Spaghetti squash is such a fun, underrated vegetable! Here is my favorite way to cook it, along with a few tips and recipes.
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: 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, or until it’s soft enough to slice in two.
- 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!
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.
Then, poke a few holes in the skin of the squash with a fork and place it cut side down on a baking sheet. Pop it in a pre-heated 400°F oven.
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.
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):
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash
- extra-virgin olive oil
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
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.
I also cook some seasoned ground turkey and heat up some marinara sauce of your choosing while the spaghetti squash is cooking. Once the squash is fully cooked I pour in the ground turkey in the area I scooped out the seeds, add the marinara sauce and then put shredded cheese on top. The heat from it all will melt the cheese and then it is a super tasty and filling meal eating it out of the spaghetti squash.
This was so helpful! I used to roast spaghetti squash for way too long and it always came out mushy. Tried your method and 35 minutes was perfect. Thanks for the great tips!
40 minutes of cooking was a very useful tip for cooking and indeed makes the “spaghetti” very tender and not mushy.
I also appreciate the extra tips for softening prior to cutting the squash in half. I have also found that most grocery stores will also cut the squash in half if asked. Many kudos to Publix helping to make this a new favorite side dish so that I have two rather than seven chunks because my knives won’t cut it prior to cooking.
I’m glad you enjoyed it!
Simple yet delicious recipes.
Hi Tina, so glad you enjoyed!