Description
Sticky BBQ chicken zucchini boats bring together tender chicken and tender zucchini halves smothered in tangy barbecue sauce for a satisfying meal that comes together in under an hour. Your dinner table gets a simple yet delicious main course that feels special without keeping you stuck in the kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Main ingredients:
- 4 medium zucchinis
- 2 cups shredded cooked chicken
Sauce and seasonings:
- 1 cup barbecue sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
Toppings:
- 1 cup shredded cheese
- 2 green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400°F before you begin anything else.
- Rinse 4 medium zucchinis under cool water, then cut each one lengthwise into two halves.
- Use a spoon to scoop out the center of each zucchini half, removing the seeds and some flesh to form a boat shape that can hold your filling.
- Rub 1 tablespoon of olive oil across the inside and outside of all 8 zucchini pieces, then dust them with salt and pepper to your taste.
- Arrange your zucchini boats cut-side up on a baking sheet and place them in the 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes so they start to soften.
- While the zucchinis roast, combine your 2 cups of shredded cooked chicken with 1 cup of BBQ sauce in a mixing bowl, stirring until the chicken is completely coated.
- Pull the zucchini boats from the oven and divide the BBQ chicken mixture evenly among all 8 pieces, filling each boat generously.
- Distribute 1 cup of shredded cheese across the top of each filled boat.
- Return your filled boats to the 400°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese bubbles and turns golden.
- Let the boats cool for 2 to 3 minutes on the baking sheet, then scatter 2 sliced green onions over the top and serve while still warm.
Notes
- Don’t scoop out too much zucchini flesh or your boats will fall apart during cooking, so leave about a quarter-inch of the sides intact.
- If your zucchini is particularly watery, salt the insides after scooping and let them sit for 5 minutes, then pat dry to prevent a soggy final dish.
- For a lighter version, skip the cheese or use a smaller amount, and the BBQ chicken alone keeps the boats flavorful and satisfying.
- Leftover boats keep in the fridge for three days and reheat beautifully in a 350°F oven for about 10 minutes, so these work great for meal prep.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20-30 minutes
- Category: Baked Chicken
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg