With all of the things that you can do with zucchini (aka courgettes) one thing that I find that I come back to year after year is stuffing it; I mean you really can’nt go wrong with stuffing zucchini with all sorts of good things! This year the first thing on my list to stuff into zucchini was one of my obsessions, buffalo chicken! The basic idea behind this kind of stuffed zucchini (aka zucchini boats) is that you cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, hollow it out and stuff it with a filling before baking it. Since this inspiration for this stuffed zucchini was buffalo chicken wings I started the filling out with some diced carrots and celery which are often served with the wings. Corn is also in season now and I was thinking that the sweetness of it would pair nicely with the spicy buffalo chicken flavours so I added some to the mix and together with carrots, celery and the zucchini that was hollowed out I had a really nice vegetable base. Up next of course was the chicken along with the buffalo hot sauce and a touch of blue cheese. When you are baking a dish like this it is always nice to top it with some cheese that will melt all over everything so I threw on some cheddar. I could have left things here with one super tasty buffalo chicken stuffed zucchini but I could not resist including two more of my favourite ingredients including bacon and avocados. I added the bacon simply by sprinkling it on as garnish and the avocado by mixing it into some blue cheese dressing that I drizzled over everything.
With so many good things in this buffalo chicken stuffed zucchini I knew that it was going to be good but I was not prepared for just how good! The first bite was almost magical and after I had devoured my first plateful I knew that I had just made my all time favourite new dish for the summer! If you are a fan of buffalo chicken this is one dish that you just have to try while there is plenty of zucchini around!
I served the buffalo chicken stuffed zucchini with a simple salad using the avocado blue cheese dressing for a light and super tasty summer meal!
The avocado blue cheese dressing is so addictively good! I have a feeling that I will be using it on everything for the next little while! 🙂
Buffalo Chicken Stuffed Zucchini topped with Melted Cheddar, Bacon and an Avocado Blue Cheese Dressing
Prep Time:15 minutes Cook Time:55 minutes Total Time:1 hour 10 minutes Servings: 4
Zucchini stuffed with buffalo chicken and corn topped with bacon, plenty of melted cheese and an avocado blue cheese dressing!
ingredients
- 4 medium zucchinis, cut in half lengthwise
- 4 strips bacon, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup carrot, finely diced
- 1/2 cup celery, finely diced
- 1/2 pound chicken, cooked and shredded
- 1/2 cup corn
- 1/2 cup buffalo hot sauce
- 1/2 cup cheddar cheese
- 1/4 cup blue cheese
- 1/4 cup avocado blue cheese dressing (see below) (optional)
directions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil.
- Meanwhile, hollow out the zucchini leaving them 1/4 inch thick, reserving and chopping the insides.
- Cook the bacon in a pan until crispy, set aside on paper towels to drain and reserve 1 tablespoon of grease in the pan.
- Add the carrots and celery and cook until tender, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the reserved zucchini and cook until tender, about 3-5 minutes.
- Mix in the chicken, corn and hot sauce and remove from heat.
- Place the zucchini halves in the boiling water and boil for a minute, remove from water and place in large baking dishes.
- Stuff the zucchini halves with the buffalo chicken mixture sprinkle on the cheese and bake in a preheated 350F/180C oven until the zucchini is nice and tender and the cheese has melted, about 30-40 minutes.
Avocado Blue Cheese Dressing
Prep Time:5 minutes Total Time:5 minutes Servings: 1
Smooth and creamy avocado mixed into a tangy blue cheese dressing.
ingredients
- 1 avocado, mashed
- 1 cup blue cheese dressing
directions
- Mix the avocado into the dressing and enjoy!
This could not be more amazing!! I love with these boats!! The buffalo, sauce the blue cheese, the cheddar cheese and the bacon. Heck yes!
Oh. My. Word.
Oh holy moly! I love that this is on top of zucchini!! You wouldn't have ever known! 😉
Mmmm…I don't think that zucchini could have been made into anything more amazing!! Looks so good!!
Since stuffed zucchini is something green that my son will actually eat, I'm all over trying this one!
We love stuffed Zucchini and a different recipe version is always welcome!
Oh my gosh, this looks to die for!
Avocado blue cheese dressing sounds INSANE!
now this is a way to get my family to eat their veggies!!
Wow! Looks absolutely awesome!
RecipeGirl & Heather Christo: Yep, there is actually a lot of veggies hidden under the cheese and hot sauce!
I follow you by email and love your recipes ~ partly because you agree with me that almost anything is improved by my mantra :"I threw on some cheddar".
Seriously, that's a lovely recipe and goes on this weeks menu.
I must be living under a rock – I have never had stuffed zucchini ever!
This dish looks so great – so colorful!
Shashi @ http://runninsrilankan.com
Shashi Charles: aka courgettes
Holy heavens… this looks out-of-control! In like, the best way ever! I need it!
LOVE stuffed zucchini and anything with buffalo sauce is the best! these have got to be made ASAP
oooohhh que delicia!
I heard bacon! Love this creative twist on zucchini boats, Kevin.
I think you just stopped my heart- bacon, avocado, buffalo chicken, blue cheese, zucchini- almost all of my favorite things in one dish. I cannot wait to make this!
I think you just stopped my heart- bacon, avocado, buffalo chicken, blue cheese, zucchini- almost all of my favorite things in one dish. I cannot wait to make this!
Such a fun way to prepare chicken!
thank you so much
This looks like a GREAT way to get some extra veggies in my dinner! YUM 😀
What a lively use of chicken and zucchini! This combo blows me away!