Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is one of those recipes you make when you have time for absolutely nothing but still want to indulge in a savory ooey-gooey delight that’ll make every person at your table say “Wow.” Plus, it’s a sheet pan meal that takes minutes to put together. What’s not to love?
What Is Spaghetti Squash?
Spaghetti Squash is the coolest cousin in the gourd family. It has a canary yellow exterior and is shaped like a smoother version of one of those giant dragon eggs someone’s always cradling on House Of The Dragon. (Or a football. Take your pick.) When cooked, its flesh separates into strands the thickness of angel hair.
DOES IT REALLY TASTE LIKE SPaghetti?
No. It does not. It has a neutral flavor and a mildly crunchy texture that smooths out the longer you cook it. But it does look like spaghetti, with strands that vary in length depending on how you slice it. If you go with rounds, you’ll get beautiful long pieces that you can twirl around a fork. I always cut it lengthwise because it’s faster. Even though it gives me shorter strands, I get more ways to work with it because you can stuff it with almost anything.
How To Cut SPaghetti Squash
Spaghetti Squash can be a beast to work with unless you soften it a little first with a spin on your microwave turntable. Pierce its skin a few times with a fork and nuke it for five minutes before you try to slice it. It will make it so much easier. It’s always a good idea to stabilize it by resting it on a dish towel before you make that first cut. Leave the steak knife in the drawer and bust out your sharpest chef’s knife. Check out our full tutorial on How To Roast Spaghetti Squash.
Do I Have To Use Italian Sausage?
The beauty of spaghetti squash is its mild flavor, which makes it a blank canvas that pairs perfectly with almost anything. Beth and I are kind of obsessed with Italian sausage and melted mozzarella, but feel free to try your favorite combinations.
For example, you can make this a vegan meal with vegan cheese and sausage. Or lean Latin with it, and try chorizo with manchego or a smoky cheddar. The magic is that you don’t need to use any spices. Not even salt. The sausage is already chock full of spices and will flavor the squash as its fat renders in the cavity. The cheeses provide all the salt you need. Beth and I couldn’t score our favorite spicy Italian sausage, so we opted for sweet and added a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to the mix. That’s, of course, completely optional.
If you’re looking for a knock-out recipe that takes minutes to put together, this mouthwatering Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is it!
Servings: 4 quarters
Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 40 mins
Total time: 50 mins
Ingredients
Instructions
- Set a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 400°F. Slice the spaghetti squash in half, from tip to end. Scoop out the seeds in its central cavity. Brush each half with the cooking oil.
- Divide the sausage equally between the two spaghetti squash halves.
- Roast for 30 minutes or until the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 160°. Remove from the oven, but keep your oven on.*
- Use two forks to separate the sausage into small chunks and to separate the squash into strands. Mix it all together.
- Combine the cheeses.
- Divide the cheese mixture equally between the halves and roast for another 10 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and begins to caramelize. Enjoy!
Notes
*As long as sausage reaches 160°F, it’s perfectly safe to eat. However, only the surface of the sausage will brown. I know some people are squeamish about pale sausage. So, if you prefer super well-done, very browned sausage, put it in a pan for a few minutes until it starts to develop color, then stuff the squash with it. Don’t waste the rendered fat. Add that to the squash as well.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.25squash Calories: 355kcal Carbohydrates: 18g Protein: 15g Fat: 26g Sodium: 653mg Fiber: 4g
How to Make Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash – Step by Step Photos
Set a rack in the center of your oven and preheat it to 400°F. Slice the spaghetti squash in half, from tip to end. Scoop out the seeds in its central cavity. Reserve the seeds if you wish, and roast them later. Brush each squash half with the half tablespoon of olive oil.
Divide the sausage equally between the two spaghetti squash halves.
Roast for 35 to 40 minutes or until the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 160°. Remove from the oven, but keep your oven on.
Use two forks to separate the sausage into small chunks and to separate the squash into strands. Mix it all together.
Combine 1/2 cup of mozzarella with the 1/4 cup of Parmesan. We added 1/4 teaspoon of red pepper flakes because all we could find was sweet Italian sausage, and we love a little kick. This is completely optional and has not been calculated into the recipe cost.
Top the squash with the cheese. Divide the cheese mixture equally between both squash halves.
Roast for another 5 to 10 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly and has started to caramelize. Buen provecho! (That’s Spanish for: have the best time eating. And trust me, you will!)
Recipe by Cook Good Recipes
