We’ll show you How To Cook Spaghetti Squash the easiest way with the best results! Spaghetti squash can be used in many low carb, healthy recipes!
We use spaghetti squash all the time in our favorite low carb recipes like this comforting Chicken Pot Pie Casserole or in a side dish recipe like our Creamed Spaghetti Squash with Bacon and Gruyere cheese.
What Is Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti squash can come in a few different shapes and sizes from orange to yellow and even white. When the squash is cooked the flesh breaks apart into spaghetti like strands that can be used in many different recipes, in place of actual spaghetti or as a vegetable side dish.
Spaghetti squash is very low in calories but also high in nutrients like vitamin A, potassium, folic acid and beta carotene.
How To Cook Spaghetti Squash In The Oven
Start by piercing the squash with a fork or the tip of a knife several times, then microwave it for 5 minutes. This will make it much easier to cut the spaghetti squash in half.
Place the squash on a sheet pan cut side up so that you can add seasoning and oil.
Season the spaghetti squash with kosher salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Once the squash is seasoned, flip it over so that the cut side is down on the sheet pan before roasting.
Place the squash in a 400 degree, preheated oven for 25 minutes. Check to see if the squash is done by seeing if a knife easily slips into the flesh. If the squash is still firm, cook it in 5 minute increments until it’s tender.
How To Cook Spaghetti Squash In The Microwave
Alternately, you can also cook spaghetti squash right in the microwave. I do prefer the oven method because I think that it adds more flavor, but the microwave is a great time saver.
Place the squash halves face side down in a baking dish. Pour in about an inch of water and microwave for 10 minutes until the flesh is tender.
When Is Spaghetti Squash Done?
If you’re roasting spaghetti squash to eat as is with a little salt and pepper or parmesan cheese you’ll want it more on the tender side.
A lot of people make their spaghetti squash the way they do their pasta, so if you like your pasta more al dente, then you’ll like your spaghetti squash that way, too.
But if you’re cooking spaghetti squash to use in another recipe like a casserole, you’ll want a more “al dente” or firmer texture since it will cool longer with the other ingredients.
I used a 4-5 pound spaghetti squash for this recipe and it took 40 minutes for perfect spaghetti squash strands. Start checking your squash with a fork at about 25 minutes for a smaller squash then continue from there.
Once the spaghetti squash is tender, remove it from the oven and start scraping the squash with a fork into long “spaghetti” like strands. Sometimes we use the cooked spaghetti squash strands for a side dish with salt and pepper and parmesan cheese or tossed with other vegetables.
Our favorite way to serve spaghetti squash is with marinara sauce or a meat sauce, just like you would spaghetti or pasta!
Ways To Use Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is also a great way to make tons of low carb recipes in place of pasta. Try swapping out spaghetti squash in your favorite pasta recipes or even in a stir fry recipe!
- Chicken Pot Pie Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Spaghetti Squash Casserole with Bacon
- Philly Cheesesteak Spaghetti Squash Casserole
- Sausage & Pepper Spaghetti Squash Stir Fry
- Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Apple Cider Glaze
Looking For More Vegetables Side Dishes?
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How To Cook Spaghetti Squash
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
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Pin RecipeHow To Cook Spaghetti Squash the easiest and tastiest way! Spaghetti squash can be used in place of pasta in many low carb, healthy recipes. We’ll show you how to easily cook this vegetable in the oven or microwave!
Ingredients
- 1 (4-5 pound) spaghetti squash
- 4 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- kosher salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Oven Instructions:
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Pierce the squash several times with a fork or knife then place it in the microwave for 5 minutes. This will make the squash easier to cut in half.
- Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (as shown in the pictures in the post). Scrape the seeds out from both halves then place onto a baking sheet.
- Season both halves with salt and pepper then drizzle each half with 2 tablespoons of olive oil each.
- Flip the squash over so the cut side is down on the baking sheet then place into the oven for 30 minutes.
- Remove the squash from the oven and test for tenderness by scraping the flesh with a fork. If the squash is too firm them flip back over and return to the oven for another 5-10 minutes. The squash I used for this recipe was almost 5 pounds and took 40 minutes total.
- When the squash has cooled, use a fork to scrape the flesh from both halves and place into a bowl.
- Add marinara sauce and parmesan cheese or use the spaghetti squash in your favorite recipes.
Microwave Instructions:
- Pierce the squash several times with a fork or knife then place it in the microwave for 5 minutes. This will make the squash easier to cut in half.
- Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (as shown in the pictures in the post). Scrape the seeds out from both halves then place cut side down into a baking dish.
- Microwave for 10 minutes and then pierce the squash with a fork to check for tenderness. If the knife inserts easily, remove the squash and let it cool slightly. Use a fork to scrape up the strands into spaghetti like noodles.
- Add marinara sauce and parmesan cheese or use the spaghetti squash in your favorite recipes.
Recipe Notes
A 5 pound squash will yield about 8 cups of cooked squash.
Store: Store cooked spaghetti squash in an air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Freeze: Pack cooked spaghetti squash strands in a container or storage bag lined with a couple of paper towels on the bottom. Let the squash sit in the refrigerator overnight to remove some of the moisture from the strands. Remove the paper towel and then freeze in a freezer bag or container for up to 6 months.
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
I have been cooking spaghetti squash for many years now, basically the way you do it. I found out that cutting the squash in half cross-wise delivers longer strands. I use an air fryer to cook and the shell becomes very hard after 30 min and can be cracked easily, letting me peel the shell and leaving the mound of flesh intact., giving me more options how to prepare the squash like just filling it with the meat sauce.