Name: Spaghetti Squash in the Oven
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Ingredients: 1 Medium Sized Spaghetti Squash (About 3-4lbs); 1 Tbsp Avocado Oil; 1/4 tsp. Pepper; 1/4 tsp. Salt

This roasted spaghetti squash in the oven is a super easy, simple recipe. You can serve this roasted spaghetti squash with a little salt, or use it in loads of spaghetti squash recipes!

I’ve always appreciated squashes of all kinds, whether that be yellow squash, zucchini, butternut squash, or spaghetti squash! The first time I had spaghetti squash, I truly loved it. After all, how exciting is a squash that looks like spaghetti.. Not to mention it’s absolutely delicious served with just salt and maybe some butter. I could truly eat spaghetti squash as a meal by itself, and it’s not hard to eat half of a squash in one sitting!

Of course, having spaghetti squash by itself isn’t the most balanced dinner, so you can always serve it with meat sauce, alfredo sauce, beans and meat, etc! There are so many recipes which use roasted spaghetti squash as one of the main ingredients.

Spaghetti squash sliced in half on a cutting board with a knife

Spaghetti Squash Vs Pasta

Don’t let the name fool you — you probably won’t be able to set a plate of this squash down in front of your child and make him think he’s getting a plate of pasta! The taste and texture of spaghetti squash is quite different from pasta. Spaghetti squash has an almost crunchy texture, yet it’s still quite soft. The flavor of spaghetti squash is neutral, with a very slight sweetness. Although it’s certainly not your traditional noodle, the noodle-like appearance and texture, and the neutral flavor of spaghetti squash make it an excellent replacement for regular spaghetti noodles in many recipes!

I’ve come to prefer spaghetti squash in place of noodles in many instances. Especially during the summer, it’s really nice to have a lighter, fresher option as opposed to noodles, which can be very heavy. You can always prepare both roasted spaghetti squash and regular noodles if you want everyone to have options!

Scooping seeds out of a spaghetti squash

How Much Spaghetti Squash Per Person

How much spaghetti squash you prepare per person depends on how you’re planning to serve the spaghetti squash. If you are serving it as a vegetable side dish, one medium sized spaghetti squash (about 3-4lbs) will serve 6-8 people.

If you are using the spaghetti squash as a pasta replacement for spaghetti and meat sauce or another pasta style dish, you will need about 1 medium sized spaghetti squash to serve 4 people. Spaghetti squash is very light and easy to eat a lot of, so you may even want to roast a slightly larger squash if you’re serving 4 people!

If you want enough spaghetti squash for two people, you can roast a smaller spaghetti squash and each eat one half, which would be a very generous portion of squash; you can also simply roast whatever size squash you would like and have some leftovers.

Drizzling avocado oil on a halved spaghetti squash on a baking sheet

How to Cut a Spaghetti Squash

Spaghetti squash can be notoriously difficult to cut, and some spaghetti squashes are even more difficult than others! Make sure you have a good hold on the knife, and a large, stable cutting board beneath your spaghetti squash before you begin.

The easiest way to cut a spaghetti squash is lengthwise. The reason this is my favorite option is because it’s gives you a flat, even surface which is great for getting an evenly cooked spaghetti squash. It’s also super easy to scoop out the seeds of the spaghetti squash if you cut it from end to end!

Roasted spaghetti squash on a baking sheet

Ways to Serve Spaghetti Squash

Because of the subtle flavor and fun texture of spaghetti squash, it goes well in so many dishes! Here are a few of my favorite options:

Meat Sauce

Alfredo Sauce and Chicken

Alfredo Sauce and Shrimp

Buffalo Chicken Dip

Taco Bowl with Beans, Meat, Sour Cream, Cheese, Salsa, etc.

Green Chili Chicken Enchilada Filling

Beef Stroganoff

Halved spaghetti squash, shredded with a fork

Ingredients

1 Medium Sized Spaghetti Squash (About 3-4lbs)

1 Tbsp Avocado Oil

1/4 tsp Pepper

1/4 tsp Salt

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Oven

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees

Wash the spaghetti squash and cut it lengthwise. Scrape the seeds out from the center.

Place the two halves on a baking sheet, drizzle them with avocado oil and rub it on evenly. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper.

Place the two halves of spaghetti squash cut-side down on the baking sheet, then bake the squash for 30-40 minutes. Check after 30 minutes. The squash should be tender able to be easily scraped from the sides with a fork.

Enjoy!

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Yield: 4 Servings