Spaghetti Squash is literally one of my favorite veggies year round. It is delicious, filling and it makes a great low carb substitute for to serve with Crockpot Meatballs or in soups!
This light and delicious veggie is great cooked in the microwave while your Pasta Sauce is simmering on the stove top! Once you cook spaghetti squash, add a little bit of butter or olive oil and salt & pepper for a deliciously simple side.
You Have To Try This
If you have never tried spaghetti squash, let me tell you, you are missing out! I can assure you it’s easy to make! In fact, cooking spaghetti squash in the microwave is so easy that once you try it, it will be a staple on your menu!
Cooking spaghetti squash in the microwave is the best method for a more subtle and delicate flavor as it doesn’t get the sweet caramelization that oven baked spaghetti squash has.
Easiest Spaghetti Squash Recipe
Start by cutting your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. It’s a very hard squash and it resists the blade of the sharpest knife so I often ask at the grocery store and most of the time they’ll cut it in half for me.
If you can’t get them to cut it at the grocer, poke it with a fork a few times then microwave for 3-4 minutes before cutting. This will soften the skin a bit to make cutting it easier. Do not try to cook a whole squash all of the way in the microwave, steam build up can cause it to burst open.
- Use a large knife and cut through the tough skin (this is the hardest part of prepping this veggie) slicing the spaghetti squash tip to tip lengthwise.
- Scrape out the seeds and stringy bits.
- Discard the seeds (or cook and eat the seeds as you would roasted pumpkin seeds).
Best Way To Cook Spaghetti Squash
One of the things I love about spaghetti squash is that you can cook in the microwave in under 10 minutes.
One of the biggest keys to getting microwaved spaghetti squash right is the amount of water you add. Adding a little bit of water when microwaving helps to steam it. If you add too much water, your squash will be mushy and your “spaghetti” strands will be really short.
If you are using spaghetti squash as a low carb pasta alternative, be sure to run your fork the same way as the strands to make the best ‘noodles’.
What Does Spaghetti Squash Taste Like?
While it might resemble pasta, it does not taste the same! When you cook spaghetti squash in the microwave, it has a firm yet tender texture to it, and a very mild sweet flavor (not a rich sweet flavor like a winter squash).
Give it a try, it’s actually really delicious just lightly seasoned or topped with your favorite pasta sauce!
The number of servings from each half of squash will vary depending on how it is served. For a side dish we get about 2 servings per half squash but if we are eating it as a main dish, we account for 1/2 squash per person. If your squash is really large, you may find 1/2 squash can feed two people.
The great thing is that it keeps well and reheats like a dream for adding to Vegetable Soup or Casseroles.
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash In The Microwave
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash
- ¼ cup water
- 2 tablespoons butter optional
- salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Pierce spaghetti squash with a fork about 8 times. Place in the microwave 3-4 minutes (do not cook longer than 5 minutes whole).
- Remove the squash from the microwave and slice from top to bottom lengthwise. Using a spoon, remove seeds and pulp and discard.
- Place 1/4 cup water in the bottom of a small casserole dish. Add squash cut side down. Cover tightly with plastic wrap.
- Microwave 6-10 minutes or until the squash is easily pierced through the skin with a fork.
- Remove from microwave, carefully remove plastic wrap (hot steam will escape so use caution).
- Gently run a fork from top to bottom creating strands of spaghetti squash. Season with butter, salt and pepper.
Notes
Nutrition Information
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
Course Side Dish
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Yum!! Awesome with diced and peeled tomatoes, garlic, onions, nd Italian seasoning.
Love it, love it, love it! Quick ,easy and delicious . Great ,fast weeknight meal along with meatballs made ahead. Yum
This method is a game changer. I don’t know who this lady is but she is a hero.
Welcome Beth! ❤️
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe. It turned out just as good tasting as any I have cooked in the oven. :) And SO much faster!!!
Thank you for the recipe. I made it. The directions were easy to follow.
Holly, i’m concerned about the third step in the microwave directions for spaghetti squash. How do I turn both halves of squash cut side down on small casserole dish and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Can you please show picture?
Thanx
Di Boyd
Hi Diane. The cut side of the squash is the side where you have scraped the seeds out. It can depend a little bit on the size of your squash (and the shape/size of your dish) as to how they fit. I hope that helps.
Great recipe for spaghetti squash. Came out perfect. It’s truly the ideal way to cook it. Thank you!!
Woo hoo! This cooked up just right. I sauteed an onion and garlic in butter with lemon pepper. When the squash was done, mixed it all together with a little cheese grated on top and my husband loved it. Ate the entire squash.
Turned out great, easy, fast.
This is brilliant! I just had spaghetti squash at a restaurant last night – and I couldn’t think of how they cooked it so well! This must be how! So glad to have read this – perfect timing!
That’s awesome Alisha! Now you can make delicious spaghetti squash at home too!
I bake the spaghetti squash, cook hamburger meat, add tomatoes, garlic, salt , pepper, chopped yellow squash , zucchini, mozzarella cheese. Mix it all together and bake until the cheese is melted and gooey . Great way to use leftovers. Or a simple , baked spaghetti squash with butter, chopped parsley and garlic .
Sounds super amazing!
Thank u did not know how to cook, I will definitely have a go at this recipe!
I love spaghetti squash, it is very versatile. When I bake mine I like to take a whole garlic clove, crush it and put it under each half of the spaghetti squash that I have oiled, salted and peppered.
Adding the garlic is a wonderful idea!
Oh bless your heart for including instructions for the oven as well as the microwave- we don’t have a microwave at my house (I know…gasp!) and a lot of recipes only have microwave directions. I usually end up trying to tweak the microwave directions for my oven -and the results are usually a disaster. So thanks again!
You’re so welcome!! Enjoy Missy! :)
Spagetti squash looks great will try it out
I hope you enjoy it Carol!