This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
Whether you want a delicious side or use spaghetti squash as a substitute for pasta, the oven is an easy place to cook it and make it taste delicious.
Spaghetti Squash in the Oven
I love roasting my spaghetti squash in the oven because it’s a hands-off method that lets me prep the rest of dinner while it’s cooking.
Roasting vegetables in the oven is a beginner-friendly way of cooking, including spaghetti squash, because it brings out their sweetness and gives them great flavor, especially if you’re going to enjoy veggies as a healthy side dish.
My family loves spaghetti squash topped with garlic butter chicken for a mid-week meal or if I have a little more time, I’ll turn each half into spaghetti squash lasagna boats.
What Does Spaghetti Squash Taste Like?
Spaghetti squash has a mild, somewhat neutral flavor with a bit of sweetness. My family really enjoys it on the side or sometimes I swap the pasta with it in my pasta recipes.
The best part of cooking spaghetti squash in the oven, versus cooking it in the microwave or in the slow cooker, is that it’s the one place where the heat is able to caramelize the natural sugars of this veggie and make it taste sweeter.
What You Need
I added a little garlic and parmesan as a topper to this basic recipe in the recipe card below but the basics for cooking spaghetti squash in the oven are:
- Spaghetti squash: cut into halves and seeded.
- Olive oil: to drizzle over the squash.
- Salt and pepper: the classic seasonings.
How to Cut Spaghetti Squash for Baking
The first step is washing the spaghetti squash with warm water and soap and drying it well. Then, place it on a cutting board and, with a large sharp knife, slice it lengthwise, and separate the two halves. The final step is scooping out the seeds with a spoon and now it’s ready for baking.
How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Oven
You’ll find the steps for cooking the spaghetti squash in the oven in the recipe card below. Here, I share some tips I’ve learned that can be helpful beyond the recipe:
- Cut the squash
A large knife, such as a chef’s knife, works best. It can be tough to pierce so I sometimes pierce it once or twice and then microwave the squash for 2 minutes to soften the skin. This won’t cook it; it just makes it easier to cut. - Preheat the oven
Start with a preheated oven and the oven rack in the middle position to avoid burning the tops. - Pierce the skin
Poking holes on the skin allows the heat to go through the layers of the squash and ensures even cooking. - Season
Olive oil, salt, and pepper are the basic starters for this epic veggie. - Bake
Bake the spaghetti squash on a lined baking sheet flesh side down, or skin-side-up.
First time making this? Watch this quick video showing you how:
What Temperature to Bake Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash cooks very well and evenly when the oven is set to bake at 400F; which is a great temperature for roasting vegetables.
How Long to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Oven
At 400F oven temperature, spaghetti squash takes 30 to 40 minutes to be cooked. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the squash. Once you poke it with a fork and there’s no resistance, it’s time to remove it from the oven.
What Does Spaghetti Squash Look Like Inside?
The center of a spaghetti squash is similar to an acorn squash, meaning that depending on the variety, its color goes from yellow to orange. The flesh is solid and has light, big seeds in the center.
Benefits of Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is not just a healthy swap for regular pasta, but also a great veggie packed with fiber, antioxidants, potassium, manganese, folic acid, and vitamins. All these benefits come with very few carbohydrates and calories.
How to Serve Spaghetti Squash
My family loves cooked spaghetti squash topped with my incredible meatless meatballs, paired with juicy seared chicken breasts, or this Salmon Baked in Foil recipe, which can be cooked at the same time.
Easy Oven Roasted Spaghetti Squash
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash
- Olive oil
- Salt & Pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, optional
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder, optional
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
Prep:
- Preheat the oven to 400F and position the rack in the middle. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash the spaghetti squash with warm soapy water and dry it with a clean kitchen towel.
- On a flat surface, carefully slice it lengthwise. With a spoon, scrape the seeds out and discard. Pierce the skin of the squash with a sharp knife -this helps the heat go through the squash layers.
- Drizzle the spaghetti squash tops (the meat) with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the spaghetti squash halves, skin-side down, on the lined baking sheet.
Bake the spaghetti squash:
- Bake in the preheated oven for about 40 minutes, checking it sometime after the 30-minute mark to ensure that the skin pierces easily with a fork through the squash and meets little resistance. Remove it from the oven.
Serve:
- With a fork, separate the squash shreds from the skin and transfer them onto a plate or bowl. Top with the butter, garlic powder, and parmesan and mix well. You can also use it plain as the base for your favorite recipe.
Jackie says
Such a great recipe for spaghetti squash!
Mel says
I bought a spaghetti squash not knowing how to how to cook it at all, this helped so much