How To Cook Spaghetti Squash - Recipes By Love And Lemons

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Spaghetti squash is such a fun, underrated vegetable! Here is my favorite way to cook it, along with a few tips and recipes.

fall / winter / how-to — Jump to recipe

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

I get so many questions about how to cook spaghetti squash, so I thought I’d share my go-to method for roasting it, a few tips, and a couple of my favorite spaghetti squash recipes.

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

First thing’s first: place the squash on a cutting board and use a sharp knife to cut it in half lengthwise.

Recipe Tip

If your squash is too hard to cut, soften it slightly in the oven or microwave before slicing it in half.

  • Option 1: Roast the squash whole. Prick it all over with a fork and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes to make it easier to cut.
  • Option 2: Microwave the squash. Prick it all over with a fork and microwave in 1-minute bursts until it’s soft enough to cut.

Then, cut the squash in half and proceed with the recipe!

seasoning the spaghetti squash on a baking sheet

After you slice the squash in half, use a spoon to scoop out the seeds.

Next, drizzle the insides lightly with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. 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.

hands poking holes in the spaghetti squash

Then, place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet. Poke a few holes in the skin of the squash with a fork, and pop it in a pre-heated 400°F oven.

spaghetti squash cooked on a baking sheet

A mistake I used to make was roasting my squash too long. I used to roast it for an hour or longer, but now I roast it for 30 to 40 minutes. I initially thought the squash needed to be super soft and fork tender in order for the strands to “spaghetti,” but over the years I’ve learned that I prefer my strands to be more al dente (and less mushy), and that the 1 hour mark was too long. Of course, the timing will entirely depend on the size of your squash and the heat of your particular oven. It can also vary from squash to squash, so adjust your cooking time accordingly.

Hands fluffing spaghetti squash with a fork

Once it’s roasted and cool enough to touch, use a fork to scrape the strands. I like to start from the outside and work my way in, fluffing them up as I go.

That’s it! Season it with more salt and pepper and serve it as a simple veggie side dish.

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes

You can also use the cooked squash in your favorite spaghetti squash recipes. Here are two of mine (pictured below):

  1. Spaghetti Squash with Chickpeas and Kale
  2. Lemon Pesto Spaghetti Squash

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Want more winter squash recipes? Try my roasted butternut squash or roasted acorn squash next.

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How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

rate this recipe:4.96 from 509 votesPrep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 35 minutes Total Time: 40 minutes Serves 2 to 4Save Recipe Print RecipeThis is my go-to method for creating perfect al dente spaghetti squash strands to use in vegetable sides and main dishes. The exact timing will vary depending on the heat of your oven and the size of your squash.

Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash
  • extra-virgin olive oil
  • sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
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Instructions

  • Preheat the oven to 400°F.
  • Slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds and ribbing. Drizzle the inside of the squash with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  • Place the spaghetti squash cut side down on the baking sheet and use a fork to poke holes. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes or until lightly browned on the outside, fork tender, but still a little bit firm. The time will vary depending on the size of your squash. I also find that the timing can vary from squash to squash.
  • Remove from the oven and flip the squash so that it’s cut side up. When cool to the touch, use a fork to scrape and fluff the strands from the sides of the squash.
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  1. 5 stars Thanks, this was so easy and worked perfectly! I tossed the finished product with a few pats of butter in a bowl before serving as a side with our dinner. Clean, simple and delicious.

    Reply ↓

    • I’m so glad you loved it!

      Reply ↓

  2. 5 stars OMG, I used the recipe for butternut squash and it came out perfect! The less oil suggestion is top tier, and with just salt and pepper the flavor was great. I cooked it at 400 degrees for 25 minutes, and it was fork tender but still had firmness. Thanks for sharing the recipe and the tips!

    Reply ↓

  3. 5 stars This is the best method for cooking spaghetti squash! I like to add in some broccoli and grilled chicken after cooking (along with a drizzle of olive oil, a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese, and some garlic salt, of course!)

    Reply ↓

    • I’m so glad it’s worked out well for you!

      Reply ↓
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