Shop
My
Custom
FREE 5-Ingredient Recipe EBook
GET IT NOWThis recipe is the fastest, healthiest way to enjoy zucchini pizza! And I say that after combining zucchini and pizza flavors in several different ways. Yes, you could toss zucchini slices on a regular crust, make zucchini pizza bites for appetizers, or even get fancy with my zucchini pizza crust. But when I want a quick, easy, and summery dinner, these zucchini pizza boats win. Make them with me!
Why You Need My Zucchini Pizza Recipe
- Lighter way to get classic pizza flavor – Forget the pizza dough, I’m using zucchini boats as the “crust”! You get all the saucy, cheesy pizza taste with a solid dose of veggies. It’s one of my favorite ways to satisfy those cravings.
- Just 5 ingredients – I don’t want to make extra grocery trips just to enjoy pizza, so I kept this recipe minimal — only 5 ingredients plus salt and pepper.
- Super fast – My zucchini pizza boats only take 10 minutes to prep, and there are no extra bowls to wash. Yes to a healthy dinner in about 30 minutes.
- Perfect for family meals – Everyone can customize their own with their favorite toppings! See my suggestions below.
Ingredients & Substitutions
Here I explain the best ingredients for my zucchini pizza recipe, what each one does, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card.
- Zucchini – This is the “crust”. Yellow summer squash works great, too!
- Olive Oil – I just use my favorite regular olive oil, but extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil make great substitutes.
- Marinara Sauce – You can use my sugar-free marinara sauce, my sugar-free pizza sauce, or simply your favorite store-bought brand. I always check labels to avoid added sugar.
- Mini Pepperoni Slices – If you can find minis, you can use large slices and cut them into quarters.
- Mozzarella Cheese – I usually go for pre-shredded mozzarella for convenience, but you can shred it yourself. Fresh mozzarella can work, but you’ll have to dry it well so that it doesn’t water everything down. Feel free to mix it up with other cheeses, like cheddar or parmesan cheese.
- Sea Salt & Black Pepper – You can also add a sprinkle of Italian seasoning for extra flavor.
How To Make Zucchini Pizza Boats
I have step-by-step photos here to help you visualize the recipe. For full instructions with amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card.
- Prep the zucchini. Slice the zucchini lengthwise and scoop out some of the center with a melon baller, cookie scoop, or spoon to form a well.
- Roast the zucchini. Drizzle with the olive oil, and season with the sea salt and black pepper. Roast on a baking sheet until soft. (I line it with parchment paper for easier cleanup.) Pat the insides dry with paper towels to remove any excess moisture.
- Add your toppings. Spread the sauce inside the zucchini halves. Top with mozzarella and pepperoni.
- Pop in the oven. Bake the zucchini pizza, then broil to brown the cheese.
My Recipe Tips
- Yes, you need to pre-roast the zucchini and pat dry. These steps prevent your filling and toppings from ending up too watery, and your zucchini from being soggy.
- This is the perfect way to use up larger zucchini. I’m not a big fan of larger ones for many recipes because they are so seedy and watery, but since we’re scooping out the center here, they’re perfect for zucchini pizza boats. Small ones will work too, but you’ll have less room for toppings.
- Eat with a fork and knife. Unlike a regular pizza, it will be difficult to pick these up. A fork and knife are your best bet!
- What to do with the zucchini centers? You’ll need to scoop them out to hold the toppings, but they don’t have to go to waste. I usually toss them into my zucchini soup.
Topping Variations
Just like a regular pizza, you can easily customize zucchini pizza with different sauces and toppings. Here are some ideas to try:
- Veggie – Load them up with bell peppers, oven-dried tomatoes, mushrooms, and olives. Note that the veggies won’t soften much because the baking time is so brief, so you can pre-cook them first if you want them more tender.
- Meat Lover’s – Add some cooked Italian sausage, ham, and bacon along with the pepperoni.
- Hawaiian – One of my faves! Top your zucchini pizza boats with Canadian bacon and pineapple tidbits.
- Buffalo Chicken – Spread some buffalo sauce, add shredded chicken (Instant Pot chicken breast is my go-to quick method for it), and top with a sprinkle of blue cheese or ranch dressing. Or make my buffalo chicken zucchini boats instead.
- Sauce Swap – One of my kids isn’t a fan of tomato-based sauces, so I make hers with Alfredo sauce. You can also use my basil pesto sauce.
Storage & Meal Prep
- Store: Just pop any leftovers in the fridge. They’ll stay good for 3-4 days.
- Meal prep: You can prep the zucchini pizzas ahead of time, then just bake the day-of. Super easy!
- Reheat: Pop them in the oven at 350 degrees F for about 10 minutes.
- Freeze: I like to freeze zucchini pizza boats on a parchment paper lined baking sheet first, so they don’t stick together. Then transfer to a zip lock bag and keep frozen for up to 3 months. The zucchini is more mushy after thawing, but I think they’re still delicious.
Serving Ideas
Wondering what to serve with zucchini pizza? It can easily make a one-pan meal all on its own, but it’s pretty light, so here are some good pairings with it:
- Chicken Wings – A classic option with pizza! Try my classic buffalo wings for some heat, or my lemon pepper wings or garlic parmesan wings for savory flavors.
- Salad – I serve these zucchini pizza boats with my daughter’s favorite kale salad most often, but my Greek salad and Caprese salad are perfect for summer. You can also make my artichoke salad for an Italian-inspired meal.
- Breadsticks – A good way to make your meal more filling? I often make cauliflower breadsticks for a healthier option.
More Healthy Pizza Recipes
If you like my zucchini pizza, don’t miss my other healthy pizza recipes:
My Tools For This Recipe
- Melon Baller – You can just use a spoon or cookie scoop, but I find that this melon baller is the easiest way to scoop out the zucchini seeds.
- Baking Sheet – The best baking sheet I’ve ever had. It heats evenly and cleanup is a total breeze.
Zucchini Pizza Boats
Make my zucchini pizza boats when those pizza cravings hit! This healthy, cheesy, and easy zucchini pizza recipe is ready in just 30 minutes.
Remove Ads
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions to start a kitchen timer.
-
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
-
Slice the zucchini lengthwise. Use a spoon or melon baller to scoop out some of the centers of the zucchini to make wells.
-
Place the zucchini onto the baking sheet, cut side up. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt and black pepper.
-
Roast the zucchini in the oven for about 15-20 minutes, until soft.
-
When the zucchini are done roasting, use paper towels to pat any moisture from the wells.
-
Spread 2 tablespoons (29.5 milliliters) of marinara inside each zucchini boat. Then top with mozzarella cheese and mini pepperoni slices.
-
Bake for 5 minutes. Then, broil for about 3-5 minutes, until the cheese is melted and browned.
LAST STEP: Leave a rating to help other readers, or tag me @wholesomeyum on Instagram. I’d love to hear from you!
Maya’s Recipe Notes
Serving size: 2 zucchini boats
I provide nutrition facts as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see my nutrition policy.
Add Your Notes Your Notes
Try More Of My Recipes
© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead.
Zucchini Pizza
Gratitude Moment
No, this isn’t my cat, lol! This was another feel-good moment from our recent trip.
We visited a farm, and they had kittens you could hold or play with. I’m much more of a dog person than cat person, but still enjoyed this so much — and it reminded me that we’ve been promising the kids to get a dog soon. We keep waiting for life to slow down.
Do you have any pets? I love hearing about furry friends. Tell me about them in the comments below!
32 Comments
Barb
0Very tasty
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Barb!
Laura
0Very Good. I used Muir Glen Pizza Sauce instead of marinara sauce (I didn’t measure, just filled the cavity), sprinkled on Spice House Old World Italian seasoning on top as I think it needs more seasoning. I would make again for myself for a lunch or light dinner, but I don’t think my husband would find it filling enough (or have enough meat) for dinner. But I really liked it and made use of my zucchini.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m glad you liked these, Laura! You can add Italian sausage instead of (or in addition to) the pepperoni to make it more filling for dinner, and/or add a starchy side. Or just enjoy them as an appetizer!
BrianK
0Generally I don’t care for zucchini but this was REALLY good. I’ll definitely be making it again. One 8″ squash turned into 2 boats and I had enough for a meal with that. And easy? I guess!
I see other z’ boat recipes. I just might be persuaded to try them. I’ve been in ketosis for 6 years and I need branch out and get some different things to eat. Who knew I’d ever think zucchini was going to be worth eating!?? Thanks Maya!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Thank you, Brian! I’m glad this recipe turned zucchini around for you!
Carol L
0This recipe looks really good. My mom used to make caprese zucchini boats, with mozzarella balls soaked in balsamic vinegar, cherry tomatoes, onions, cilantro, and pesto. This is a nice alternative.
As for pets, I’m a dog lover as well, but since C*vid, I got a cat. (kitten) She was a rescue from an area that is rampant with cats and very rural with lots of predators. Now, 5 years later, I got her a pal (wanted to get the pal years ago, but didn’t work out). I wanted a male as I felt there would be fewer issues for bonding, but they goofed and I got another female. They are either full sisters or half sisters. They are both Tuxedo cats. One very long hair, one short hair! it has been a challenge getting them to bond. My first kitten, now cat, was removed from her litter too soon, and she has few if any, natural instincts about being a cat, or how to play. My new kitten was remove a bit later and has definite feline instincts and plays with abandon even by herself.
Thanks for the recipe!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Carol, Ooooh, a Caprese version sounds amazing! Thank you for sharing this. Wow, I hadn’t even considered those challenges with multiple pets bonding. Something to keep in mind for sure if we get more than one!
MarySue Mertens
0To answer your request for pet comments: I have 3 liver and white springers. Started with Maggie bought her a husband, Dexter (after Cary Grant Character C. Dexter Haven) cause she needed a friend and I love puppies. They had 2 litters. I kept the last born of their last litter, Lucy. We loved them all so much that we wanted to continue the line. So Lucy had 2 pups through emergency C section 2022. One of those survives today, Jack. Our lives are full of love and dog hair.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Awww, such a sweet story, MarySue! Thank you for sharing! I had a dog growing up and remember the dog hair, haha… but it’s worth it. 🙂
Jade Kim
0This recipe was a delightful surprise! The combination of marinara, mini pepperoni, and mozzarella made each bite savory and satisfying. I prepped everything ahead of time, and it made dinner so convenient on a busy weeknight. My kids loved helping add the toppings, which made it a fun family activity. Reheating leftovers was a breeze, and they still tasted fantastic the next day. This dish is definitely a keeper for our meal prep routine! Love your site!
Mariah
0Such a fun twist on a classic, and it was fantastic! The combination of marinara, mini pepperoni, and melted mozzarella was just perfect. It was easy to prepare and a big hit with the whole family. I’ll be making this one again soon!
Jeannette
0Made this yesterday (forgot to post) and this is the greatest idea ever! They were delicious! There are so many options that can be done. I always make meals following the recipe the first time. But these? Oh the options are unlimited. Thanks again Maya!
Lisa George
0These zucchini pizza boats are the bomb!!! OMG! We’ve had them 3 times in the last 2 weeks, and love that I make enough for leftovers. Protein, fat, veggies and a ton of deliciousness all in one place! Thank you for so many awesome recipes, ideas and overall yumminess! Looking forward to making taco boats and tons of other variations. ?
Colleen Fleenor
0Love your recipes. Everyone that we tried so far was delicious. I do have an issue with your site. It constantly skipping away somewhere else I’m in the middle of a recipe. Lol. Made zucchini boats. Delicious.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I’m so glad you liked this zucchini pizza, Colleen! Sorry to hear about the site issues. I’ve made some improvements, so hopefully this should be better now.
Jay
0Yes it looks good have not tried it yet put I bet it is great.
Rhonda
0We loved this one too, fixing to make it again?
Cheryl Wilbourn
0I wasn’t sure about making these when I reviewed the recipe, but I needed to use up some zucchini and I decided to go for it. Well, I’m glad I did! These were excellent. Easy to put together, healthy and my husband LOVED them. Thank you so much for a kick butt meal.
Paula
0I loved how these turned out. They were so tasty.
Natalie
0Fantastic lunch idea. Looks delicious and healthy. I’m making this today. Thanks for another wonderful recipe!
Amy L Huntley
0Now this is a pizza that I can feel good about eating. I have so much zucchini in my garden and this is the perfect way to use it up.
Ashes
0Absolutely love this recipe. This was my second time making it and it was delicious but I recommend adding Italian seasoning.
Kristyn
0This makes me so happy!! I love pizza & I also want to eat healthier, so now I can have both! I love the zucchini as the crust!
Cindy
0These were really yummy and fun! My kids loved them.
Jamie
0So delicious! Perfect way to use up all my zucchini!
Natalie
0No missing the dough here!! The zucchini is a great & delicious idea!! Way healthier too!
Raquel
0These were so easy and a delicious healthy dinner!
Jessica Burgess
0I needed a way to use up all of our zucchini from the garden and this was SO good. So glad I tried it!
Jennifer
0This recipe has seriously become a new favorite in our home!! So good, so flavorful and love that it’s healthier!
Beth
0What a great way to enjoy pizza, but healthier! We love how easy and delicious these were! Such a hit here and we’ll definitely make these again! Tasty and just the perfect lunch for today!
Toni
0It is so easy to make!! Thanks for the recipe!