Chicken bacon ranch zucchini boats turn your favorite flavor combination into an easy, low-carb dinner. Made with just five ingredients, including a rotisserie chicken for easy prep!
Recipe summary
Flavor/texture: Tender zucchini filled with shredded chicken tossed in ranch dressing with crumbled bacon and melty cheese.
It's quick and easy: Ready in 30 minutes and made with a rotisserie chicken!
Yield: 6 boats
Similar to: Buffalo Chicken Zucchini Boats, Cheeseburger Zucchini Boats
Jump to:
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. Any cooked, lightly seasoned chicken you have on hand will work. Crumbled and cooked ground chicken or turkey also works great.
- Ranch dressing - I used Hidden Valley brand ranch dressing but your favorite brand and flavor of ranch dressing will work fine here.
- Bacon - You'll need about six slices of cooked and crumbled bacon or about ⅓ cup of crumbled bacon pieces.
- Cheddar cheese - Cheddar can be substituted with any freshly grated, melty cheese. Monterey jack, pepper jack, gruyere, or mozzarella all work well. I suggest using freshly shredded cheese. Pre-shredded bagged cheese is often coated in anti-clumping powders that can become grainy when melted.
How to make zucchini boats
- Mix filling in a bowl and set aside.
- Slice zucchini in half and scrape out flesh to create boats. Season with salt and pepper and par-bake for 10 minutes.
- Add filling to your boats.
- Top with shredded cheese and bake until melty and tender.
Storage
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 350F. Bake boats, uncovered, for up to 20 minutes, or until warmed throughout. If frozen, allow to thaw before reheating.
Frequently asked questions
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.
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.
📖 Recipe
Chicken Bacon Ranch Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- 3 medium zucchini, about 9-10" long
- 12 ounces cooked and shredded chicken
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- ½ cup ranch dressing
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400℉. 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. Lightly season with salt and pepper and bake for 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, in a bowl add shredded chicken, bacon, and ranch dressing. 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.
Recommended Equipment
Notes
- Nutrition: 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.
- Chicken variations: 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.
- Storage: 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.
Comments
No Comments