Italian Air Fryer Zucchini Boats with Ground Turkey

Crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, these Italian air fryer stuffed zucchini boats with ground turkey are the perfect low-carb, gluten-free lunch choice.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more found under FAQ

With a blend of Italian herbs and sweet marinara, these Italian air fryer zucchini boats with ground turkey are easy to make.

With a little spice and sweet tang from the marinara, these zucchini boats are a healthier twist with some Italian flavours to offset those cravings.

Whether you are looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner or want to prep some meals for the week ahead look no further than these stuffed zucchini boats.

INGREDIENT NOTES

• Zucchini: The main ingredient for these zucchini boats.
• Ground Turkey: Adds great flavour to these stuffed zucchini boats and is the key ingredient to the stuffing.
• Marinara Sauce: Adds some great tang and an Italian twist to these tasty ground turkey stuffed zucchinis.
• Mozzarella Cheese: Adds some texture and makes these zucchini boats taste better.

• Parmesan Cheese: For some added sharpness.
• Italian Seasoning: To give the filling some great flavour.
• Red Chili Flakes: For some added spice to this already tasty stuffed zucchini recipe.
• Salt & Pepper: to taste, and bring out the rich flavours.
• Onion & Garlic Powder: To add some additional flavour.
• Olive Oil: To give the ground turkey some additional flavour. And to allow the skins of the zucchini to crisp.

STEP-BY-STEP INSTRUCTIONS

• Rinse and dry the zucchini. Cut off each end, about ¼ inch. Discard the ends. Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds, leaving a well for the filling. Brush the zucchini, all over with 1 tbsp of olive oil.

• Preheat a medium skillet on medium heat with 1 tbsp of olive oil.
• Add the ground turkey to the preheated skillet and season with Italian spice, red chilli flakes, salt, pepper, onion powder and garlic powder.

• Cook meat until juices run clear about 10 minutes, breaking meat into minced size pieces as it cooks.
• Preheat the air fryer to 380 F for 2 minutes. Carefully remove the hot basket from the air fryer and add the zucchini boats.
• Air fry for 5 minutes at 380 F.

• Once the ground turkey meat is cooked, mix in marinara sauce and parmesan cheese, and set aside.
• Once the zucchini has been partially cooked for 5 minutes, remove it from the air fryer and stuff the wells with the ground turkey mix. Top each zucchini boat with mozzarella cheese.

• Air fry for 6-8 minutes at 350F until cheese has melted and begins to brown.
• Remove from air fryer, top with sour cream, Greek yogurt or Tzatziki and serve.

EXPERT TIPS

Choose the Right Zucchini: Ensure you are choosing the right size zucchini. Medium is the best size to make these zucchini boats with.

Zucchini Prep: zucchini prep is also key. Ensure that the seeds are scooped out and cut correctly. Ensure to cut your zucchini length-wise, then scoop the seeds out, creating a nice trench for the filling.

Air Frying Times: it is important to note that air fryer times do vary depending on the make or model of your air fryer. We recommend that you reduce the time by 2 minutes and then continually add 2 minutes until zucchini are tender.

Overfill the Zucchini: overfill the zucchini boats because once you add the cheese that will secure the filling nicely into the scooped well without the filling falling out.

SERVING TIPS

This recipe serves 2-4 depending on if you are serving anything with the Italian stuffed zucchini boats. If you are serving them as is, serve 2. If you are serving them with a side, serve 1.

You can serve these air fryer zucchini boats with garlic bread or a salad. Both are great choices if you want something to serve with them.

You can also garnish these turkey-stuffed zucchini boats with Greek yogurt, sour cream, or Tzatziki. Or you could also add some fresh herbs like chives, parsley or basil.

STORAGE TIPS

Refrigerate: once zucchini boats have cooled completely, you can store them in an airtight container for 2-3 days.

Reheat: you can reheat the cooked zucchini boats with ground turkey in the air fryer or microwave. For the air fryer, reheat in a preheated air fryer at 350 F for 2 minutes, add additional time if needed. For the microwave, add to a microwave-safe dish or plate, cover with a paper towel and reheat for 2 minutes, add additional time if needed.

VARIATIONS & SUBSTITUTIONS

There are so many variations and substitutions for stuffed zucchini boats:

• Taco seasoned
• Lentils in place of meat (vegetarian)
• Seafood
• Mediterranean
• Cheese (cheddar, marble, etc.)
• Chicken
• Beef
• Pork

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

RELATED RECIPES

• Bell pepper nachos
• Egg roll in a bowl
• Tomato basil bocconcini salad
• Buffalo chicken stuffed peppers