Ladies and Gentlemen, start your appetites, this bacon wrapped stuffed zucchini is going to knock your socks off!
I say, with a lot of confidence, that you will love this dish.
I’m constantly on the creative prowl for new and tasty ways to combine paleo-friendly ingredients in a way that makes people say: “Wow! This is good for me?”
My answer, typically, is: “Yes, at least a million times better than that pizza you thought about ordering.”
Zucchini is one of my favorite vegetables to cook with. It’s SO versatile. I use it to make everything from zucchini noodles when I’m craving pasta to my morning egg frittatas when I want a full plate without over-doing my energy intake.
I decided to create my bacon wrapped stuffed zucchini by stuffing my hollowed-out zucchini with shredded chicken (simple how-to directions below). You can use ground meat, if you like. I opted for the homemade shredded chicken because it’s healthy, fresh, and versatile, and can be made even easier by opting for a pre-cooked rotisserie chicken if you’re short on time. I like to make extra shredded chicken for use in salads later in the week because I am all about minimizing time and effort when I can!
I seasoned the shredded chicken with my go-to Mexican flare, because you know I love big, bold flavors, especially when it involves a nod to my heritage.
To bring the whole dish together and move it from an “Oooh” to an “AHHH!” … I added bacon. Because bacon makes everything better, I think we can all agree on that!
That’s right. Wrap those stuffed zucchinis with a few pieces of bacon, bake, and let the flavors melt into each other; then BOOM, instant happy family. We love to serve this bacon wrapped stuffed zucchini along side a big green salad like this 3 greens refrigerator salad one, and one of our favorite cocktails out on the patio on a warm summer night. My idea of bliss!
Enjoy!
Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Zucchini
Ingredients
- 3 Medium-Large Zucchini
- 1 lb Shredded Chicken
- 18 Slices Pre-cooked Bacon
- 2 teaspoon Sea Salt
- 2 teaspoon Cracked Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Ground Cumin
- 1 tablespoon Garlic Powder
- 1 tablespoon Onion Powder
- 1 tablespoon Chili Powder
- 18 Toothpicks
Instructions
- Bacon Wrapped Stuffed Zucchini
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
- Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and set aside.
- Wash and cut your zucchini in half.
- With a spoon, carefully scrape out all the seeds and soft membrane of the zucchini.
- Stir your shredded chicken with the sea salt, pepper, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, and chili powder. It combines easier when it’s warm and a little moist.
- Spoon in about 1/3 cup shredded chicken into each hallowed-out zucchini half.
- Using the pre-cooked thin bacon (found in the breakfast meats section of the grocery store), wrap about 3 pieces of bacon around each zucchini half.
- Secure with a toothpick at the top.
- Separate the stuffed and wrapped zucchini evenly on the baking sheet.
- Bake at 375 degrees for about 20 minutes.
- Start checking on them at about 15 minutes to be sure the bacon doesn’t burn.
- Enjoy!
- Simple How-To: Shredded Chicken
- Bring about 4 cups water + 1 Tbl sea salt to a low boil in in a medium sauce pan.
- Carefully add two chicken breasts (about 1 lb worth).
- On a low boil, cook for about 15-18 minutes.
- Remove from water and cut in half at the thickest part of the breast. If it is NOT pink, they’re done. If it is still pink, add back to the simmering water for a few minutes.
- With two forks, begin stabbing and shredding the chicken. Make sure you do this immediately. Hot chicken is MUCH easier to shred than room-temperature chicken.
- You can store it in a sealed container in the fridge for about 5 days
Nutrition
Hi, found your blog looking for recipes to get rid of the zukes flowing from my garden. I found that the chicken came out super dry. Any tips?
Hm, good question, Jen! Maybe wrap with a more thick-cut bacon? Hope that helps!
Just saw the nutritional info! Holy cow! How in the world are there so many fat and calories in this dish? Only thing kind of fattening is bacon. I’m confused? Is it a typo?
Reblogged this on lburke596 and commented:
This looks yummy
Thank you!
This was amazing! Made it for my gluten-free friend and she is so happy! She’s now following your blog. 🙂
That’s so great! Thanks, Kristel!
first time commenting, but love your blog! keep up the awesome work. make me want to eat healthier.
Thanks so much!!
WINNER-WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!!!
Looks awesome!
Thanks!
OMG – this looks soooooo good! Winner!
Thank you!!