Italian Style Stuffed Zucchini Squash Crock Pot Recipes

SLOW COOKER STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Scoop out flesh from the zucchini halves, leaving shells about 1/8 inch thick. (Zucchini flesh may be saved for another use.)
• Place tomatoes, 1/4 cup olive oil, salt, black pepper, garlic, basil leaves, Italian herb seasoning, and sugar into a food processor and pulse until blended, about 1 minute. Set mixture aside.
• Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; cook and stir onion until translucent, about 5 minutes. Add sausage to skillet and cook, stirring often, until browned and crumbly, about 10 minutes. Stir in the tomato mixture and heat until simmering; stir in Parmesan cheese.
• Place hollowed-out zucchini shells into the bottom of a large slow cooker, trimming them to fit if necessary. Spoon the sausage mixture into the shells, cover the cooker, and cook on High until tender, about 6 hours. Remove cover and spread a layer of mozzarella cheese over each stuffed zucchini. Cover and cook on High until cheese has melted, about 10 more minutes.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE-STUFFED ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°. Cut each zucchini lengthwise in half. Scoop out pulp, leaving a 1/4-in. shell; chop pulp. Place zucchini shells in a large microwave-safe dish. In batches, microwave, covered, on high 2-3 minutes or until crisp-tender., In a large skillet, cook sausage and zucchini pulp over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink, breaking sausage into crumbles; drain. Stir in tomatoes, bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, herbs and pepper. Spoon into zucchini shells., Place in 2 ungreased 13x9-in. baking dishes. Bake, covered, 15-20 minutes or until zucchini is tender. Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese. Bake, uncovered, 5-8 minutes longer or until cheese is melted. If desired, sprinkle with additional minced parsley.

ITALIAN-STYLE STUFFED ZUCCHINI SQUASH (CROCK POT)

Steps:

• To toast pine nuts, place them in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally until golden or about 5 minutes.
• Place the zucchini halves in the bottom of an oval shaped slow cooker.
• In a small bowl or measuring cup, combine the tomato sauce and vinegar.
• In another small bowl, combine the onions, garlic, rice, parsley, basil, pepper, along with 2 tablespoons of the tomato sauce-vinegar mixture.
• Fill the zucchini halves with the rice mixture.
• Top with the remaining tomato sauce-vinegar mixture.
• Cover and cook on LOW until the rice is tender, 4 to 6 hours.
• Garnish with the pine nuts, fresh herbs, and cheese.
• Makes 2 main dish servings or 4 side dish servings.

SLOW COOKER ZUCCHINI SOUP

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage in the hot skillet until browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes; drain and discard grease. Mix celery into cooked sausage; cook and stir until celery is softened, about 10 minutes.
• Combine sausage mixture, zucchini, tomatoes, bell peppers, onion, salt, sugar, oregano, Italian seasoning, basil, and garlic powder in a slow cooker.
• Cook on Low for 4 to 6 hours. Garnish each serving with 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese.

SLOW-COOKED SUMMER SQUASH

Steps:

• Cut squash into 1/4-inch -thick slices. In a 3- or 4-qt. slow cooker, combine squash, tomatoes and green onions. Add salt, pepper and broth. Cook, covered, on low until tender, 2-1/2 - 3-1/2 hours. Remove squash with a slotted spoon., To serve, top with croutons, cheese and bacon.

ITALIAN STUFFED ACORN SQUASH-CROCK POT

Steps:

• Cut squash in half and scoop out seeds.
• Brush squash halves with olive oil and place in slow cooker (slice off bottoms to level, if necessary).
• Pour 1 cup water into the cooker, around (not into) squash.
• In a small bowl, combine wild rice blend, pumpkin seeds or pine nuts, minced garlic, tomato paste, salt, pepper, and spices; stir until well-mixed.
• Stuff rice mixture into each squash half.
• Slowly pour about 1/2 cup vegetable broth into each squash cavity until full (don't let stuffing overflow).
• Pour any remaining broth around squash.
• Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
• Just prior to serving, sprinkle with crumbled cheese.
• Enjoy!

CROCK POT ITALIAN ZUCCHINI

Steps:

• Spray a slow cooker container with olive oil-flavored cooking spray. In prepared container, combine zucchini and onion. Add undrained tomatoes, Italian dressing, and sugar (or splenda). Mix well to combine.
• Cover and cook on LOW for 4 to 6 hours. Mix well before serving.