Italian Stuffed Spaghetti Squash made with sweet Italian sausage, fresh spinach, garlic, and fire roasted tomatoes topped with shredded Mozzarella cheese.
The last time I tried to make spaghetti squash was several years ago. The recipe didn't turn out quite the way I had anticipated, so I never really tried to make it again until recently when my oldest daughter went food shopping for me and purchased one.
I was in the mood to experiment with some new recipes and came up with this Italian Stuffed Spaghetti Squash.
OMG it was AH-MAZING!!! I don't know why I waited so long to make spaghetti squash again, but it was more than likely due to the fact that the first time I made it I used the microwave to save time and this time I roasted it in the oven.
Yes, the squash does take longer to cook this way, but the "noodles" scraped out of the shell with no issues like I had last time.
For this recipe, I used sweet Italian sausage, fresh spinach, fire roasted diced tomatoes (my new go to pantry ingredient!), garlic, cream cheese and shredded Mozzarella cheese (I used part skim).
How do you make spaghetti squash?
Start by cutting your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scraping out the seeds (similar to a pumpkin). Place the squash meaty side down on a baking sheet or oven safe baking dish and cook in a 400 degree F oven.
My squash was a pretty large one (approximately 3 lbs.) so it took about 45 minutes to soften, but check your squash after 35 minutes if it's on the smaller side. The squash is done with the outer skins start to shrivel inward.
While the spaghetti squash is cooking, it's time to make your filling. Heat a little EVOO in a large skillet and brown your sausage. When the sausage is cooked through and no longer pink, add the spinach, garlic, and tomatoes and cook until the spinach has wilted.
Next, add the cream cheese and stir until it has blended in with the sausage mixture. Remove from heat and cover until you're ready to add the squash.
Using a fork, scrape the squash in long front to back motion creating "spaghetti" and add the vegetable to the sausage mixture. Do this for both halves; then mix the ingredients all together.
Finally, add the mixture back into the two squash halves; then place back onto your baking sheet or in your baking dish. Top with the shredded Mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler for 3-4 minutes until the cheese has melted. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley and serve hot.
This Italian Stuffed Spaghetti Squash was incredibly tasty and so filling too. If you don't like traditional Italian sausage, try substituting ground or boneless diced chicken or turkey. You can also make it vegetarian by omitting the meat altogether.
This low carb, gluten free recipe serves four and my family loved it so much, they want me to make it again. Like next week again, it was that good. ~Enjoy!
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Italian Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients
- 3 pounds spaghetti squash
- ½ pound ground sweet italian sausage
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 5 ounces fresh baby spinach, washed
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 cup diced fire roasted tomatoes
- 4 ounces cream cheese
- 4 ounces shredded mozzarella cheese (I used part skim)
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Start by cutting your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scraping out the seeds (similar to a pumpkin). Place the squash meaty side down on a baking sheet or oven safe baking dish and cook in a 400 degree F oven for approximately 45 minutes to soften.
- While the spaghetti squash is cooking make your filling. Heat the oil in a large skillet and brown your sausage.
- When the sausage is cooked through and no longer pink, add the spinach, garlic, and tomatoes and cook until the spinach has wilted; then add the cream cheese and stir until it has blended in with the sausage mixture. Remove from heat and cover until you're ready to add the squash.
- Using a fork, scrape the squash in long front to back motion creating "spaghetti" and add the vegetable to the sausage mixture. Do this for both halves; then mix the ingredients all together. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
- Finally add the mixture back into the two squash halves, top with the shredded Mozzarella cheese and place under the broiler for 3-4 minutes until the cheese has melted. Garnish with chopped basil or parsley and serve hot.
Notes
Nutrition
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Sandra M says
First time making spaghetti squash. This recipe was absolutely amazing! Even family members who don’t like squash, loved it. Question: I want to freeze the leftovers of the final mix (not the outside shell of course). Does it freeze and reheat well? Thank you for this delicious low carb recipe.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Yes you can freeze this recipe for up to 3 months in a sealed container. Allow it to defrost completely; then you can reheat either in the microwave or back into a nonstick skillet. I'm so glad you liked the recipe!
Sandra M says
Part 2: Oops! I saw the reply comment regarding freezing after I posted. Can’t wait to freeze this into individual lunches - if there’s any left. It’s a hit! Thanks again.
Lena says
I If I prepped this all the way through to filling the squashes back up and set in a pan in the fridge to heat up later, would you recommend, maybe baking at 350 for 20 minutes or so then broiling a minute or so after I bring it out of the fridge?
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Carrie Farias
4:29 PM (2 minutes ago)
to me
Hi Lena,
Yes, you can prep and refrigerate overnight; then cook when you're ready to eat. I would cook at 350-375 degrees F and allow for approx 30 minutes to get hot all the way through since it will be cold. You can leave it out at room temperature while the oven is heating or up to 30 minutes before so it doesn't take as long.
I hope you like the recipe!
Melissa says
Made this recipe and subbed the tomatoes with chopped roasted red peppers instead. Was the perfect compliment to the sausage. I also used Italian chicken sausage to cut down on the calories a little. Love this one! One of my hubby's favorites as well. Making it again tonight 🙂
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I'm so glad you liked the recipe, it's one of our favorites too!
Joggingproud says
I made this last night. It was delicious. My wife and I love spaghetti squash and eat it regularly. I especially love making spaghetti squash lasagna. But I wanted to try something new this time and found your recipe. I didn't have Italian Sausage on hand, nor did I have leafy spinach, so what I ended up using was Kielbasa sausage and green pesto. It turned out great. I also added diced onions and Diced green peppers, which didn't hurt a thing. When I got to the last step in the process where you broil the cheese, I almost burned it cause I guess my oven it hotter than most, but I caught it in time and we both eat every last bite. Thanks for the great recipe. I'll definitely be making again.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I'm glad you enjoyed and made it your own. I bet it gave it a real nice smokey flavor. Thanks for finding us and welcome!
Sandra L Roth says
Wow! This was AWESOME! We eat spaghetti squash as a vegetable from time to time. While in the grocery store I spotted a squash and decided to try something different. So, I made this recipe for the world's most skeptical eater. My husband is old school and doesn't do chages well. To my shock of a lifetime, he absolutely loved it. He told me to add it to our meal rotation. By the way, I really liked it also. Thank you so much.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I'm so glad you liked the recipe Sandra, it's one of our favorites as well and make it often!
Lizzie Blades says
Made this tonight was amazing!!! My squash noodles were still a little crispy. But all in all was very good
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I'm so glad you liked it!
Kare P says
It’s a camping weekend! Could I put it all together in a foil pan covered with foil and then pop it into the camper fridge to put over the fire or should I totally cook it all and then just reheat it up over the fire? Does it get mushy?
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
I would cook it all; then reheat. It's basically cooked already because the cheese melts when you add it to the hot spaghetti squash. I've never tried reheating over a fire so the bottom may stick a bit, but if you stir it while heating, it should be fine. The dish is already quite "mushy".
Jan says
Can I reheat this or freeze leftovers.
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Absolutely! We've done both, but remove it from the shell before reheating or freezing. Lately, I put the mixture right into a casserole dish before baking. Enjoy!
Carol says
Carrie, I forgot to buy the baby spinach, do you think if I thawed leaf spinach and squeezed dry I could substitute?
Thanks
Carrie's Experimental Kitchen says
Absolutely! I'm sure it will be fine as long as you squeeze out most of the liquid like you said. I hope you enjoy the recipe Carol! I was going to make it again this week myself, but for some reason my store was out of spaghetti squash! ?