We all love gorging ourselves at Olive Garden, but whether you’re gluten-free, vegan, or just aren’t in the mood for a 1500 bowl of chicken Alfredo linguini, you’ll want to give these spaghetti squash recipes a try.
1. Mexi Squash
Photo courtesy of sproutedkitchen.com
Put on your sombreros, because this is one festive dish. Queso fresco, cilantro, and lime brighten up this meal while red pepper flakes add some heat to transport you and your tastebuds to a sunny Mexico beach. You can even omit the cheese if you want to make it vegan.
2. Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Eggplant Puttanesca
Photo courtesy of feastingathome.com
This warm, wintery dish is great for a rainy night and goes hand in hand with a robust glass of red wine. Capers and red wine add bold, rich flavors — and if you’re feeling extra Italian, you can grate some parmesan on top.
3. Spaghetti Squash Egg Cups
Photo by Mulin Xiong
Don’t limit yourself to lunch and dinner; the beauty of spaghetti squash is that you can eat it for any meal you please. Wrap the whole thing in bacon if you’re feeling crazy, or cook the egg for a little longer if you want a convenient breakfast to take with you to class.
4. Spaghetti Squash with Turkey Bolognese
Photo by Chelsea Hawk
Tastes just like mom used to make, except this recipe adds prosciutto, carrots, and broccolini into the sauce. Make it in a huge pot and you and your roommates will be set for the whole week.
5. Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Mushrooms, Garlic, and Sage
Photo courtesy of feastingathome.com
The subtle sweetness of the roasted squash compliments the saltier flavors of the sage and mushrooms beautifully to make this picturesque dish. Make it to impress your parents when they come to town, or treat yourself after a long day of classes. You’re only eating vegetables, after all.
6. Baked Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs
Photo courtesy of yummymummykitchen.com
The best part about this recipe is that you won’t have to do dishes afterwards because you can serve it inside the squash — which is just another reason why squash is superior to boxed spaghetti. Also, you can customize this recipe in whatever way you want. Turkey meatballs? Go for it. Falafel? Don’t let us stop you.
7. Spaghetti Squash Pasta with Basil Pesto
Photo courtesy of minimalistbaker.com
With only nine ingredients, this recipe can come together in under an hour. The distinctly nutty and cheesy taste of the nutritional yeast in the pesto packs in the flavor while keeping it dairy-free. To top it all off, an entire serving is less than 300 calories, so go have seconds.
8. Simple Spaghetti Squash with Grape Tomatoes
Photo by Casey Carr
The tangy cherry tomatoes and sweet squash pair perfectly in this simple recipe. Basically, just sauté everything in a bit of olive oil and watch your meal come together before your eyes. But don’t forget to add salt before you roast the squash; it will change the flavor of the entire dish.
9. Vegan Pesto Spaghetti Squash Bake
Photo by Kristine Mahan
Two words: vegan cheese. While it sounds like a contradiction, its main ingredient is actually pressed firm tofu and it’s pretty simple to make. Additionally, baking the whole dish after roasting the squash really packs in the flavor.
10. Butter Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
Photo by Abigail Wilkins
Maybe you’re a picky eater, or maybe you’re just feeling too lazy to make a sauce, but we’ll let you in on a cooking secret with this one: butter and parmesan make literally anything better. You won’t even notice you’re basically eating a plain vegetable because it tastes so damn good.
11. Cheesy Broccoli Spaghetti Squash Boats
Photo by Shruti Thundiyil
This recipe is vaguely reminiscent of a twice baked potato in all the best ways. Broccoli, garlic, and a ton of cheddar cheese make the squash extra soft and creamy to the point where you will forget you’re not actually eating comfort food.
12. Spaghetti Squash with White Bean Ragoût
Photo by Gena Hamshaw
The white beans add a protein punch to this recipe, plus the unusual ingredient of maple syrup adds subtle complexity of flavors. Not to mention that you can impress everyone with how fancy it is that you cooked something with an accent in it.
13. Spaghetti Squash with Chives and Caramelized Onions
Photo by Haley Durham
While we are in favor of you making a big, fancy pot of sauce for your squash, it is definitely not a necessity. In this recipe, the sweet flavor of caramelized onions and chives fits all your dinner needs.
14. Spaghetti Squash Pasta with Chunky Tomato Sauce
Photo by Julia Maguire
Heavy on the garlic and parsley, this recipe doesn’t leave any room for questioning the identity of our favorite pasta impersonator. The chunky sauce also adds a welcome change in texture.
15. Twice Baked Kale Spaghetti Squash
Photo courtesy of Food52.com
While this recipe does contain kale, it is almost as far as you can get from a salad. In this warm, cheesy, and gooey meal, the crispy kale will compliment the soft, sweet squash in a way that might make you forget about gluten forever.