Grilled Zucchini Boats
Healthy Zucchini Boats, stuffed with seasoned quinoa, olives, tomatoes, and feta. This easy recipe is also healthy, vegetarian, and gluten free!
I’m back with more zucchini recipes! There are zucchini muffins, zucchini cookies, zucchini noodles, zucchini fries and my favorite side, roasted zucchini. All of those zucchini recipes have become fast favorites that we make regularly.
I love fresh zucchini in all forms. My favorite way to eat it is simply grilled with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper. It’s the easiest summer side dish! For today’s recipe, I’ve taken that zucchini, stuffed it Mediterranean style for a vegetarian dinner. This is a meal that will make both your tastebuds and your waistline very happy!
Have you tried stuffed zucchini yet? I never knew they were such a thing until this summer, and I had yet to try them until recently. Once I made these lasagna stuffed zucchini boats, I was hooked! I can’t say which I like more – those lasagna zucchini or this stuffed zucchini. I guess it depends on if you’re in the mood for warm and cheesy, or grilled zucchini with salty olives, fresh tomatoes, and feta!
These Zucchini Boats take just 30 minutes to make. I like to grill the zucchini on my grill pan, so that’s an option if you don’t have access to an outside grill or just don’t want to use it. While the quinoa cooks you’ll grill the zucchini halves and start chopping the veggies for the filling.
Between the protein-packed quinoa and the zucchini, these zucchini boats are a filling meatless meal. You can easily make them vegan by omitting the feta.
Grilled Zucchini Boats
Ingredients
- ½ cup quinoa
- 1 cup water
- 4 large zucchini
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup pitted kalamata olives, quartered
- ¼ cup finely chopped red onion
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- ¼ cup crumbled feta cheese, omit to make vegan
Instructions
- Rinse the quinoa under cold water and drain. Place quinoa and 1 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to a low simmer, and cover. Cook for 10 minutes, or until water is absorbed. Transfer to a large bowl to cool slightly.
- Meanwhile, heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Slice the zucchini in half lengthwise and use a small metal spoon to scoop out the insides. Brush cut sides of zucchini with olive oil. Grill zucchini, cut side down, for 4-6 minutes, until crisp-tender. Transfer to a baking dish or baking sheet.
- Whisk together the lemon juice, oregano, and salt. Stir it into the quinoa.
- Halve the tomatoes, quarter the olives, and chop the red onion and parsley. Add these to the bowl with the quinoa, along with the feta cheese. Stir to combine.
- Scoop filling into the grilled zucchini boats. Serve immediately or refrigerate until ready to serve. Zucchini boats may be served cold or at room temperature.
These zucchini boats pack a nutritious punch!
- Zucchini is low in calories, yet very filling thanks to its high water and fiber content. Zucchini is also a good source of many vitamins and minerals.
- Quinoa is a complete protein, meaning it contains all nine essential amino acids. It is higher in fiber than most other grains and a good source of manganese, magnesium, and iron.
- Tomatoes provide vitamin C and lycopene, an antioxidant that may help in cancer prevention. Add some to the side of your plate for even more nutrition!
- Fast and fresh meals like this one leave you with more time to do the things you love, like go for a walk and enjoy your family!
You are on a roll with the zucchini recipes, Kristine! I love it! Just when I thought your zucchini lasagna boats were my favorite, you make a Greek quinoa one. Looks perfect for the summer!
So much zucchini right now! I kind of love to hate it, you know. Like it’s overwhelming the amount that I have. These boats looks like a great way to use some up. The recipe I usually make has lots of cheese and breadcrumbs, so I’m loving your way healthier version. Can’t wait to try it out!
These are so fresh and perfect for summer! I have a black cherry tomato this year in my garden and I am just anxiously waiting for them to ripen — they would be so awesome in these zucchini boats!
The zucchini in my garden is starting to go crazy so you can bet these boats are on my radar (and your lasagna ones too)! I love Greek flavors stuffing grilled zucchini with this delicious quinoa is such a great idea!
These boats look awesome! Greek flavors are a favorite of mine 🙂
I never would have though to stuff zucchini. I’ve been on a quinoa kick this summer, so I can’t wait to try this!
I love this! Greek flavours are so good (and we’re totally on the same wavelength this month!) so I know I would love these zucchini boats! Also – when you said grill your zucchini, I totally somehow read “grow” your zucchini and thought it doesn’t grow THAT quickly. And then realized I just can’t read! 🙂
I just laughed out loud at your comment, Stacey! You must have thought I was crazy there for a minute! 😉 And yes, we are Greek flavor twins with our 30 minute recipes!
This look so good! I love the Greek flavors so much and throwing them in a zucchini boat is such a great idea! I made a version of your last zucchini boats a few days ago and now I think I’ll have to try these out!! YUM!!
Thank you, Alaina! I love that you tried my zucchini boat recipe! I hope you liked it, and thanks for letting me know. 🙂
These are delicious! I used fresh oregano and parsley from my garden. I’ll make these again!