This Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce Recipe is an easy recipe using cheeses, ground beef, and jarred spaghetti sauce to make delicious, low carb spaghetti squash boats for dinner.
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It’s spaghetti squash time! While you can usually get it year round, spaghetti squash is usually harvested in the early fall, which means fall and winter are when you’ll get the best price at the grocery store. We love spaghetti squash in our house, so we’re buying it often, but especially in the cooler months. We enjoy it as a side dish, such as in our favorite Bacon-Parmesan Spaghetti Squash Recipe and we love it as a main dish such our Baked Pesto Spaghetti Squash Recipe — which is great with chicken added to it.
The recipe we’re sharing today is another great version. This Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce Recipe is very similar to our popular 3-Ingredient Twice-Baked Spaghetti Squash Recipe, however, this one adds ground beef for our meat lovers. There is also some onion and garlic added for even more flavor. It’s an easy dinner idea with only 7 ingredients and by using spaghetti squash instead of pasta, this is a low carb dinner too (as long as you use a low carb spaghetti sauce).
How to Cut Spaghetti Squash
The hard exterior of spaghetti squash can be intimidating and even if you have great knives, you might find it to be a challenge to cut it.
For this recipe, you’ll need to cut each spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. To make it easier to cut your spaghetti squash, we recommend using the tip of a sharp knife and carefully poking in a dotted line around the entire spaghetti squash from the stem down to the bottom and up again to the stem. Then, place the spaghetti squash in the microwave for 5 minutes. This will soften the hard shell of the spaghetti squash just enough to make it a bit easier to cut. Cut your squash fully into two halves, along the dotted line that you created previously. Scoop out all of the seeds and discard them.
How to Roast Spaghetti Squash
There are many ways to cook it spaghetti squash, but my favorite method is to roast spaghetti squash in the oven. To do this, place each half, cut side down, on a baking sheet and bake at 375 degrees F until the spaghetti squash is tender, about 45 minutes.
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave
If you are short on time, you can cook spaghetti squash in the microwave. To do this, place your cut spaghetti squash on a microwave-safe baking dish (a size that will fit in your microwave), cut side up. If your spaghetti squash is small-medium sized, you can probably cook two halves at the same time for about 18-20 minutes. But your spaghetti squash is larger, you may need to cook each spaghetti squash half separately for about 10 minutes each.
After you have cooked two spaghetti squashes, take a fork and loosen and separate the spaghetti squash strands from all four shells. Place them in a mixing bowl. Set the empty spaghetti squash shells in a baking dish or on a baking sheet.
Add 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese and 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese to the bowl with the cooked spaghetti squash.
In a large skillet, cook together the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic. Combine the cooked ground beef mixture with your spaghetti sauce and set aside.
Divide the spaghetti squash and cheese mixture between the four empty squash shells.
Do the same with the meat mixture — divide the meat between to the four spaghetti squash shells, placing it right on top of the spaghetti squash/cheese mixture.
Top the meat mixture with extra shredded cheese. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until the cheese is melted and begins to brown.
Remove from the oven and your Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce is ready to serve, right from the shells.
In general, each spaghetti squash boat will serve 1 person, but this may depend on the size of your spaghetti squash and appetites.
If you like spaghetti squash, there are LOTS of other ways to use it for meals. We have an entire article with Easy Spaghetti Squash Recipes for Dinner. You’re sure to find more recipes that will be perfect for you and your family!
Here’s the full recipe for this Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce Recipe – ready for you to print. If you like this recipe, we’d love your support by sharing it on Facebook or pinning it on Pinterest.
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Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce Recipe
- Total Time: 80 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Description
This Easy Baked Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce Recipe is an easy recipe using cheeses, ground beef, and jarred spaghetti sauce to make delicious, low carb spaghetti squash boats for dinner.
Ingredients
2 medium spaghetti squash
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, plus extra for topping
1/2 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
1 pound lean ground beef
1 small onion, diced
2 teaspoons minced garlic
24 ounces jarred spaghetti sauce (low carb if you are following a low carb diet)
Salt & Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a baking sheet (or oven-safe baking dish) with parchment paper or grease with olive oil or cooking spray. Cut each spaghetti squash in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and discard. Place spaghetti squash halves, cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast in the oven for about 45-50 minutes or until tender.
After the spaghetti squash is cooked and cooled slightly to allow you to handle safely, use a fork to gently scrape the insides of each shell to loosen and separate the spaghetti squash strands. Add the spaghetti squash to a large bowl and set aside. Place empty shells back onto the baking sheet and save for later.
Cook the ground beef, diced onion, and minced garlic in a skillet over medium-high heat until the ground beef is thoroughly cooked and browned. Drain off and discard any remaining grease from the meat. Combine the spaghetti sauce with the cooked ground beef and set aside.
Combine both cheeses with the cooked spaghetti squash. Add salt and pepper, to taste. Divide the spaghetti squash mixture equally among the 4 empty squash shell. Divide the meat mixture among the 4 shells, topping the spaghetti squash. Top the meat with extra shredded cheese.
Place the spaghetti squash boats into the oven and bake for about 10 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown. Remove from the oven, let cool a few minutes and serve.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 spaghetti squash boat
Stephanie says
This is SO GOOD!!!! I honestly could’ve JUST eaten the squash mixed with the cheese, S&P. The meat sauce was super tasty, and together, it was one of the best meals I’ve ever cooked. I love that it’s low carb, and I think you could get away with less cheese if you’re wanting less fat (but really….the cheese with the squash is fantastic!). Highly recommended. This is going to be added to our rotation!
Karen Stover says
I’ve been trying to switch my family to clean eating. This was the best recipe! So delicious. I divided the sauce in the case the boys wouldn’t eat the squash boat. They gobbled it up. Definitely a keeper. Thank you!
Kris Marie says
Absolutely delicious!! I used my own spaghetti sauce and low fat Mozzarella. A definite keeper!
Debra Heurkens says
I used this recipe and jazzed it up with onions peppers and mushrooms. I also added oregano basil and garlic powder. It was excellent and I will make again.
Al says
We like it made it three now. We had to cut it in half because there’s only two of us.
Miz Helen says
We would love your Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce it looks delicious! Thanks so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday and have a great week!
Miz Helen
Jann Olson says
I love spaghetti squash and I haven’t had any yet this year. YUM! Thanks for sharing with SYC.
hugs,
Jann
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome says
My neighbor just gave me a couple spaghetti squash – this is a a great idea! Thanks for sharing at the What’s for Dinner party. Hope to see you again at tomorrow’s party. Have a great weekend!
Becky Ellis says
Thank you for encouraging us to eat healthy with your delicious recipe…looking forward to trying it! Thank you for sharing your recipe on Fiesta Friday!
Debrashoppeno5 says
I have always wanted to try spaghetti squash. This sounds so good and easy. I will be giving it a try. Thanks for sharing at the Snickerdoodle Create Bake Make Party.
Amy says
This looks really good and who doesn’t want spaghetti with their Spaghetti Squash!?! Thank you for sharing at Tumbleweed Contessa.
Mother of 3 says
This looks so delicious! I LOVE spaghetti squash. My favorite way to cook it is in the crock pot; then I slice it, scoop out the seeds and add my fillings. Pinned.
Jenny says
I’m adding these to our dinner menu. Yum! Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday!