tender. Remove from heat, and add mixture to bowl with zucchini pulp.
• 6. Remove from heat & add mixture to bowl with zucchini pulp. If adding the bacon, cook till crisp, allow to cool, then crumble into stuffing to blend together.
• 7. Add the panko bread crumbs, spices, shredded cheese, & liquid egg whites. Stir till blended together.
• 8. Stuff each shell with an equal amount of the stuffing, till they are all filled.
• 9. Then top sparingly with extra shredded cheese if desired. Bake in preheated 350 degree. oven for 25 to 30 minutes until cheese melts and mixture is hot and bubbly. Garnish with a dash of paprika if desired, & serve hot.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH CHEESY BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Place bread in a food processor, pulse until crumbs form, and set aside.
• Cut zucchini in half lengthwise, and scoop pulp out leaving a 1/4 inch thick shell.
• Chop pulp.
• Place zucchini halves cut side up on a baking sheet, lined with parchment paper, and sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper.
• Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat, and add zucchini pulp, and onion, and saute for 5 minutes.
• Add add remaining salt, pepper, artichoke hearts, thyme, and garlic and cook 45 seconds.
• Add wine, cook 1 minute.
• Combine breadcrumbs, and onion mixture in a large bowl, and stir in cheese and remaining ingredients.
• Spoon 1/2 cup breadcrumb mixture into each zucchini shell.
• Bake 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until just tender.

CHEESY STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Cut zucchini lengthwise in half, scoop out centers onto cutting board, leaving 1/8-inch-thick shells. Place shells in a 13x9-inch baking dish.
• Chop the zucchini flesh. Melt 1 Tbsp. butter in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Add onions and chopped zucchini; cook and stir 3 minutes or until onions are crisp-tender. Add tomatoes and bacon; cook 2 minutes. Stir in cheese. Spoon into zucchini shells.
• Melt remaining butter in same skillet. Add panko crumbs; cook and stir 3 minutes or until golden brown. Sprinkle over filled shells.
• Bake in a preheated 400-degree oven for 15 minutes or until heated through.
• Serve this as a vegetable-based side dish with a serving of lean meat or poultry. Or serve alone as an appetizer with a marinara dipping sauce.

STUFFED ZUCCHINI WITH CHEESY BREADCRUMBS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°.2. Place bread in a food processor; pulse until fine crumbs form. Set aside.3. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise; scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-inch-thick shell. Chop pulp. Place zucchini halves, cut sides up, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.4. Heat oil and butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add zucchini pulp and onion; sauté 5 minutes. Add remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt, remaining 1/4 teaspoon pepper, artichoke hearts, thyme, and garlic; cook 45 seconds. Add wine; cook 1 minute or until most of liquid evaporates. Combine breadcrumbs and onion mixture in a large bowl; stir in cheese and remaining ingredients. Spoon 1/2 cup breadcrumb mixture into each zucchini shell. Bake at 350° for 45 minutes or until just tender.