| Creamy Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats |
A delightful and easy-to-make dish where zucchini boats are fille... |
30-Minute Meals, Main Course, international |
{"title":"Creamy Chicken Stuffed Zucchini Boats","description":"A delightful and easy-to-make dish where zucchini boats are filled with creamy chicken parmesan, perfect for a family meal.","full_ingredient_list":["2 medium zucchini","1 \u00bd cup pre-cooked chicken, cut into cubes or shredded","3 tablespoon olive oil, divided","\u00bd medium onion, finely diced","7 cherry\/plum tomatoes, cut in half","\u00be cup heavy cream","\u00bd cup Parmesan cheese, grated","\u00bd cup Colby Jack cheese (or sharp Cheddar), grated","1 teaspoon oregano or a mix of Italian herbs","\u00bd teaspoon garlic powder","Salt and pepper to taste"],"components":[{"name":"Stuffed Zucchini Boats","ingredients":[{"name":"Zucchini","quantity":"2 medium","preparation_notes":"Trim, halve lengthwise, scoop out the flesh and seeds; reserve half the flesh","substitutions":[]},{"name":"Chicken","quantity":"1 \u00bd cup","preparation_notes":"Pre-cooked, cut into cubes or shredded","substitutions":["Rotisserie chicken","Leftover chicken","Cooked ground beef","Ground chicken","Taco meat","Italian sausage","Turkey"]},{"name":"Olive Oil","quantity":"3 tablespoon, divided","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":["Avocado Oil"]},{"name":"Onion","quantity":"\u00bd medium","preparation_notes":"Finely diced","substitutions":[]},{"name":"Tomatoes","quantity":"7 cherry\/plum, cut in half","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":[]},{"name":"Heavy Cream","quantity":"\u00be cup","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":["Plant based cooking cream","2% milk"]},{"name":"Parmesan Cheese","quantity":"\u00bd cup, grated","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":["Other melty cheeses like freshly grated mozzarella"]},{"name":"Colby Jack Cheese","quantity":"\u00bd cup, grated","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":["Sharp Cheddar"]},{"name":"Oregano","quantity":"1 teaspoon","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":["Mix of Italian Herbs"]},{"name":"Garlic Powder","quantity":"\u00bd teaspoon","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":[]},{"name":"Salt and Pepper","quantity":"To taste","preparation_notes":null,"substitutions":[]}],"tools_and_equipment":["Oven","Skillet","9x13 baking dish","Small spoon or fruit baller\/fruit scoop"],"instructions":[{"step_number":1,"description":"Preheat oven to 400\u00b0F (200\u00b0C) and grease a 9 x 13 baking dish with some olive oil.","tips":null},{"step_number":2,"description":"Trim the zucchini, halve them lengthwise, and scoop out the flesh and seeds. Reserve half of the zucchini flesh for filling, chop it finely, and squeeze out any excess water.","tips":"Ensure the zucchini sides are not too thin to maintain sturdy 'boat' shapes."},{"step_number":3,"description":"Place the zucchini halves cut-side up on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, and bake for 15 minutes until slightly softened.","tips":"Adjust bake time based on zucchini size to avoid them turning mushy."},{"step_number":4,"description":"In a skillet, saut\u00e9 the onions over medium heat until softened. Add the tomatoes, chicken, reserved zucchini flesh, herbs, and garlic powder. Saut\u00e9 for an additional 2 minutes then stir in the cream.","tips":"Don't boil the cream; just bring it to a simmer until slightly thickened."},{"step_number":5,"description":"Add Parmesan to the skillet mixture, simmer for 2-3 more minutes, then adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if necessary.","tips":null},{"step_number":6,"description":"Distribute the chicken mixture evenly among the pre-baked zucchini halves. Top with grated Colby Jack cheese and bake for another 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.","tips":"You may substitute with any melty cheese of your choice."}]}],"prep_time":"10 minutes","cook_time":"30 minutes","total_time":"40 minutes","servings":"4 boats","tags":["30-Minute Meals","Main Course","international"],"notes":"For variations, consider adding cooked crispy bacon or using grilled zucchini as an alternative preparation method."} |
