Meat, Tomato, and Mozzarella Stuffed Zucchini Cups

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350F/175C.

Step 2

Chop onion and green pepper.

Step 3

Heat 2 tsp. olive oil in a non-stick pan, then saute onion and pepper for 3-4 minutes, until just starting to soften.

Step 4

Add minced garlic and saute about 1 minute more, being careful not to brown the garlic.

Step 5

Remove the onion, pepper, and garlic mixture to a bowl.

Step 6

Add 2 tsp. more olive oil to the pan.

Step 7

Crumble in the ground beef and ground turkey (or ground sausage), season with Spike Seasoning (affiliate link) and cook over medium heat until the meat is well browned.

Step 8

Tilt pan to see if there is any extra fat, and remove with a spoon if there desired, then stir cooked vegetables and garlic back into the meat.

Step 9

Add tomato sauce and simmer until the mixture has thickened and liquid has cooked off, about 10 minutes, then turn off heat.

Step 10

While meat cools, cut zucchini into 2 inch thick slices, discarding ends.

Step 11

Use a sharp spoon or melon baller to hollow out a cup in each zucchini slice, leaving just over 1/4 inch of zucchini flesh. Be careful not to get too close to the skin or the cups will leak liquid when they cook.

Step 12

Spray baking sheet with nonstick spray and stand up zucchini cups, open end up.

Step 13

Stir 1 1/2 cups grated cheese into the cooled meat mixture (it doesn’t need to be completely cool), then spoon the meat-cheese mixture into zucchini cups, pressing down with the spoon and mounding it up a little over the top of the zucchini.

Step 14

Bake zucchini cups for 20 minutes, then remove from oven and use remaining cheese to top each one with a generous pinch of cheese.

Step 15

Put back in oven and bake 10-15 minutes more, until zucchini is slightly soft when pierced with a fork and cheese is melted and lightly browned.

Step 16

Serve hot.