How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
The simplest and EASIEST way to cook spaghetti squash. And it’s such a healthy substitute to pasta – low in calories and fat!
This is the easiest way to cook spaghetti squash, hands down.
It literally takes 5 min of prep. That’s it.
Simply cut the squash in half, remove the seeds, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
I told you.
Five stinking minutes.
From there, depending on the size of the squash, you can let that roast for 45-60 minutes.
You’ll have the perfect strands for all your recipes.
But stay tuned. I have a garlic parmesan spaghetti squash recipe (loaded with tons of butter – DUH!) coming this week!
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
The simplest and EASIEST way to cook spaghetti squash. And it's such a healthy substitute to pasta - low in calories and fat!
Ingredients
- 1 2-3 pounds spaghetti squash
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil a baking sheet or coat with nonstick spray.
- Cut the squash in half lengthwise from stem to tail and scrape out the seeds.* Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper, to taste.
- Place squash, cut-side down, onto the prepared baking dish. Place into oven and roast until tender, about 35-45 minutes.
- Remove from oven and let rest until cool enough to handle.
- Using a fork, scrape the flesh to create long strands.
Notes
*The squash can be placed in the microwave for 2-5 minutes for easier slicing.
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Lots of comments, some good, some bad, I wonder why people have to fight over a recipe, everybody will make it a bit different and that is what makes it good. I have cooked this squash for several years, I grow it (organic) and make it about once a week (vegan). I am way past the senior age but I can still put a sharp knife on the side of the squash and split it. After removing the seeds I just put it in the oven upside down, turn the dial to 350 and the timer to 55 minutes. Return an hour later and it is ready. Let it cool down, scrape the strands with a fork and serve it with spaghetti sauce and some salt. Enjoy. I am making it tonight.
I just made it for the first time. I figured you boil it like spaghetti. WRONG. It was a big mushy mess. Next time I’ll roast it. Thanx for the helpful info.
Thanks for including my recipe! We love spaghetti squash at our house!
Ok – I’ve read the whole thing, including comments. I have cooked spaghetti quash several times before but I learned a few things from this article and so here is my modified method:
1. Poke the squash all over (I use a sharp paring knife).
2. Microwave for 2 minutes. 3. Using a heavy sharp knife, cut about 1 1/2 in. off the stem end. Stand the squash on the flat end and cut in half vertically. 4. Put about 2 or 3 in. of warm water in the sink and scoop out the seeds and pulp into the sink. 5. Roast the squash as described in the main article. 6. Clean the seeds in the sink and dry them on paper towel. You can now roast them on a sheet with a bit of olive oil, salt, and cumin (or use your favourite recipe). That way you won’t have thrown out most of the protein (or the Zinc, iron, phosporus, magnesiun, manganese, and copper).
HTH
This is my favorite post 🙂 Thanks Garry!
thanks. cant wait to try the seeds. My daughter loves pumpkin seeds done like that.
Omg I thought I was the only one who roasted my squash seeds!! My friends looked at me like I was a weirdo!
Clearly people have no life if they have to put down each other over a recipe….get a hobby.
I just tried to cook spaghetti squash using this recipe. ummm, I cooked it for an hour at 375 degrees & it still taste crunchy but looks mushy. I guess it takes practice….don’t know.
I didn’t use olive oil the second time I cooked mine to avoid the mush factor. It came out perfect.
Didn’t know what it was at first….then looked it up I cut it length wise hard to do lol cleaned seeds out put it in microwave face down with a lol water under it ….came out beautiful ….now I have to figure out how to cook it….help!!
Love spaghetti squash, from the garden or grocery store. Not a Vegan, but am a Senior. Take seeds out, place in glass cooking dish. I put red onion and seasoning in shell top…mmmm good. Microwave 3 minutes let it rest while i prepare a bed of spinach, microwave 3 more minutes, scoop on top of spinach flavor with olive oil and parm. Stay Healthy!
Just made this tonight to exact instructions and turned out superb in my convection oven! Was a bear to cut, actually cut myself (thankfully no blood), so will try the 2 minute microwave tip next time.
Served with my husbands famous spaghetti sauce and YUM! This is a great Paleo, Gluten free option to pasta.
Thanks for the recipe!
I too am going to try this (again) for Paleo. I have a Paleo crock pot cookbook that says cook it whole (pierce it first) with 1/2 c water for 8 hrs. Seems there may be more texture baking it with olive oil.
I have cooked it in my crockpot a few times which I think is handy that its ready when I get home but I find it always overcooks in the crockpot 🙁 I used to have a fancier one that would turn off after a set amount of time but my current crockpot just isn’t that fancy hahah
How long did you cook in the convection oven and on what temperture? Thanks
Made this tonight , yummy and easy too.
I am going to try to make spaghetti squash this way. I have tried cooking spaghetti squash before but never could get the squash to come out in strands that looked like noodles. I have had them in restaurants and I really liked the flavor so I am keeping my fingers crossed that this time it will work. I need new ways to cook some vegetables . We get tired of the same ones all the time.
Doing the same from the facebook photo. Love to hear how yours turned out. I’m serving it with steak just in case we don’t like it.
Trying for the first time this evening. It sounds delicious. Found a recipe for spaghetti squash on fb, but it didn’t tell how to cook or prepare the squash. Lol Wish me luck! 🙂
Its my first time cooking Spag squash, I never really know how to prepared them, so I open it took the seeds and whatever else then start shredding with cheese shredder till I noticed that its already shred like spaghetti noodles.ha ha ha.. but anyway I mixed it with chicken, onion, cream of mushroom, diced tomatoes salt and pepper and stick it in the oven.. It turn out pretty good..
Making this tonight. Our first time trying spaghetti squash. Tried your Thai coconut curry chicken thighs a week and a half ago. Such a huge hit we’ve had it again since. Thanks for the recipes!
I really don’t think she was rude. I saw positive and negative points. Seemed a balanced and constructive feedback to this new comer to spaghetti squash. I want to get it right the first time so my kids aren’t turned off to it and so I don’t spend all night in the kitchen. We eat late enough after work. Thank you, Jeanette! Very helpful to this ignorant newbie!
People tell me the noodles should be very similar to the texture of pasta but My noodles come out kinda crunchy. Sorta like the texture of a raw onion if that makes sense.
Can anyone tell me the problem? Over cooking? Under cooking? Or something else?
Thanks!
Sounds like you should cook it a little longer next time.
Same here. I cooked it for an hr. Mine definitely doesn’t have the length of spaghetti noodles.
The length will depend on the size of the spaghetti squash and whether you cut it in half or “rings”. Usually the ones I get near where I live give me strands that are about 5 inches if I cut the squash in half and roast it. I’ve never had one big enough to give me “noodles” that I could slurp up like spaghetti yet! lol
Trying this right now and reading the comments while it roasts. Some people are very rude and I just want to say thanks for the tips and I hope mine turns out looking as good as yours!
Everything I read a recipe and then read the comments, I’m shocked at how people take it upon themselves to make rude comments instead of simply saying (to themselves) that’s not right, or saying how they do it. Why knock anyone trying share how they cook something. Help its help! People need to get off their high horses and grow up. A recipe can have several variations. That being said…after you’ve got your stands from your skin, try bringing to boil chicken broth with a bit of brown sugar and tossing stands in briefly then serving. It’s a perfect size with chicken or steak. Had this at a restaurant and begged the chef to tell me his secret. Good luck
Yum! That’s sounds good.
Can somebody tell me the calories
Check the NUTRITION FACTS listed right after the recipe. Gives you all the info.
LOOOOOVE Spaghettis and Pasta and everything related to Italian food 🙂 Thx for sharing this with everyone. Do you suggest eating this at midday or at night? Based on the nutricious info I mean. I´ve been trying to dig into new and easy recipes and found out that Barilla Restaurants have low calorie pastas, vegan ones as well! Have you checked them? Very cool! http://www.barillarestaurants.com/menu/Pasta
Anyway, thanks again for sharing this! Looking forward to new pizza or pasta recipes soon!
You can eat this any time of day! 🙂
Where did you people read that it was loaded with protein? I just re-read the whole recipe/article and never saw anything about protein other than in the Nutrition Facts where it states “1.8 grams per serving”.