Skinny BBQ Chicken Zucchini Boats (Printer-friendly)

Zucchini boats stuffed with BBQ chicken and topped with melted cheddar cheese, a satisfying low-carb option.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 4 medium zucchini
02 - 1 small red onion, finely chopped

→ Protein

03 - 2 cups cooked chicken breast, shredded

→ Sauces

04 - ½ cup barbecue sauce

→ Dairy

05 - ½ cup reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese

→ Seasonings

06 - 1 teaspoon olive oil
07 - Salt and pepper to taste
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease with cooking spray.
02 - Wash zucchini and slice each in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center with a spoon, leaving approximately ¼ inch shell intact. Reserve ½ cup of scooped flesh, chop finely, and set aside.
03 - Arrange zucchini boats cut-side up in prepared baking dish. Lightly brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
04 - Heat 1 teaspoon olive oil in skillet over medium heat. Sauté chopped onion for 2-3 minutes until softened. Add reserved chopped zucchini and cook 1-2 minutes longer.
05 - In mixing bowl, combine shredded chicken, sautéed onion mixture, and barbecue sauce. Mix thoroughly until evenly incorporated.
06 - Spoon chicken mixture evenly into prepared zucchini boats. Top each with shredded cheddar cheese.
07 - Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake for 20 minutes in preheated oven.
08 - Remove foil and bake additional 5 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly. Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
09 - Garnish with fresh cilantro if desired. Serve warm.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It tastes like comfort food but won't derail your actual goals, which is basically magic.
  • The prep is genuinely simple, and watching the cheese melt over those stuffed boats feels like you accomplished something in the kitchen.
02 -
  • Don't scoop too aggressively or your zucchini will collapse during baking, so leave that quarter-inch shell and respect it.
  • The BBQ sauce can burn on the edges if your oven runs hot, so keep an eye on it in those last few minutes and tent with foil if needed.
03 -
  • Buy your zucchini the day before so they have time to be room temperature when you cook, which helps them cook more evenly.
  • If your BBQ sauce is on the thin side, the filling will run out, so stir in a spoonful of tomato paste to thicken it up before mixing with the chicken.
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