Stuffed veggie boats take clean eating to the next level. Simply stuff your favorite mash-up of macros and spices into a bell pepper, zucchini or any veggie on hand, and — voilà, — you’ve got yourself a flavorful and nutritious meal. Moreover, these recipes are fun and easy, so gather your kids in the kitchen for healthy cooking lessons!
1. Egg Potato Breakfast Boat | Clean Eating
What better way to start the morning than with a hearty baked potato and eggs? Fluffy Russet potatoes are stuffed with crispy turkey bacon and garlicky sautéed spinach, and you can turn up the heat with your favorite hot sauce or chopped fresh jalapeños. Save time in the morning by baking and scooping out the potatoes up to two days in advance. Recipe makes 4 servings at 1 stuffed potato each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 314; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 223mg; Sodium: 477mg; Carbohydrate: 50g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 5g; Protein: 22g
2. Lasagna Zucchini Boats | Cooking Classy
Zucchini replaces noodles in this classic dish, making it a great low-carb alternative. The zucchini is loaded with a creamy ricotta-parsley mixture and meaty marinara for a meal your family is bound to rave about for days. Freeze a batch so that you can whip up a nutritious dinner even on the busiest weekdays. Recipe makes 8 servings at 1 zucchini boat each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 220; Total Fat: 13g; Saturated Fat: 6g; Monounsaturated Fat: 4g; Cholesterol: 61mg; Sodium: 417mg; Carbohydrate: 9g; Dietary Fiber: 2g; Sugar: 2g; Protein: 18g
3. Mexican Zucchini Burrito Boats | Making Thyme for Health
A spicy veggie paradise stuffed into a zucchini boat and topped with ooey-gooey cheese? Yes, please — this is a cruise we would like to sail on! If you’re not a fan of spicy, swap out the jalapeño for sweet bell pepper. Recipe makes 8 servings at 1 boat each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 203; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 18mg; Sodium: 428mg; Carbohydrate: 27g; Dietary Fiber: 7g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 10g
4. Bell Pepper Nacho Boats | SkinnyMs.
Save yourself some stress, and take these bad boys to your next potluck. These nacho boats are healthy, easy and — best of all — half the ingredients are likely to be in your kitchen already. Recipe makes 9 servings at 2 boats each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 145; Total Fat: 9g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 1g; Cholesterol: 50mg; Sodium: 293mg; Carbohydrate: 4g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 2g; Protein: 13g
5. Stuffed Butternut Squash | Dietitian Debbie Dishes
If you can’t get enough veggies, check out this recipe for stuffed butternut squash. This Mediterranean-inspired recipe features baked butternut squash filled with fluffy quinoa, Brussels sprouts, olives and feta cheese. It’s a terrific option for meatless meals. Recipe makes 4 servings at 1/4 squash each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 321; Total Fat: 14g; Saturated Fat: 6g; Monounsaturated Fat: 5g; Cholesterol: 22mg; Sodium: 299mg; Carbohydrate: 45g; Dietary Fiber: 7g; Sugar: 7g; Protein: 7g
6. Ground Turkey Stuffed Tomato | MyFitnessPal’s Original Recipes
Lean ground turkey and couscous are seasoned with Mediterranean flavors then baked in a tomato shell. This dish is great for the summer, when ripe tomatoes are in abundance, but you can also make it all year round. To make this meal more energizing, serve with a whole-grain dinner roll for more calories and carbs. Recipe makes 4 servings at 2 stuffed tomatoes each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 255; Total Fat: 7g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 2g; Cholesterol: 43mg; Sodium: 356mg; Carbohydrate: 18g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 11g; Protein: 11g
7. Cheddar and Sausage Stuffed Zucchini Boats | The Garlic Diaries
Unlike spaghetti squash, zucchini doesn’t need to be cooked ahead of time — just slice it right down the middle, scoop out the insides and stuff — then these vessels are ready to go! Each bite explodes with savory flavors of seasoned turkey, caramelized onion and melted cheddar cheese. Recipe makes 4 servings at 1 zucchini boat each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 336; Total Fat: 22g; Saturated Fat: 9g; Monounsaturated Fat: 8g; Cholesterol: 94mg; Sodium: 404mg; Carbohydrate: 8g; Dietary Fiber: 3g; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 27g
8. Mediterranean Quinoa Lettuce Boats | Little Broken
Taste the Mediterranean coast wherever you are with this colorful dish. Fragrant parsley, fresh mint and salty feta are tossed with diced veggies and wrapped in crisp lettuce for a satisfyingly crunchy appetizer or meal. Tastier over time, this zesty quinoa salad can be made in advance for quick grab-n-go lunches. Recipe makes 4 servings at about 1 1/2 cup quinoa mixture each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 251; Total Fat: 15g; Saturated Fat: 3g; Monounsaturated Fat: 8g; Cholesterol: 11mg; Sodium: 328mg; Carbohydrate: 25g; Dietary Fiber: 4g; Sugar: 4g; Protein: 7g
9. Fiesta Quinoa Lettuce Boats | Begin within Nutrition
Light and fresh with a pinch of spice, this quinoa filling is mixed with an assortment of summer veggies and topped with buttery avocado. Have a fiesta any day (and every day) with this party-worthy lettuce boat recipe! Recipe makes 10 servings at 1 lettuce boat each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 220; Total Fat: 10g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 6g; Cholesterol: 0mg; Sodium: 13mg; Carbohydrate: 28g; Dietary Fiber: 6g; Sugar: 5g; Protein: 7g
10. Veggie-Stuffed Eggplant | Taste of Home
Healthy dinners don’t have to be complicated. This convenient, versatile dish works great with any veggies in the fridge and, with less than 25 minutes of prep, it’s extremely easy to make! Recipe makes 2 servings at 1/2 stuffed eggplant each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 186; Total Fat: 3g; Saturated Fat: 1g; Monounsaturated Fat: 0g; Cholesterol: 2mg; Sodium: 363mg; Carbohydrate: 35g; Dietary Fiber: 12g; Sugar: 16g; Protein: 11g
11. Falafel-Stuffed Eggplant with Tahini Sauce and Tomato Relish | Cooking Light
A nutty tahini sauce paired with a lemony relish make this falafel-stuffed eggplant undeniably tasty. This masterpiece makes vegetables taste so good, even your picky eaters will be asking for more! Recipe makes 4 servings at 1/2 stuffed eggplant each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 308; Total Fat: 16g; Saturated Fat: 2g; Monounsaturated Fat: 7g; Cholesterol: 106mg; Sodium: 450mg; Carbohydrate: 34g; Dietary Fiber: 11g; Sugar: 6g; Protein: 12g
12. Cheddar Quiche Potato Skins | Maebells
Serve up quiche in a rustic potato boat for your next brunch party. The potato skin is baked to a crisp then filled with eggs topped with bits of bacon, green chili peppers and cheese. These quiche potato skins can be made ahead and reheated for a quick breakfast, too. Recipe makes 10 servings at 1/2 potato each.
Nutrition (per serving): Calories: 185; Total Fat: 9g; Saturated Fat: 4g; Monounsaturated Fat: 3g; Cholesterol: 114mg; Sodium: 473mg; Carbohydrate: 14g; Dietary Fiber: 1g; Sugar: 1g; Protein: 13g