These zucchini taco boats are everything we love about taco night packed into a lighter, veggie-loaded dinner. Tender zucchini gets stuffed with seasoned taco meat, rice, beans, corn, salsa, and plenty of melty cheese for a meal that’s hearty, healthy, and totally satisfying.
Even better? They’re easy to customize with whatever you have in the fridge and perfect for using up leftover taco meat, chicken, or rice.
When we were first married Cade was obsessively healthy. Remember how he wouldn’t eat my Mom’s famous caramel brownies? Ugh, still an eye roller for me. Anyway, we would think up cheap, easy and healthy options for dinner and a Mexican chicken with brown rice was one of our go-to meals. As the years wore on we added different ingredients like corn, beans, and spices.
Fast forward a whole heck of a lot of time and it’s a totally different meal now. When I started hearing about stuffed peppers I immediately thought of stuffed zucchini instead. I mean, stuffed peppers are great, but there’s something I like even more about a stuffed zucchini recipe.
What are Zucchini Taco Boats?
If you’ve never had a zucchini boat, you are missing out! It’s a summer staple at our house when the zucchini plant starts going crazy. It consists of a zucchini sliced in half, scooped out and stuffed with whatever filling you want. For this version, we stuff it with taco filling. We also have a classic Italian stuffed zucchini boat that you should try as well!
Why You’ll Love These Zucchini Taco Boats
- Perfect for busy weeknights
- Easy healthy dinner recipe
- Packed with taco flavor
- Great low carb alternative to tacos
- Family-friendly and filling
- Easy to customize
- Great way to use extra zucchini
- Naturally gluten-free
- Loaded with lean protein and veggies
Ingredients You’ll Need
The ingredient list is full of simple, wholesome ingredients that come together to make a seriously flavorful dinner. Most of them are pantry staples, and the filling is super easy to customize based on what your family loves.
- Zucchinis: The perfect sturdy base for the taco filling while keeping the recipe light and veggie-packed.
- Olive Oil: Helps sauté the meat and vegetables while adding a little richness and flavor.
- Ground Turkey: A lean protein that soaks up all the taco flavors beautifully. Ground chicken, beef, or shredded chicken also work great.
- Cumin: Adds warm, earthy flavor that gives the filling classic taco seasoning taste.
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These BBQ chicken kabobs with creamy, herby ranch salad is the meal that tastes like summer to me. Sweet smoky chicken fresh off the grill, charred corn, cold crunchy lettuce, creamy avocado, and enough ranch to make everyone at the table happy.
When you grow up a picky eater, you learn pretty quickly how to survive dinner. And for me? The answer was barbecue sauce. If I could dip something in BBQ sauce, there was a very good chance I could choke it down with minimal drama.
These BBQ chicken skewers remind me of those easy days of summer growing up when the sound of the sprinklers were, the lawnmower was my alarm clock, and that hot trampoline with sprinklers set underneath of it was our favorite past time.
I hope you all take things a little slower this week. Do a little outdoor grilling and don’t rush to clean up, just sit and enjoy the sunshine as it lazily slips beneath the trees and night settles in like an old friend wrapping you up in comfort.
Why You’ll Love These BBQ Chicken Kabobs
- Easy summer grilling recipe
- Perfect balance of smoky, fresh, and creamy flavors
- Family-friendly dinner everyone loves
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Homemade ranch takes it over the top
- Great for cookouts and backyard BBQs
- Fresh and hearty enough for a full meal
- Perfect use for summer corn, garden veggies and fresh herbs
- Easy to prep ahead
Ingredients You’ll Need
This BBQ chicken kabobs recipe comes together in a few simple steps and is perfect for easy summer dinners after a long day outside.
Kabobs
- Chicken Breasts: Tender, lean chicken that grills beautifully and soaks up all the smoky BBQ flavor.
- Avocado or Olive Oil: Helps the chicken stay juicy while adding richness and helping the sauce cling to every bite.
- Kosher Salt: Enhances the flavor of the chicken and balances the sweetness of the BBQ sauce.
- BBQ Sauce: Adds smoky, sweet, tangy flavor and caramelizes perfectly on the grill.
- Wooden Skewers: Make the kabobs easy to grill and serve. Soaking them helps prevent burning.
Homemade Ranch
- Mayonnaise: Creates a rich, creamy base for the homemade ranch dressing.
- Buttermilk: Adds tanginess and thins the dressing to the perfect consistency.
- Onion Powder: Gives the ranch that classic savory flavor.
- Garlic: Adds bold fresh flavor that makes homemade ranch irresistible.
- Fresh Dill: Brings bright, fresh ranch flavor.
- Fresh Parsley or Basil: Adds freshness and a summery herb
Summer is here, and that means it is time to simplify, slow down, and actually enjoy what is on the table. Whether you are firing up the grill for a backyard cookout, pulling something together fast on a busy weeknight, or looking for a fresh salad to bring to a gathering, these easy summer dinners have you covered from every angle.
Fresh Salads and Lighter Bites
When you want something fresh, colorful, and easy to throw together, these are the recipes to reach for. Perfect for warm days when a heavy meal is the last thing on your mind.
Greek Pasta Salad
Loaded with classic Mediterranean flavors, this pasta salad is tangy, fresh, and perfect for feeding a crowd.
Italian Pasta Salad
Packed with bold Italian ingredients and tossed in a zesty dressing that gets better the longer it sits.