Shrimp Zucchini Boats

Shrimp Zucchini Boats with succulent pieces of shrimp and artichokes topped with parmesan cheese are a great low carb and tasty way to enjoy zucchini!

The possibilities are endless when it comes to zucchini boats, especially when you make Shrimp Zucchini Boats. For this recipe, which I originally made for The Recipe Critic where I'm a contributor, we kept things super simple and filled them with shrimp, marinated artichoke hearts, garlic, and parmesan cheese. I wanted to keep this shrimp zucchini boat recipe super simple, yet filled with flavor. The end result was a healthy, delicious, low carb and protein filled meal. This is a fantastic recipe if you're looking for a meal that will satisfy your taste buds while making you feel full.

What is a zucchini boat?

If you've never made zucchini boats, you'll find that it's a great way to use up zucchini from the garden.

A zucchini boat is basically a zucchini that has been sliced in half lengthwise. The inside gets scooped out, leaving behind a zucchini boat that you can fill with any filling you choose. For example, Sausage and Veggie Stuffed Zucchini Boats use the same concept but taste completely different when compared to these shrimp zucchini boats. I definitely recommend incorporating the zucchini you scoop out into the filling. Zucchini takes on the flavor of whatever you're cooking, so the possibilities are endless.

The best zucchini to use is medium size, about 8-10 inches in length. Zucchini that is smaller than that really tastes the best but should be saved for other recipes because it's not big or sturdy enough to hold the filling. Those super large zucchinis are best for grating to add to baked goods like bread and muffins.

How to make this recipe:

This recipe is really simple, but does involve a couple different cooking steps.

• First, you'll need to prepare the zucchini boats. This is done by slicing the zucchinis in half and scooping out the inside. This is easily done with a rounded teaspoon. I always roughly chop the zucchini I scoop out so that I can use it later. Then, you will season and oil the boats and cook them so that they're soft and tender, but still firm enough to hold the filling. I prefer to set them on a hot cast iron grill pan, but you can also do this step in the oven.
• Next, you will cook the filling. For this shrimp zucchini boat recipe, I recommend cooking the shrimp first. You want to be sure to get a nice golden brown color without over cooking the shrimp, so medium high heat is best. You'll set the cooked shrimp aside and cook the zucchini chunks along with artichoke hearts and garlic.
• Finally, you'll fill the zucchini boats with the vegetable filling and cooked shrimp. You can leave the shrimp whole, but I prefer the way it looks when the shrimp is torn into pieces. Topping the zucchini boats with grated parmesan will give them a great salty flavor as well as a nice golden brown top when you put them under the broiler.

Other favorite shrimp recipes:

• Shrimp Vermicelli Salad
• Shrimp Salad
• Shrimp Fettuccine Alfredo
• Shrimp Scampi
• Grilled Chipotle Shrimp Skewers

What a great way to use up all that zucchini from the vegetable garden! If you're like me and have more zucchini than you know what to do with, and have already made more zucchini bread and parmesan zuchini fries than you know what to do with, then it's time to make shrimp zucchini boats!

Shrimp Zucchini Boats

Shrimp Zucchini Boats with succulent pieces of shrimp and artichokes topped with parmesan cheese are a great low carb and tasty way to enjoy zucchini!

4.86 from 7 votes

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Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Hover to scale: 6 servings

Chef: Krissy Allori

Ingredients

• ▢ 3 large zucchini
• ▢ 1 tablespoon garlic herb seasoning (divided)
• ▢ 1 teaspoon olive oil (or olive oil spray)
• ▢ 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
• ▢ 1 pound raw shrimp (shell and tail removed, deveined)
• ▢ 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• ▢ ¼ cup marinated artichoke hearts (chopped)
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• ▢ ½ cup parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

• Slice each zucchini in half lengthwise. Scoop out the center in order to create a well. Roughly chop and save all of the zucchini that you scoop out for later.
• Spray or brush zucchini boats with olive oil. Sprinkle them with about a half teaspoon of the garlic herb seasoning. Heat a grill over medium high heat and set the oiled zucchini boats cut side down. grill for about 5 minutes without turning in order to seal. Alternatively, you can bake in a 450 degree oven, cut side down, for 5-10 minutes. Set aside.
  
• In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Add shrimp to hot melted butter. Add remaining garlic herb seasonings as well as 1 tablespoon lemon juice. Allow to cook until bottom side starts to turn golden brown, about 5 minutes, turn and cook for another minute. Transfer to a bowl and set aside.
• In same pan melt remaining 2 tablespoons of butter. Add remaining zucchini and artichoke hearts. Cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and saute for another 1-2 minutes.
• Place grilled zucchini boats on a baking sheet. Fill with cooked zucchini filling. Tear each shrimp into smaller pieces and place on top of zucchini filling. Top with grated parmesan cheese.
  
• Heat under broiler until cheese turns golden brown, about 5 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

Serving size equals one zucchini boat.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Calories: 220kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 20g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 216mg | Sodium: 832mg | Potassium: 495mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 705IU | Vitamin C: 35.2mg | Calcium: 239mg | Iron: 2.3mg

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