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!

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!

Ingredients and substitutions

• 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.

Freezing zucchini boats

Yes, buffalo chicken zucchini boats can be frozen. I recommend allowing your cooked and cooled boats to freeze solid on a baking sheet, then transferring to a freezer-safe plastic bag or other freeze-safe container to store for up to 3 months.

I recommend leaving the cheese off the top, as cheddar cheese tends to get dry and grainy when frozen and thawed. Instead, after your boats have thawed, add cheese as directed and reheat as directed below.

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.