If you are looking for a delicious way to eat spaghetti squash, don’t miss out on today’s recipe, delicious garlic butter chicken with spaghetti squash! Watch how easy this recipe comes together!
Chicken Spaghetti Squash
I love spaghetti squash but I have to admit that I often get stuck in a rut where I either eat it with my favorite Bolognese sauce or with a little butter and salt. Pretty plain, right? It’s time to up the ante on this very versatile squash, once that is often overlooked simply because cooking it can seem like a bit of a burden.
Cooking spaghetti squash is not difficult since it can be cooked in a few different ways. As a matter of fact, check out this quick video on how easy it is to cook in the microwave, in the oven, or in the slow cooker.
Another reason I like eating spaghetti squash is that I can cook it ahead of time, shred it to get the meat out, and keep it in the fridge for a few days. At dinnertime, all I have to do is prepare the chicken portion of this dish, heat up the spaghetti squash, and serve.
You can find more easy dinner ideas here, after you try this spaghetti squash recipe!
This recipe is just like the ones in my third cookbook, The Best Grain-Free Family Meals on the Planet. The recipes in the book are naturally gluten and grain free and suitable for everyone who just loves really good food. Honestly, I would eat out of that book on a daily basis; and between us, I published it as a way to pass on my family’s favorite real-food recipes.
Once the spaghetti squash is cooked, the entire dish comes together quickly in a large pan, which is something I love due to its minimal cleanup.
While we’re talking grain-free, healthy family meals, I had to take a minute to share with you about the Family KickStart Program. It’s a brand-new program I created with a whole-family approach to eating fresh foods.
In it, I give you meal plans, grocery lists, food swap ideas and more than 50 amazing recipes. Using this program, you can finally eliminate processed foods and sugars from your diet as a family!
This Garlic Butter Chicken with Spaghetti Squash isn’t on the plan but there is an AMAZING Lasagna Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Boats recipe that you will love! See more about Family KickStart here.
What’s your favorite way of eating spaghetti squash?
PrintGarlic Butter Chicken with Spaghetti Squash
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!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: American/Low-Carb
Ingredients
- 1 large spaghetti squash, washed
- 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, divided
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice, about 1 lemon
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup half and half
- pinch of red pepper flakes
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves
Instructions
- Cook spaghetti squash until tender. Check out this video to see 3 easy methods to cook your spaghetti squash.
- While your spaghetti squash is cooking, season chicken breasts with 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
- On a large skillet, heat up 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add chicken breasts and cook, flipping once, until cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. Add lemon juice, let it bubble, turn off the heat, remove chicken from skillet onto a cutting board, slice diagonally, and set aside.
- In a microwave-safe glass or small saucepan, heat up half and half.
- To the same large skillet over medium-high heat, melt butter, add garlic, and cook, stirring constantly for about one minute, until the garlic is fragrant and heated through. Slowly, add in half and half, 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir in the Parmesan cheese and stir until the mixture has slightly thickened. Cook, stirring constantly until everything is incorporated into a sauce.
- Add the chicken back into the skillet or large pan, turn heat to simmer (lowest heat setting) and heat the chicken through.
- With a fork, scrape the squash meat off each half into a large bowl or directly onto 4 plates. Top with chicken and lemon-garlic sauce, sprinkle with fresh parsley and serve.
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
- 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,
Elisabeth
I made this last night. it was SO GOOD!!
★★★★★
Anna
ANOTHER WINNING RECIPE AT MY HOUSE! Thank you Laura.
★★★★★
Enrietta
We love spaghetti squash recipes. thanks for this one!
★★★★★
Kim
This was very good, thank you.
Gosia Poniatowska
great dish, made it last night……thanks for sharing
Laura Fuentes
Thank you for trying!
Liz
can I use 1% milk instead?
Laura Fuentes
you can, but it might be a bit … runny.
Jonathan
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
Paula
How was it with the wine in place of lemon?
Laura Fuentes
works well.
Lisa F
Is that correct that it is only two boneless skinless chicken breasts for four servings?
Laura Fuentes
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.
Donna
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.
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
Its in our regular rotation as well!
Noreen
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!
LL
My family loved it though the sauce was kind of curdled.
Roxane
Just made this tonight and it tastes delicious!
Laura Fuentes
I’m so glad you enjoyed it Roxane!
Mikaela
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.
★★★
Linda
Can coconut milk be substituted for the half and. Half
Laura Fuentes
Absolutely!
Alison Young
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!!
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
Success!!!
Christa
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!
★★★★
Laura Fuentes
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!
Bob
Delish, like eating desert for dinner. #pandemicmeals
★★★★★
Laura Fuentes
I”m glad you enjoyed the garlic butter chicken with spaghetti squash recipe, Bob!