Zucchini Pizza Boats

These low carb and keto zucchini pizzas are the perfect options for a healthier pizza! Cheesy, full of flavor, and super tasty. We also love these Zucchini and Ground Turkey Pizza Boats for a more filling option.

When a pizza craving strikes but I don't want to indulge in a true pizza, I usually make zucchini pizzas. Now, before you judge a pizza on its vessel (or something) let me tell you, these are really good. Sure, you might still miss the actual bread but won't you won't miss is flavor and the toppings you really want to have. So you can have the cheese and the pepperoni and the olives and the mushrooms and whatever toppings you enjoy on your typical pizza. In return, you get to eat more vegetables, indulge in your cravings, and skip the extra carbs and calories.

In the past, I would look for a big zucchini and make circular coin pizzas to bake with sauce and cheese. However, lately, I have been simply cutting the zucchini in half and making these zucchini pizza boats. In the end, I end up eating more vegetables (you want four "slices" of pizza? Go ahead!) and less cheese, which is usually a good thing. You add any toppings you like, but my favorite combo is a classic pepperoni pizza.

What Else Can You Use As a Pizza Base?

If zucchini doesn't, um, float your boat (sorry, I couldn't pass that up), then try these other alternatives to pizza crust:

• Summer squash (same directions as for zucchini)
• Spaghetti squash
• Tortillas (low-carb, high-fiber, or other)
• Pita bread (just layer ingredients right on top)
• English muffins
• Cauliflower steaks (just make sure to precook the cauliflower)
• Sandwich thins or rounds
• Matzo
• Portobello mushrooms
• Eggplant

Side Dishes to Serve with Zucchini Pizza Boats

If you want a little something, something on the side of your pizza boats, I've got you covered. Sometimes, I confess, I like a little something crunchy and salty, like a chip or pretzel. If this is you, opt for low-fat, lower-calorie, or low-salt versions of your favorite chips or pretzels. And do note the serving size, and don't eat directly out of the bag for best portion control. Popchips, Veggie Chips, and low-salt pretzels are good alternatives that aren't too caloric or fattening.

Try another veggie side, like a salad, or roast up some broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, or other veggie you love. Roasting brings out a vegetable flavors and, if cooked properly, can add a crispness that you'd miss out on by boiling, steaming, or microwaving veggies.

This Avocado, Black Soy Bean, and Tomato salad goes great with just about any dish, but especially these Zucchini Pizza Boats. You can use this salad as a base to add in any other veggies that you like, as well.

A grain like couscous, quinoa, cauliflower rice, or brown rice would make a nice complement to any veggie pizza combination you dream up.

An often-overlooked, but delicious side is a great berry (or other fruit) salad. Purchase one premade at the store or make your own. The best part is, most fruits can be frozen if you can't eat them all. 

What Makes These Zucchini Pizza Boats Healthy?

Eating any extra veggies can only make your diet healthier (so long as its part of a well-rounded diet, of course). For these pizza boats though, these ingredients are a no-brainer, health-wise.

• Zucchini are low-fat, low-carb, and low-calorie — the triumvirate of any health-conscious foodie. It is a great source of fiber and will also help keep you hydrated.
• Olive oil is good for your heart because it contains monounsaturated fatty acids. These are the healthy fats that are important to get in your diet, rather than saturated fats.
• Spices such as oregano and pepper add tons of flavor without extra calories, fat, or sodium.
• Get a healthy dose of lycopene in your marinara sauce. Not only that, but tomato sauces also supply carotenoids, which include alpha- and beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene.
• Shredded mozzarella cheese is a good source of low-calorie, plant-based protein. It also contains calcium and phosphorus.
• Turkey pepperoni is a lower-calorie and lower-fat option when compared to regular pepperoni. Be careful though, because some brands are higher in salt than others.

How Can I Make a Zucchini Pizza Casserole?

These Zucchini Pizza Boats are so versatile, you might want to make a big batch of them. In that case, I suggest loading them up and placing them, casserole-style, into a large dish before baking. You could also slice the zucchini into rounds or thin ribbons or shred it and layer the pizza, lasagne-style. Top with mozzarella and a few sprinkles of Parmesan and bake at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.