How to Bake Spaghetti Squash

Learn How to Bake Spaghetti Squash at home with a few of the best tips and tricks. Use it as the healthy, low-carb base of all of your favorite pasta recipes all fall and winter long! 

In addition to being one of the best low-carb, low-calorie “pastas” to indulge in during the fall, spaghetti squash also packs several other health benefits that you simply can’t get from wheat-based Italian pasta.

It’s a good source of fiber, vitamin C, vitamin A, antioxidants like beta-carotene and it’s naturally hydrating due to its high water content. So many reasons to look forward to spaghetti squash season!

Why You’ll Love Baking Spaghetti Squash in the Oven

• Hands-free cooking method. Once the squash is cut in half and the seeds are removed, the oven does the rest of the work for you. 
• Retains its texture best. Unlike methods that teach you how to cook a spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot or slow cooker, cooking spaghetti squash in the oven helps preserve the spaghetti-like strands and helps prevent them from becoming overly mushy.
• Low fat. Baked winter squashes can be roasted in the oven without any added vegan butter or refined oils!
• Easy to cook in batches. Again, unlike a pressure cooker or slow cooker that has a much more limited capacity, most standard ovens can fit 2-3 winter squashes in at once. Great for meal prep or feeding a large crowd. 
• Enhanced flavor. Cooking the squash cut-side down enhances the natural sweetness of the squash by caramelizing and roasting the edges. 

What You’ll Need

• Spaghetti squash: 1 whole spaghetti squash. Spaghetti squash can be found in grocery stores year round but are most commonly in season and at their lowest price during the fall and winter months in the northern hemisphere. 
• Sharp knife: These winter squash are notoriously hard and difficult to cut. For best results, use a large, very sharp chef’s knife. Some find a serrated knife to be best. 
• Cutting board: ​A large cutting board or rubber mat is helpful to stabilize the squash. 
• Oil: Optional, but a bit of cooking oil can help prevent the squash from sticking to the baking sheet and will help the squash roast and become lightly golden brown on the edges. 

How to Bake Spaghetti Squash in the Oven

• 1) Wash and cut the spaghetti squash in half vertically (long ways). 

• 2) Remove the spaghetti squash seeds and pulp, then place both halves face-down on a foil-lined baking sheet.

• 3) Bake for 50-55 minutes, or until soft and easily pierced with a knife. Additionally, the long noodle-like strands should pull away from the sides easily when you scrape them with a fork. 

• 4) Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then serve immediately while hot, as desired!

No tin foil? Use parchment paper, a silicone baking mat, or a regular baking sheet greased with cooking spray or a little olive oil. 

Recipe FAQs

Top Tips 

• An adjusted cook time may be required. Depending on the size of your squash and the thickness of the halves, an altered cook time may be required. For example, if you’re baking a large squash, it may take 60+ minutes to cook through. 
• Space the spaghetti squash halves out if possible. To prevent excess moisture from building inside the squash as they roast, it is best to space them out on the baking sheet so they have a couple of inches between each halve. If you cannot fit two squash halves on one baking sheet, use two baking sheets. 
• Save the seeds! Similar to roasted pumpkin seeds, spaghetti squash seeds can be roasted and sprinkled on salads, soups, or eaten on their own as a healthy snack. 

How to Serve Spaghetti Squash

This winter squash can be served in a number of ways, but is most popularly used to replace traditional wheat-based spaghetti noodles. Enjoy them as pictured with a splash of your favorite marinara, grape tomatoes, chives, and salt and pepper to taste for simple spaghetti squash boats. Or, try one of these delicious homemade pasta sauces and enjoy as a low carb twist on classic pasta:

• Sweet Potato Pasta Sauce
• Creamy Curry Pasta Sauce
• Dairy-Free Alfredo Sauce
• Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce
• Homemade Meaty Tomato Sauce

​If you’re looking to bulk your spaghetti squash meal up with protein, check out these helpful guides: The Best Plant-Based Protein Sources and a Guide to Plant-Based Meats. 

Storage Instructions

Once cooked, spaghetti squash will keep fresh for about 3-4 days. Allow the squash to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight storage container or tightly cover the squash halve with plastic wrap or reusable wrap. 

Freezing leftover spaghetti squash is possible, but in order to prevent it from becoming mushy it must be cooked, cooled, and sufficiently drained to remove all excess moisture. For full detailed instructions on how to freeze spaghetti squash, check out this helpful article from Taste of Home. 

More Kitchen Basics Recipes 

• How to Roast a Butternut Squash
• How to Roast Garlic in a Pan
• How to Cook Brown Rice
• How to Roast Mushrooms
• How to Microwave Sweet Potatoes
• How to Make Glazed Carrots

Photos by Alfonso Revilla