Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats are packed with tender chicken and tangy buffalo sauce, and topped with melted blue cheese crumbles. These zucchini boats are a delicious twist on the classic buffalo chicken. Plus, they’re low-carb and packed with veggies, making them a great choice for a healthy meal. Whip up a batch for a tasty weeknight dinner or as a crowd-pleasing appetizer at your next gathering. Either way, your taste buds will thank you!
What are Zucchini Boats?
Zucchini boats are made by scooping the insides of sliced zucchini out to make ‘boats.’ These zucchini boats can hold plenty of different fillings. Then, the boats are baked for a hot and healthy meal.
How Do You Scoop Out Zucchini?
To make zucchini boats, you need to scoop out the flesh from the center of your zucchini. A spoon will work fine, or you can also use a melon baller. Just be careful not to scoop out too much or the boats will become too thin. This will cause them to break when they’re baked.
Is zucchini better for you than pasta?
Yes, for most people, zucchini would be considered a healthier option than pasta. That’s because zucchini is lower in calories and carbs, and higher in fiber and vitamins. It’s also a great alternative for those who are gluten-free or following a low-carb or keto diet.
Is this recipe Keto-friendly? Can it be keto?
This recipe is not keto-friendly because of the Frank’s Red Hot Sauce and melted butter used in the filling. However, you can make it keto-friendly by using a keto-friendly hot sauce and replacing the butter with ghee or coconut oil. Also, omit the blue cheese crumbles and use a keto-friendly ranch dressing.
Ingredients
For the buffalo chicken zucchini boats:
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts (already cooked and shredded)
- Frank’s Red Hot Sauce
- Melted butter
- Zucchinis
- Blue cheese crumbles
- Celery
For the spicy ranch dressing (optional):
- Ranch dressing
- Sour cream
- Dried dill
- Pepperoncini peppers
- Salt
- Pepper
How to Make
STEP ONE: Preheat the oven and prep the zucchini. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Take a spoon and carefully hollow out each zucchini half. Set aside in a 9×12 baking dish or sheet pan.
STEP TWO: Mix the buffalo chicken. In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken, hot sauce, and melted butter. Stir until combined and the chicken is coated in buffalo sauce. Add buffalo chicken to each zucchini boat.
STEP THREE: Bake. Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
STEP FOUR: Make the spicy ranch. Mix together the ranch dressing, sour cream, dill, pepperoncini juice, salt, and pepper. You want the sauce to be fairly thin and easy to drizzle. Add more pepperoncini juice until you get the right texture.
STEP FIVE: Serve. Once the zucchini boats are finished cooking, take them out of the oven and sprinkle them with blue cheese crumbles, chopped celery, and a drizzle of spicy ranch dressing.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- You can use a pre-cooked shredded chicken if you would like, or pre-cooked chicken breast from the grocery store. You can also cook your own chicken from scratch.
- Instead of blue cheese, you can use feta, gorgonzola, goat cheese, or even shredded cheddar. Each of these has its own unique and delicious flavor and will work well with this recipe.
- Choose the right zucchini. Look for ones that are straight and have a consistent thickness. This helps them cook much more evenly.
How to Store Zucchini Boats
Let the zucchini boats cool to room temperature, then place them in an airtight container. They should stay fresh for up to 3 days.
Can I freeze buffalo chicken zucchini boats?
Yes, you can freeze buffalo chicken zucchini boats. To freeze, first, wrap each boat tightly in plastic wrap and then place them in a freezer-safe Ziploc or container. They will last up to three months in the freezer.
What’s the best way to reheat zucchini boats?
To reheat, you can place the zucchini boats back in a baking dish and place them in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through. Top with a bit of fresh cheese if you want.
FAQs
Of course! You can use 1 lb of ground chicken for this recipe.
Yes, you can! Make everything as directed. Air fry your zucchini boats at 350°F for 12 minutes. Sprinkle with blue cheese, then bake for another 2-3 minutes, until hot through.
To make sure your zucchini doesn’t get soggy, you can sprinkle salt on the raw zucchini boats and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. The salt will draw out the excess water from the zucchini. Then, rinse the zucchini with water and pat them dry before adding the filling.
You Might Also Enjoy:
- Instant Pot Chicken Adobo Walking Tacos
- Creamy Chicken Poblano Soup
- New Orleans Shrimp Recipe
- Salmon Buddha Bowl
- Instant Pot Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
- Southwest Egg Rolls (Air Fryer)
Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats
Equipment
- casserole dish
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini sliced lengthwise
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken
- 1/2 cup buffalo sauce
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 1/4 cup blue cheese crumbles for garnish
- 2 stalks of celery diced, for garnish
Spicy Ranch Dressing
- 1/2 cup ranch dressing dressing
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 1 tablespoons dried dill
- 1 teaspoon juice from pepperoncini peppers
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat the oven and prep the zucchini. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Take a spoon and carefully hollow out each zucchini half. Set aside in a 9×12 baking dish or sheet pan.
- Mix the buffalo chicken. In a medium bowl, combine the shredded chicken, hot sauce, and melted butter. Stir until combined and the chicken is coated in buffalo sauce. Add buffalo chicken to each zucchini boat.
- Bake. Tightly cover the baking dish with foil and bake in the oven for 25-30 minutes.
- Make the spicy ranch. Mix together the ranch dressing, sour cream, dill, pepperoncini juice, salt, and pepper. You want the sauce to be fairly thin and easy to drizzle. Add more pepperoncini juice until you get the right texture.
- Serve. Once the zucchini boats are finished cooking, take them out of the oven and sprinkle them with blue cheese crumbles, chopped celery, and a drizzle of spicy ranch dressing.
Notes
- You can use a pre-cooked shredded chicken if you would like, or pre-cooked chicken breast from the grocery store. You can also cook your own chicken from scratch.
- Instead of blue cheese, you can use feta, gorgonzola, goat cheese, or even shredded cheddar. Each of these has its own unique and delicious flavor and will work well with this recipe.
- Choose the right zucchini. Look for ones that are straight and have a consistent thickness. This helps them cook much more evenly.
Nutrition
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This is such a great idea!
Thank you so much!