Healthy and Hearty Spaghetti Squash Recipes - MyRecipes (2024)

Credit: Colin Price; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Spaghetti squash is our kind of vegetable. Sometimes it even seems too good to be true. Seriously—howcan something be so tasty and so good for you at the same time?! We've rounded up our absolute favorite spaghetti squash recipes, for when you want to be healthy without sacrificing flavor or texture.

Curried Spaghetti-Squash-and-Chickpea Toasts

Curried Spaghetti-Squash-and-Chickpea Toasts Recipe

Spaghetti squash gets its name because once it's cooked, you can use a fork to pull the flesh into long, thin strands. Jonathon Sawyer makes his own curry and cooks his own chickpeas for this vegetarian dish, but this simplified recipe calls for store-bought curry paste and canned chickpeas. Sawyer roasts the seeds from the squash and uses them as a garnish; pumpkin seeds from the supermarket are a fine substitute.

Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi

Spaghetti Squash Shrimp Scampi Recipe

Spaghetti squash is a favorite ingredient for those seeking a lower-carb, gluten-free alternative to pasta. If you’ve cooked it before, you’ve likely cut it in half lengthwise to form two “boats.” And while that method works just fine, it disregards the way the strands grow inside the squash—in circles around the width of the squash. When you cut the squash lengthwise, you cut each strand in half, which makes for shorter, and often soggy, “spaghetti.” Try this instead: Cut the squash into rings to preserve the length of the strands. See our step-by-step guide below.

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna with Spinach Recipe

Bake the squash in advance to shorten prep time; squeeze the noodles dry, and store in a zip-top plastic bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash image

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe

This foolproof Instant Pot method yields perfectly cooked spaghetti squash in a fraction of the time needed to cook it in the oven. Cutting the squash crosswise actually makes for longer strands of squash, which is ideal when subbing the veggie in place of traditional spaghetti noodles.Top your speedy spaghetti squash with anything from pesto to shrimp scampi for an easy, nutritious dinner.

Dessert Spaghetti Squash with Apples, Walnuts, and Cinnamon Goat Cheese

Dessert Spaghetti Squash with Apples, Walnuts, and Cinnamon Goat Cheese Recipe

While a sweet spaghetti squash might sound a little unconventional, it's quite atreat. Accompanied by a warm, buttery cinnamon apple mixture, this squash is packed with festive fall flavors. The simple goat cheese and Greek yogurt mixture is the perfect, creamy component to finish it all off, and you're going to be licking the spoon with this light and healthy topper.

Simple Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash image

Simple Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash Recipe

As easy as it gets, this is a great, hands-off, and foolproof method for making slow cooker spaghetti squash. Use the slow-cooked squash for salads, as a veggie swap for pasta noodles, or as a simple fall side dish.

Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash image

Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Everybody has to start somewhere. This basic spaghetti squash recipe get you started on the right track. Note: This recipe goes with our Pan-Seared Shrimp with Rosemary Spaghetti Squash recipe.

Greek Spaghetti Squash Toss image

Greek Spaghetti Squash Toss Recipe

Spaghetti squash is a great lower-calorie, lower-carb alternative to pasta. It's a neutral-tasting veggie that absorbs all the flavors of this simple dish. Eat with 1 orange or 2 clementines. Dairy-free option: Use 4 teaspoons toasted chopped walnuts instead of feta cheese.

Mushroom Bolognese image

Mushroom Bolognese over Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Go low-carb with hearty spaghetti squash in place of pasta. Cook an extra squash, and store the flesh in ziplock bags for a quick side during the week.

Spaghetti Squash Fritters with Sriracha Mayonnaise

Spaghetti Squash Fritters with Sriracha Mayonnaise Recipe

Pair a basic side salad with tasty Spaghetti Squash Fritters with Sriracha Mayonnaise for a simple, flavorful meatless meal.

Buttermilk Spoonbread with Spaghetti Squash

Buttermilk Spoonbread with Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Inspired by her grandmother's cornbread dressing and her mother's resourcefulness, Christensen added spaghetti squash to cornbread to create this custardy side. "My mom could make a meal out of an empty pantry, and that inspires me to look at ingredients in new ways." Note: Do not use sweet cornbread with this recipe.

Pan Seared Shrimp with Rosemary Spaghetti Squash image

Pan-Seared Shrimp with Rosemary Spaghetti Squash Recipe

For a faster option, you can use an equal amount of raw zucchini noodles or ribbons in place of the spaghetti squash. For a heartier dinner, serve with 1 cup steamed green beans.