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BBQ Chicken Zucchini Boats

BBQ chicken zucchini boats made with hollowed zucchini shells, smoky BBQ pulled chicken, and melted cheddar. The BBQ sauce caramelizes at the edges for a hearty, low-carb dinner with plenty of topping options.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Calories: 520
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Zucchini boats
  • 4 medium zucchini Halved lengthwise.
  • 0.5 tsp salt To taste.
  • 0.5 tsp pepper To taste.
BBQ chicken filling
  • 2 cup cooked chicken Shredded.
  • 0.5 cup BBQ sauce Plus more for drizzling.
  • 0.25 cup red onion Finely diced.
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
Cheddar topping
  • 1.5 cup sharp cheddar cheese Shredded.
  • 0.25 cup fresh cilantro Chopped.
  • 1 pickled jalapeños For serving.

Equipment

  • 1 sheet pan

Method
 

Prep the zucchini
  1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and arrange a greased baking dish on the counter.
  2. Halve the medium zucchini lengthwise and scoop out the centers, leaving a 1/4-inch shell; discard the flesh or save it for another use.
  3. Pat the zucchini shells dry, place them cut-side up in the greased baking dish, and pre-bake for 8 minutes.
Make the BBQ chicken filling
  1. In a bowl, mix the shredded cooked chicken with BBQ sauce, red onion, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper until well coated.
Assemble and bake
  1. Fill each zucchini boat with the BBQ chicken mixture and top with shredded sharp cheddar cheese.
  2. Bake at 400°F for 12–15 minutes until the cheese is melted and slightly caramelized around the edges.
Finish and serve
  1. Drizzle with extra BBQ sauce and garnish with fresh cilantro and pickled jalapeños before serving.

Notes

For best texture, dry the zucchini shells before pre-baking so they roast instead of steam. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator up to 3 days; reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Freezing isn’t recommended because zucchini can get watery after thawing. For a lower-sodium swap, choose a no-sugar-added BBQ sauce (and taste-adjust the salt/pepper accordingly).