Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2024)

By Ali Slagle

Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 10 minutes
Rating
4(2,738)
Notes
Read community notes

Once baked and scraped into noodle-like strands, spaghetti squash becomes a frequent pasta understudy, tossed with pesto, tomato sauce or roasted vegetables. But it’s a versatile ingredient, as its mild flavor and gentle crunch also make it a good base for stews or even curries. For a basic roasted spaghetti squash recipe, follow Step 1, scrape the insides into strands, and be on your way. For a complete side dish, proceed with the rest of the recipe and top with herby breadcrumbs and Parmesan. You can also add mozzarella, which will melt into delicious little pools among the squash strands.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings

  • 1large (3- to 4-pound) spaghetti squash, halved lengthwise and seeded
  • 3tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • Kosher salt and black pepper
  • 1cup freshly grated Parmesan
  • ½cup panko
  • 1garlic clove, grated
  • 1teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
  • 8ounces mozzarella, cut into ½-inch cubes (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

466 calories; 33 grams fat; 15 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 14 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 15 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 4 grams sugars; 27 grams protein; 895 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Heat the oven to 450 degrees. Brush the cut side of each squash half with 1 tablespoon olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Place squash, cut-sides down, on a parchment-lined baking sheet and roast until the squash is tender when poked with a fork, 35 to 40 minutes.

  2. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, stir together the Parmesan, panko, garlic, thyme and the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

  3. Step

    3

    Flip the squash and use a fork to scrape the squash into spaghetti strands. Stir in half the mozzarella, if using, then sprinkle the squash with the remaining mozzarella and the panko mixture. Roast until the top is golden brown and mozzarella has melted, 20 to 25 minutes.

Ratings

4

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2,738

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Madeline

Regarding the "horrifying" task of cutting a raw large squash, somewhere there was a suggestion (Deborah Madison?) to pre-bake whole at 350° for 20-30 minutes until the squash was slightly soft to the touch, then proceed. I have done this with spaghetti squash and with a large knife, it was less terrifying when slightly softened.

Mich

Poke some holes in the skin. Microwave the whole squash for 5 minutes. It will be tender enough to cut.

Cara

I went heavy on the salt and pepper and it was surprisingly flavorful. I also mixed in a big handful of halved grape tomatoes before the final 20 minute bake, I think it brightened it up nicely. Very tasty!

Christa

I can see this is going to be another go-to recipe for me by Ali Slagle in addition to her broccoli rabe and chickpeas. Easy and unfussy comforting and warming dinner to make on a cold November Friday evening. Simple and satisfying, real comfort food. Made again; a real pleasure.

J

I receive a box of vegetable in the mail weekly. Had to ask my BF what this round yellow object is. Went straight to NYT recipes and discovered what can be done. After completion a subtle melancholy swept over. Being raised in a Persian family I’d never been introduced to this exotic vegetable. I should have been eating this all my life!

Bicka

I love Spaghetti squash but always come up against watery dishes even with perfectly cooked squash. This recipe allows the water to cook off in the last bake so that the squash stays crunchy. The topping here is versatile. After reading the comments, I added fresh oregano, chopped black oil cured olives and red pepper flakes. Didn't use mozzarella. Next time will reduce the breadcrumbs and try another combo of flavors. A keeper of a method!

Julie

I added minced garlic to the seasonings while roasting, went easy on the mozzarella (sprinkled a half a handful of grated in each) and added some diced pine nuts to the panko mixture. SO. GOOD.

Marge

Wife traumatized by bad spaghetti squash in childhood gobbled this up. It’s amazing what a crapton of cheese and panko can do!

Lindsay H

I did two small squash (all other ingredients measured the same) and served two adults and two kids as a light fall lunch. Next time I will add some crushed red pepper to the cheese/panko mix to liven it up a bit, and I plan to serve it with a simple salad.

Harbor Diner

Don't forget the seeds! After making this dish (added chicken sausage and loved that) I turned the oven off and put the cleaned squash seeds on the parchment with a healthy bit of salt to roast in the cooling oven. They were perfectly done when we had finished eating.

sarah g

I made mine without the mozzarella- next time I will be sure to add. Needs lots of salt and pepper. The recipe doesn’t say how much and because of the amount of Parmesan, I held back. Big mistake. Also another clove of minced garlic at least would be better.

Ann W

Delicious. Use generous salt and pepper and coarse freshly grated mozzarella. Add a cup of halved baby tomatoes.

Linnea

Delicious. Asked my Husband to split the squash, which he did beautifully.Next time, I would mix the scraped contents of the squash in a separate bowl with half the mozz/panko, then add back to the gourds, and then top with remaining mozz/panko mix.Didn't have mozz and the stores were out (ugh Corona) so we substituted a nice gouda. Didn't get the stretchy cheese effect from the recipe picture and the taste profile was completely changed, but we still liked it :)

Nett

I saw this recipe this morning and decided to try it for dinner. It was easy and the house smelled so good during all the roasting and baking. It was our main dinner dish so I heated some leftover beef ragu to serve on the side and I’m glad I did. The squash had the fantastic crunch on top but needed a little extra something to make it a meal. Given the ease and the yum I’ll be happy to make it again.

Elly van Laar

Loved it! Used vegan cheese and tofu for filling. Not sure if it needs to be baked at 450. I'm gonna try 400 next time.

RosebudTo

Even my vegetable averse husband finished his serving.I microwaved the squash for 5 minutes to soften prior to cutting and it got a super squishy spot on the bottom. Not huge but next time I’ll try to soften it in the oven. BelGioioso has a fresh mozzarella snacking cheese with perfectly sized little balls that comes in an 8oz package—perfect!Used pecorino romano instead of parm. The breadcrumb mix is so good, will be using it for other recipes too.

RosebudTX

Question: do you leave the “stranded” squash in the “shell” and cook with toppings…and then eat it just like that? If so could you do two smaller squash so each person gets a half to themselves? And then how long to cook smaller version? Spaghetti squash is new to me as far as cooking goes.

NT

I used half the Parmesan and substituted the other half for hemp seeds and it was fantastic. I also added pine nuts.

n

Topping is flavorful. Better ratio if you scrape out squash in a baking pan and mix mozzarella (salt generously) and top with crumb mixture.

Bettie

I was skeptical. I hate watery squash, and have been disappointed in other recipes. This cooked perfectly and was delicious. Great flavor and texture.

Diane

I make this often but add wilted spinach and halved cherry tomatoes when adding cheese to the strands of squash, it makes a great vegetarian main dish!

Keith

Wonderful and versatile. I made this as a side dish. Perfect. I’ve even used gruyere instead of mozzarella and it’s amazing.

vehicle for stuffing

I love stuffing and this is a great way to get a taste without roasting a big bird.!These were my additions:Poultry seasoningSun flower seedsTablespoon of butterI used Fontina cheese which gave it more density yet still gave it gooey goodness.

Bettie

Wonderful! I prepared it as written, and was so pleased with the texture of the squash and flavor. This was also easy, and did not require a lot of pans, which made clean up easy.

Stephanie

This was a wonderful dish. My husband who doesn't like squash even enjoyed it. I loved the way the skin of the squash turns into a hard shell serving bowl! Yummy!

Paul

We loved this...it had to sit in the oven for 30 0r more minutes after 20 minutes or so of cooking...heat was off but oven still warm. It was perfectly crispy and moist...we ate it right out of the shell...fun.

Justin

Cutting the whole squash is quite easy if you stab into the center and then drive your chefs knife down through the middle of the squash. Turn and finish the other side.

me

Made this for a skeptical husband. Went heavy on the salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Used shredded mozzarella instead of cubed and Italian seasoning instead of just thyme. Also cut up some meat from leftover fried chicken and two small dice cubes and added it to the Panko mix, mixing with the noodles then Dusting on top. Adding halved tomatoes is an absolute must, and I wish we had added more. End result? Quite delicious!

me

Made for a skeptical, husband, who ended up liking it very much! Strongly agree with the other reviewers, who suggested adding lots red pepper flakes, and lots of halved grape tomatoes to the panko mix, then mixing some of it to the squash mix before dusting some on top. We mixed some finely chopped leftover fried chicken meat to the panko mix as well. Delicious!

KT Rush

Added spinach, a grilled Italian sausage and the mozzarella. Used bread crumbs v Panko. Lovely, cheesy.

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Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What temperature should I roast spaghetti squash at? ›

Food Network Kitchen's How to Cook Spaghetti Squash, as seen on Food Network. Step two: Roast and shred. Cook in a 400 degrees F oven until fork-tender, about 25 minutes. Once the squash is cool enough to handle, use the tines of a fork to loosen and separate the strands of squash from the skin.

Do you have to cut spaghetti squash in half before cooking it? ›

Here's the best way to cook spaghetti squash! Cut it in half, scoop out the seeds, rub a little olive oil and salt on the inside, and roast in the oven cut-side down.

Should squash be covered when baking? ›

Cube squash (or cut it into thin planks) and toss with a bit of cream and salt. Spread in an even layer in a casserole dish. Bake, tightly covered, for about 30 minutes at 400°F.

Why is my baked spaghetti squash watery? ›

I find that adding too much oil and too much salt at this stage makes the squash a bit watery, so a light drizzle and a light sprinkle will do. Then, poke a few holes in the skin of the squash with a fork and place it cut side down on a baking sheet. Pop it in a pre-heated 400°F oven.

Do you put squash up or down in oven? ›

Roasting Squash, Halved

Next, place the squash cut-side down on the sheet pan and pop it in the oven. Here's when you'd add olive oil (rub on the fleshy, cut, side), salt (on the flesh), and any aromatics (I like to put herbs and garlic cloves into the seed cavity) if you're choosing to use them.

How do you know when squash is done in the oven? ›

Bake in the preheated oven until tender and easily pierced with a fork, about 1 1/2 hours, adding more water as needed. Remove from the oven and transfer each half to a plate, cut-side up.

Why is my spaghetti squash so hard to cut? ›

Spaghetti squash can be tough to cut raw. The outside is hard and the raw flesh can be a bit of a challenge to work through. To safely cut into a squash (spaghetti or another kind), you need to make sure you have a nice sharp knife and a flat, stable work surface to cut on.

Is spaghetti squash healthy? ›

Spaghetti squash is a winter vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Due to its low calorie content and high fiber content, it may aid weight loss and digestive health. Try roasted spaghetti squash as a low carb alternative to pasta, combined with veggies, protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.

How do you cook squash so it doesn't get soggy? ›

Roasting zucchini at a high temperature instead of baking or sautéing helps develop browning and a slight char on the outside, which keeps it from getting soggy. It also concentrates the flavors, giving this subtle veg a little more oomph.

How do I know when my squash is done? ›

A squash that's ready will certainly have a thick, woody stem. If there's any trace of lively looking green-bendy-fleshiness left in the stem, it's not yet ready. Try to see if you can make a little indent with your fingernail or if your thumb makes an imprint when pressing against the tough squash skin.

Do you wash squash before cooking? ›

Then wash winter squash before preparing and eating. Try these 7 Tips for Cleaning Fruits, Vegetables or these steps for washing winter squash: rinse with plain running water while scrubbing the outside with a clean brush, then dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.

Why does my cooked spaghetti squash taste bitter? ›

If a winter squash experiences extreme cold (or other environmental stressor), it may produce increased levels of cucurbitacin, a chemical found in this family of plants that, you guessed it, has an extremely bitter flavor.

Is spaghetti squash supposed to be crunchy or soft? ›

The squash is ready when you can easily pierce a fork through the flesh all the way to the peel. The flesh will also separate easily into spaghetti-like strands. You can also taste it right now — if the noodles are still a bit crunchy for your taste, put the squash back in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.

What temperature does spaghetti squash grow in? ›

Direct sow spaghetti squash seed in the garden about two weeks after final frost in your area when soil temperatures reach 70 degrees F. Plants are heat tolerant once established, but do not tolerate cold.

At what temperature should you cook spaghetti? ›

The most popular way to cook spaghetti is simple. Put the pasta into plenty of boiling water, stir it, bring it to a simmer, turn the heat off, put a lid on and leave it to finish cooking for 10-12 mins. This method works perfectly fine.

What is the temperature for squash? ›

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the squash on a sheet pan and drizzle with the olive oil, salt, and pepper and toss well. Arrange the squash in one layer and roast for 25 to 30 minutes, until the squash is tender, turning once with a metal spatula.

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