• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Zucchini Zone
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Newsletter
  • About
×
Home » Main Dishes

Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

Published: Aug 23, 2022 · Modified: Jan 29, 2025 by Heather · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 854 words. · About 5 minutes to read this article.

Jump to Recipe
Buffalo chicken zucchini boats recipe.
Buffalo chicken zucchini boats recipe.

Buffalo chicken zucchini boats are a flavorful stuffed zucchini recipe made with shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch seasoning. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal!

Buffalo chicken zucchini boats drizzled with ranch dressing in a white casserole dish.

These buffalo chicken zucchini boats are made with just a handful of simple ingredients and are ready in about 30 minutes. They're perfect for busy weeknights or a quick meal anytime.

Fresh zucchini are halved and cored, then filled with shredded chicken and onion that's been tossed in buffalo sauce, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Topped with melty cheese and baked to perfection, this recipe is filled with flavor!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients and substitutions
  • Do I need to peel my zucchini?
  • Can zucchini boats be frozen?
  • Leftovers and reheating
  • What to serve with zucchini boats
  • 📖 Recipe
  • Comments

Ingredients and substitutions

Ingredients on a counter top.
  • Zucchini - You'll need about 3 medium sized zucchini (or 4 small zucchini) for this recipe. I used a 9x13 casserole dish, so I looked for zucchini about 9 inches long that would fit perfectly into the pan and fill the space.
  • Chicken - A cooked and shredded rotisserie chicken is perfect for this recipe. Or, any cooked, lightly seasoned chicken you have on hand. Crumbled and cooked ground chicken or turkey also works great.
  • Buffalo sauce - Your favorite brand of buffalo sauce (not hot sauce) works here. What's the difference? Buffalo sauce is like hot sauce, but with extra fats (like butter or oil) and sometimes other ingredients added. Buffalo sauce is richer and thicker than hot sauce. You can use homemade or store bought buffalo sauce for this recipe.
  • Sour cream - Adds creaminess to your filling.
  • Ranch seasoning - Store bought or homemade ranch seasoning works here. Or, substitute sour cream and ranch seasoning with ranch dressing (your filling will be slightly thinner).
  • Green onions - Two green onions, or a chopped red onion, works well in this recipe.
  • Cheddar cheese - Any melty cheese works here, like monterey jack cheese, pepper jack cheese, or mozzarella. I suggest using freshly shredded cheese, as pre-shredded bagged cheese can add a grainy texture when melted.

Do I need to peel my zucchini?

No, there's no need to peel your zucchini to make zucchini boats. In fact, the skin contains many nutrients and fiber you'd otherwise be missing out on. The skin also helps hold the shape of your boats as they bake.

Assembling buffalo chicken zucchini boats in a casserole dish.

Can zucchini boats be frozen?

Technically yes, zucchini boats can be frozen. However, zucchini releases quite a bit of water and gets a little soggy after being frozen and thawed.

For best quality, I highly recommend eating your zucchini boats fresh instead of freezing and thawing.

Zucchini boats topped with buffalo chicken and cheese lined up in a casserole dish.

Leftovers and reheating

Leftover zucchini boats keep well for 3 to 4 days in a sealed container in the refrigerator.

To reheat, zucchini boats can be microwaved or reheated in the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake boats, uncovered, for up to 20 minutes, or until warmed throughout. If frozen, allow to thaw before reheating.

What to serve with zucchini boats

Want to stretch your zucchini boats recipe a little further? Serve one zucchini boat per person along with a side dish or two, like a side salad and some garlic bread. Here are a few ideas to get you started:

  • Side salad
  • Garlic bread
  • Roasted vegetables
  • Steamed cilantro rice
  • Corn on the cob

For more ideas, check out my full post: 25 side dishes to serve with zucchini boats

📖 Recipe

Buffalo chicken zucchini boats drizzled with ranch dressing in a white casserole dish.
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats

Buffalo chicken zucchini boats are a flavorful stuffed zucchini recipe made with shredded chicken, buffalo sauce, and ranch seasoning. Perfect for a quick weeknight meal!
Prep Time10 minutes mins
Cook Time20 minutes mins
Total Time30 minutes mins
Servings: 6 boats
Calories: 205kcal

Ingredients

  • 3 medium zucchini, about 9-10" long
  • 12 ounces cooked and shredded chicken
  • ⅓ cup buffalo sauce
  • ¼ cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning
  • 2 green onions, sliced
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish and set aside.
  • Cut the stems off your zucchini, then slice in half lengthwise. Using a spoon, carefully scape out some of the flesh from each zucchini half and discard (or save for another recipe). Place into prepared 9x13 pan, cut side up. Optionally, lightly season with salt and pepper. Bake for 10 minutes.
  • Meanwhile, in a bowl combine buffalo sauce, sour cream, and ranch seasoning. Add shredded chicken and green onions and toss until evenly coated. Once boats have par-baked, remove from oven and top with chicken filling. Sprinkle tops with cheddar cheese.
  • Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until zucchini can easily be pierced through with a fork and cheese looks hot and melted.
  • Optionally drizzle with ranch dressing before serving.

Recommended Equipment

  • CorningWare 3-Quart Ceramic Casserole Dish
  • HENCKELS 8-inch Chef's Knife
  • Pyrex Glass Mixing Bowls, Set of 3
  • Silicone Spoonula Set, Red

Notes

  • Calories shown are for one boat (or one zucchini half), if your recipe makes six boats. One boat can be served as an entrée along with side dish(es), or two boats can serve as a complete meal on their own.
  • Cooked and shredded chicken can be rotisserie chicken, or any cooked, lightly seasoned chicken you have on hand, including ground chicken or even ground turkey.
  • Leftover zucchini boats will keep for 3 to 4 days in a tightly sealed container in the refrigerator. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes, or until warmed throughout.

Nutrition Estimate

Serving: 1boat | Calories: 205kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 22g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.02g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 924mg | Potassium: 461mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 1mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

More Main Dishes

  • A sheet pan of chicken thighs with roasted vegetables.
    Sheet Pan Chicken Thighs and Veggies
  • A bowl of soup with a metal spoon.
    Vegetable Orzo Soup
  • Rigatoni primavera in a saute pan.
    Rigatoni Primavera
  • A wooden spatula scooping a zucchini lasagna roll from a casserole dish.
    Zucchini Lasagna Rolls

Share this post:

Subscribe

for your weekly recipe fix.

Reader Interactions

Comments

No Comments

5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Hi I'm Heather, and I'm here to share my recipes for all that backyard garden zucchini.

More about me →

Popular posts

  • A decorative collage of vegetable smoothie recipes.
    15 Vegetable Smoothie Recipes
  • A bowl of cheesy rice with grated zucchini.
    Cheesy Zucchini Rice
  • A decorative collage of muffin recipes.
    18 Easy Christmas Muffin Recipes
  • Peppermint smoothie garnished with fresh mint.
    Peppermint Smoothie

Summer Recipes

  • Slices of tomato basil zucchini bread on a wooden serving board.
    Tomato Basil Zucchini Bread
  • A decorative collage of various grilled vegetables.
    21 Best Vegetables for Grilling
  • Slices of pineapple zucchini bread on a wooden cutting board.
    Pineapple Zucchini Bread
  • Grilled chicken kabobs on a white serving plate.
    Grilled Chicken Kabobs

Footer

Explore

  • Recipe Index
  • Contact
  • FAQ
  • Sign Up! for emails and updates

About

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer

Copyright © 2025 Zucchini Zone

Rate This Recipe

Your vote:




A rating is required
A name is required
An email is required

Recipe Ratings without Comment

Something went wrong. Please try again.