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Garlic Butter Chicken with Spaghetti Squash

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garlic butter spaghetti squash

Today we are making a chicken and spaghetti squash recipe the entire family will rave over, kids included.

Tender spaghetti squash and seared chicken get coated with a creamy garlic sauce for an undeniably delicious meal.

image: bed of spaghetti squash on a white plate with chicken in garlic butter on top

Chicken With Spaghetti Squash

This chicken with spaghetti squash recipe is delicious, elegant, and so easy to make! 

In this recipe, we quickly steam the squash in the microwave. Meanwhile, we pan-sear the chicken breasts and make the garlic-butter sauce. The final step is to shred the cooked squash and top it with the pan-seared garlic butter chicken. 

The squash is a perfect low-carb swap for regular pasta that soaks up all the garlic sauce flavors. Not only does it taste amazing, but the spaghetti squash lightens it up and provides additional vitamins and fiber. 

I also appreciate that the squash can be cooked, shredded, and refrigerated ahead of time. At dinnertime, all that’s left is to prepare the chicken portion, reheat the squash, and serve.

If you prep it ahead, you can cook the squash several different ways. While the microwave is the quickest method, roasting it in the oven adds delicious flavor and is equally simple. You can also make spaghetti squash in the slow cooker, to have it already prepped for you when you’re reading to cook.  The choice is yours!

image: bed of spaghetti squash on a white plate with chicken in garlic butter on top

Garlic Chicken and Spaghetti Squash Ingredients

This dish is made with clean and simple ingredients. Aside from the spaghetti squash, most ingredients are already in your fridge and pantry. 

  • spaghetti squash: a great low-carb substitute for spaghetti. The tender shreds of golden squash have a nutty flavor.  
  • chicken breasts: use boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs. 
  • Italian seasoning: to add flavor to the chicken and sauce. 
  • olive oil: prevents the chicken from sticking to the skillet. 
  • lemon juice: adds fresh citrus flavor. 
  • unsalted butter: browns the garlic and creates a rich sauce that coats the chicken and squash. 
  • garlic: an aromatic that gives the sauce a wonderful aroma and flavor. 
  • half and half: makes the sauce super creamy. 
  • red pepper flakes: for a little extra kick. 
  • grated Parmesan cheese: aged, sharp Parmesan adds a whole new depth of flavor. 
  • chopped fresh parsley: for garnish, definitely optional. 

You’ll find more recipes that taste this great and are easy to prepare in the Family Kickstart Program.

It’s a real-food based meal plan created with kid-approved recipes, done-for-you shopping lists, and a weekly prep guide to help families save time in the kitchen while enjoying more nutrient-dense meals day after day. 

two spaghetti squash halves with squash made into "noodles" inside the skin.

How to Make Garlic Butter Chicken with Spaghetti Squash

Are you ready to make one of the best chicken recipes of your life? Good! Let’s get to it. 

  1. Microwave the spaghetti squash 
    Cut the squash in half, scoop out the seeds, and prick the skin with a fork. Place one half into a baking dish, fill the cavity with water, and cover the second half. Microwave for 10 minutes or until the skin is softened and the squash shreds easily. See other methods of cooking spaghetti squash here, if you have more time. 
  2. Pan-sear the chicken
    Season both sides of the chicken with Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. In a large skillet, sear the chicken until the internal temperature reaches 165F; squeeze the lemon juice over the chicken and set it onto a plate. 
  3. Homemade garlic butter
    In the same skillet, brown the garlic with the butter, then slowly add in the half and half and seasonings. Stir in the Parmesan and continue to stir until the sauce is thickened. Add the chicken. 
  4. Serve
    Use a fork to shred the spaghetti squash. Scoop the squash onto a plate and top with chicken, the garlic butter sauce, and chopped parsley. 

Watch how this recipe comes together! 

Serving Chicken Spaghetti Squash

Want to keep it grain-free? Serve this chicken spaghetti squash dish with a side salad or steamed broccoli. I’ve also included a selection of side dish recipes below that would be spot on, and they’re also grain-free! 

  • Roasted Lemon Asparagus
  • Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts
  • Almond Flour Biscuits
  • Roasted Fingerling Potatoes

Leftover Spaghetti Squash and Chicken

In the rare case that you have leftovers, you can pack this meal away for a satisfying lunch or dinner later in the week. Place the squash and chicken in individual airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days. 

To reheat, add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water to the dish, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave for 2 to 3 minutes until the chicken is heated through and the squash is tender. *The plastic wrap creates a steaming effect which prevents the chicken and sauce from drying out. 

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Garlic Butter Chicken with Spaghetti Squash

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★★★★★

4.7 from 10 reviews

This Chicken Spaghetti Squash Recipe is made with the most delicious garlic butter sauce. It will easily become a new family favorite from the first bite!

  • Author: Laura Fuentes
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 28 minutes
  • Total Time: 30
  • Yield: 4 servings
  • Category: Dinner
  • Cuisine: American/Low-Carb

Ingredients

  • 1 large spaghetti squash, washed
  • 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  • 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • 1–2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, about 1 lemon
  • 1 cup half and half
  • ¼ cup unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • Pinch of red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons chopped parsley

Instructions

  1. Carefully slice the spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise. Using a spoon, scrape the seeds out and discard. Use a fork to pierce the skin of the squash 6 to 7 times. 
  2. Place one squash half into a microwaveable baking dish. Fill the cavity of the squash with water and place the other half on top, matching the sliced seams of the squash. 
  3. Microwave for 10 minutes, or until the skin is softened and the squash shreds easily with a fork. 
  4. Meanwhile, pat dry the chicken breasts with paper towels. Generously season both sides with 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. 
  5. In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken breast and cook for 6 minutes on one side or until the bottom is golden brown. Flip and cook for an additional 3 to 5 minutes or until the chicken reaches an internal temperature of 165F. 
  6. Sprinkle the lemon juice over the chicken, turn off the heat, and remove the chicken from the skillet. Set it aside onto a plate and rest for 5 minutes before slicing into diagonal strips. 
  7. Pour the half and half in a microwave-safe bowl and microwave for 1 minute or until warmed. 
  8. To the same skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for one minute, constantly stirring, until fragrant. 
  9. Slowly add the half and half, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and cook until the sauce is slightly thickened. 
  10. Add the chicken to the skillet and toss to coat with the sauce. Turn the heat to low and bring the mixture to a simmer. 
  11. Use a large fork to shred and scrape the cooked squash onto a plate. Top with chicken and lemon-garlic sauce. Sprinkle with freshly chopped parsley and serve. 

Equipment

Best Grain-Free Meals on the Planet

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Large Skillet

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Notes

  • Make sure to heat the half & half prior to adding it to the skillet. This will prevent the sauce from curdling.
  • If you don’t have spaghetti squash, you can serve this recipe over regular or gluten-free pasta.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 serving
  • Calories: 441
  • Sugar: 6.1g
  • Sodium: 480mg
  • Fat: 26.3g
  • Saturated Fat: 11.3g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 14.5g
  • Fiber: 1.8g
  • Protein: 37.1g
  • Cholesterol: 139.9mg

Keywords: chicken spaghetti squash, chicken and spaghetti squash, spaghetti squash recipes with chicken,

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Reader Interactions

Comments

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    Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

  1. Maureen

    October 12, 2022 at 12:45 pm

    Made this last night and it was a HIT! My fiance who never reviews anything told me I HAD to leave a review for this recipe. The only adjustment or addition I made was a few tablespoons of pecorino romano cheese because we all love the extra bite and pounded the chicken breasts before cooking. This has been saved and added to our rotation! Even our 6-year-old was raving about it! Thank you!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 12, 2022 at 3:19 pm

      Thank you for coming back and sharing how much you enjoyed this garlic butter chicken recipe! You made my day by sharing that your 6-yo enjoyed it.

      Reply
  2. Bob

    December 18, 2020 at 7:30 pm

    Delish, like eating desert for dinner. #pandemicmeals

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      December 21, 2020 at 12:16 pm

      I”m glad you enjoyed the garlic butter chicken with spaghetti squash recipe, Bob!

      Reply
  3. Christa

    November 13, 2019 at 8:29 pm

    This was so tasty! Just one question.. The sauce was cooking perfectly but right before I was about to pull the chicken off, it seemed like the butter started to separate from the rest of the sauce. Could I possibly not have heated the half and half up long enough? Or did I just leave it on a bit too long? Any tips are appreciated!

    ★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      November 18, 2019 at 7:36 am

      Hi Christa, this “separation” sometimes happens when the half and half is too cold when it goes in the pan. As it’s heated, the dairy proteins separate. You can avoid this by warming it up first and whisking it continuously. I am so glad you enjoyed the recipe!

      Reply
  4. Alison Young

    October 14, 2019 at 12:23 pm

    Yum! My picky 8 year old who never eats seasoned food actually liked the chicken. He wasn’t keen on the spaghetti squash but it’ll take any win I can get. My husband & I loved all of it. Plus I made extra chicken so there are leftovers!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 14, 2019 at 1:18 pm

      Success!!!

      Reply
  5. Linda

    September 18, 2019 at 1:00 pm

    Can coconut milk be substituted for the half and. Half

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      September 20, 2019 at 11:09 am

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  6. Mikaela

    May 02, 2019 at 8:05 am

    Food was delicious but may need to note that when adding the half & half, that you need to be sure the pan is cool. Iron skillets apparently hold too much heat and will curdle the milk. It tasted fine, just had an off texture.

    ★★★

    Reply
  7. Roxane

    January 22, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    Just made this tonight and it tastes delicious!

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      January 26, 2019 at 10:43 am

      I’m so glad you enjoyed it Roxane!

      Reply
  8. LL

    November 12, 2018 at 5:42 pm

    My family loved it though the sauce was kind of curdled.

    Reply
  9. Donna

    October 28, 2018 at 9:09 pm

    Made this meal last night……delicious,! Loved by the whole family. I was told to “put it in the rotation” of favorite dinners. Appreciate the detailed recipe directions, easy to follow.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      October 31, 2018 at 11:00 am

      Its in our regular rotation as well!

      Reply
    • Noreen

      December 16, 2020 at 7:10 pm

      Made this tonite for my mom who never had spaghetti squash before so I was hesitant. We loved it. I did add a bit of wine because my lemon was a bit dry. The combination was great!

      Reply
  10. Lisa F

    April 08, 2018 at 7:06 pm

    Is that correct that it is only two boneless skinless chicken breasts for four servings?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      April 09, 2018 at 5:04 pm

      Yes, two boneless chicken breasts are about 1 pound, at 4ounces of protein per person and the spaghetti squash is a generous portion. Of course, you can add a third.

      Reply
  11. Paula

    March 11, 2018 at 8:34 pm

    How was it with the wine in place of lemon?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      March 12, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      works well.

      Reply
  12. Jonathan

    October 01, 2017 at 5:12 pm

    Going to try it substituting white wine for the lemon, I love this recipe just do not have any lemon, so I will improvise and try with lemon at a later date, I will let you all know how it turns out

    Reply
  13. Liz

    September 11, 2017 at 12:35 pm

    can I use 1% milk instead?

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      September 11, 2017 at 9:09 pm

      you can, but it might be a bit … runny.

      Reply
  14. Gosia Poniatowska

    August 29, 2017 at 10:38 am

    great dish, made it last night……thanks for sharing

    Reply
    • Laura Fuentes

      August 29, 2017 at 10:58 am

      Thank you for trying!

      Reply
  15. Kim

    August 19, 2017 at 4:51 pm

    This was very good, thank you.

    Reply
  16. Enrietta

    October 20, 2016 at 10:15 am

    We love spaghetti squash recipes. thanks for this one!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  17. Anna

    October 20, 2016 at 10:10 am

    ANOTHER WINNING RECIPE AT MY HOUSE! Thank you Laura.

    ★★★★★

    Reply
  18. Elisabeth

    October 20, 2016 at 10:09 am

    I made this last night. it was SO GOOD!!

    ★★★★★

    Reply
    • Meg

      January 23, 2022 at 5:57 pm

      So good. I did everything in the same pan though and did the squash in the oven.

      ★★★★★

      Reply

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