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Air Fryer Keto Stuffed Zucchini Boats

Zucchini halves hollowed, salted, and pre-cooked, then filled with a browned-meat and cheese mixture and air fried until the tops are deeply golden.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 16 minutes
Total Time 36 minutes
Servings: 4 boats
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 320
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 medium zucchini halved lengthwise, flesh scooped into a 1/4-inch shell
  • 12 oz ground Italian sausage, beef, or turkey thigh
  • 1/2 small onion chopped, or 2 green onions
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 cup mushrooms or 1/2 bell pepper finely chopped
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 3/4 cup shredded low-moisture mozzarella
  • 1/4 cup grated Parmesan plus more for topping
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • kosher salt and black pepper

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Skillet
  • Spoon

Method
 

  1. Lightly salt the cut sides, rest cut-side up 10 minutes, and blot. Brush with oil and air fry cut-side up at 375°F for 6 minutes until just tender.
  2. Brown the meat, draining excess fat. Add the onion, garlic, and chopped zucchini flesh (squeezed dry) plus the mushrooms and cook until the moisture is gone. Stir in the Italian seasoning, then off the heat fold in half the cheese, salt, and pepper.
  3. Pack the filling into the shells, slightly domed, and top with the remaining cheese and a little Parmesan. Air fry at 375°F for 8 to 10 minutes until deeply golden. Rest 3 minutes.

Notes

Pre-cook the empty shells so they're not raw under the filling.
Squeeze the scooped flesh dry before adding it back.
Cook the filling until the pan looks dry — no liquid means no soggy boat.