Leftover Idea: Rice Stuffed Zucchini

The other night Scott and I had some rice with dinner and we ended up with some leftovers.

I wanted to use the leftovers for dinner the following evening but there wasn’t enough for each of us to have a regular portion size.  I wasn’t about to throw it away and started searching my fridge and pantry trying to decide how to use it.

That’s when I saw the big zucchini I had just purchased at the store and knew I could combine the two.  This was a super easy dish put together and ready to go in about 20 minutes.

Andrea’s Rice Stuffed Zucchini

  • Leftover rice
  • 1 Large Zucchini, cut in half lengthwise
  • 1/2C Shredded Cheddar Cheese
  • Salt and Pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees and line a baking sheet with foil.  Spray with oil or nonstick spray.  Scoop out the insides of the zucchini and discard.  The zucchini half should look hollow and be able to support a stuffing.

In a medium sized mixing bowl combine the rice with the cheese and a little salt and pepper (how much is up to your preference).  Place zucchini halves on baking sheet and begin to stuff them with the rice mixture.  They will be overflowing with mixture.

Place in oven and heat for about 15 minutes or until the zucchini starts to soften.

Remove from oven and serve immediately.

The leftover rice was already seasoned from the night before, I cooked it in chicken stock with a little butter and saffron.  I also added in a touch of soy sauce and green onions at the end.  This is why I didn’t need much in the way of seasoning for making the leftover dish.

I also discarded the insides of the zucchini because it was mostly large seeds.  If you would prefer to use the filling, go ahead and add it to the rice mixture.

The top of the rice got a little crispy as these baked in the oven which was a texture I really liked.  If this isn’t your cup of tea, add about 1TBSP of olive oil to the rice mixture before stuffing the zucchini with it.

I LOVED this side dish and could not get enough of it! You know those seasoned rice packets that are flavored like “broccoli and cheese” and are horrible for you?  This tasted exactly like that!  But you know, homemade and loads healthier.

This is on our list to make again soon!

Have fun guys, and remember, always play with your food! Enjoy!

One thought on “Leftover Idea: Rice Stuffed Zucchini

  1. I’ve really gotten to like the idea of stuffed zucchini since this summer. It holds up a lot better than peppers in the oven and you can’t overload them with the rice mix.

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