stuffed zucchini boats with meat

Ingredients

• Servings: 10
• 2 cups water
• 1 cup brown rice
• 5 zucchini, halved lengthwise
• 10 (1 ounce) slices provolone cheese, halved
• 1 pound ground chicken breast
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 red onion, finely chopped
• 2 jalapeno peppers, seeded and chopped
• 1 clove garlic, chopped
• 1 teaspoon worcestershire sauce
• 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
• 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 cup tomato sauce, or to taste
• 1 tablespoon freshly grated parmesan cheese
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 2 tablespoons freshly grated parmesan cheese, or to taste - divided

Recipe

Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 15 mins

Ready Time: 1 hr 30 mins


• bring the water and brown rice to a boil in a saucepan. reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until the rice is tender and the liquid has been absorbed, 45 to 50 minutes.
• preheat oven to 350 degrees f (175 degrees c). line a baking sheet with aluminum foil.
• scoop the flesh from the zucchini halves using a melon baller, starting about 1/2 inch from one end, creating a 'boat'. chop and reserve zucchini flesh. place the zucchini boats face down the prepared baking sheet.
• bake zucchini boats in the preheated oven for 15 minutes. flip over the halves using tongs and line each zucchini boat with 2 half-slices of provolone cheese.
• heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. cook and stir ground chicken in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. mix rice into chicken.
• heat olive oil in a non-stick pan over medium heat; cook and stir onion, jalapeno pepper, and zucchini flesh in the hot oil until onion is slightly softened, about 5 minutes. add garlic, worcestershire sauce, basil, and oregano; stir well. mix in chicken-rice mixture, tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper. scoop mixture into the zucchini boats; sprinkle each boat with about 1 rounded teaspoon parmesan cheese.
• bake in the preheated oven until cooked through and parmesan cheese is melted, 25 to 30 minutes.