The first time I was introduced to spaghetti squash, I was offended. I was like, what is good with this pasta impostor? I honestly only bought it to please my roommate because she wanted to try a chicken parmesan boat recipe. Plot twist: it’s my favorite vegetable now.
I accepted defeat and continued to buy about one spaghetti squash a week. Also, huge bonus: one cup of spaghetti squash only has 41 calories, which means I had no problem throwing on any additives like cheese, sauce, more cheese, or chicken.
So here are seven recipes from “it’s so easy a caveman could do it” to “contestable recipe on Beat Bobby Flay.”
1. Butter Parmesan Spaghetti Squash
Photo by Sarah Stettin
Like your classic buttered noodles, but it’s actually a buttered vegetable which is… healthy (?). Is butter a carb? Get the recipe here.
2. Spaghetti Squash Egg Baskets
Photo by Mulin Xiong
Four ingredients. Less than two hours (with cook time). Serves 16 medium-hungry people. Simply incredible. Make it like this.
3. Spaghetti Squash with Chunky Tomato Sauce
Photo by Julia Maguire
You can go with regular tomato sauce, or you can go hard with the sauce and make it chunky, with the perfect tomato-y bite. If you don’t, you’ll still enjoy it but you should trust me because I know a lot of things. Recipe over this way.
4. Cheesy Broccoli Spaghetti Squash Boats
Photo by Shruti Thundiyil
Boat meals are the best meals. This one might seem complicated, but really you just throw everything in there like a little cheese party and your work is done. You also have such little clean up because your dinner basically carries itself. This way to the cheese.
5. Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash Boat
Photo by Nicole Witte
This was the beginning of my love for spaghetti squash so it will always be near and dear to my heart. It is more difficult than the broccoli boat because you’re making chicken cultlets and incorporating them. So is it more difficult? Yes. Is it doable and also potentially my favorite meal? Also yes. Recipe here.
6. Vegan Pesto Spaghetti Squash Bake
Photo by Kristine Mahan
This is not physically taxing, but you now we’re cooking the squash twice and also throwing a blender in there so I wouldn’t label this one “easy.” I would label it “worth it.” Make it with this recipe.
7. Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai
Photo by Chris Cockren
And finally, this recipe is number seven because it has a LOT of ingredients. But it’s pad thai like, come on, you knew what you were getting yourself into. Go the extra mile and make this healthier version.