How To Cook Spaghetti Squash and Make Spaghetti Squash Noodles

Looking for how to cook spaghetti squash and make spaghetti squash noodles?   Just 5 minutes of prep time and you've got yourself a tasty low carb, gluten-free, and healthy pasta alternative!

I was about to start off this blog post by saying spaghetti squash is my favorite type squash...

Then the guilt kicked in.

Because, I realized, where does that leave roasted acorn squash soup or pumpkin spice muffins or butternut squash bisque? Or those cute crooked necked yellow squashes?

And, are we able to include zucchini muffins in this list?  Yikes.

I love all of them, each on its own special way.

Okay, the guilt is gone.  Few.

Now that we are all past that, what I love so much about spaghetti squash is that it can easily substitute for pasta. The amazingly cool little strands that just come together so easily after a simple roasting mimic pasta very well.  Even after making it so many times, I'm always amazed at how cool it is.

Yes, I'm a dork.  In case you didn't realize this already from my panic over choosing which squash I like most.

Are Spaghetti Squash Noodles Healthy?

Not only is spaghetti squash a good pasta substitute, it's a really healthy one, too! Compare just 42 calories and 10 carbs in one cup of my yellow friend, the spaghetti squash, to 221 calories and 43 carbs in 1 cup of zucchini noodles. Plus, there's more fiber and other nutrients as well.  Using veggies and squash like this instead of pasta is a tasty, low-carb and gluten-free way to go.

Sweet, right?

How To Cook Spaghetti Squash

There are two main ways to cook spaghetti squash in order to make spaghetti squash noodles: in the oven (for baked spaghetti squash) or in the microwave.  Here's how you do both:

How To Bake Spaghetti Squash Noodles in the Oven

Cooking the spaghetti squash couldn't be easier. Seriously.  Just follow these instructions:

1. Slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (you could cut into rings if you'd like, but I find lengthways to be easier to remove the seeds and bake)
2. Remove the seeds
3. Drizzle each cut side with olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper (this step is totally optional, but will add flavor to the baked spaghetti squash noodles)
4. Place each half of the spaghetti squash face down on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or aluminum foil
5. Place in the oven and roast for about an hour
6. The squash is done when the noodles easily pull away from the skin and you can easily pierce the skin with a fork
7. Using a fork, scrape the insides of the squash to separate the strands

It takes literally 5 minutes to prep the spaghetti squash to be cooked once the oven is preheated.  So easy!

How To Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

1. Slice the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise (you could cut into rings if you'd like, but I find lengthways to be easier to remove the seeds and bake)
2. Remove the seeds
3. Drizzle each cut side with olive oil and season with sea salt and black pepper (this step is totally optional, but will add flavor to the baked spaghetti squash noodles)
4. Place one of the spaghetti squash halves face down in a small microwave-safe casserole dish or rimmed plate
5. Pour 3-4 tbsp. water into the dish
6. Microwave 8-10 minutes, or until the skin is tender when pierced with a fork
7. Using a fork, scrape the insides of the squash to separate the strands into the spaghetti noodles

How To Make Spaghetti Squash Noodles with Pasta Sauce

My favorite way to enjoy spaghetti squash is with some hearty pasta sauce, but  it's also yummy just simply sautéed with some garlic and olive oil. Or with some veggies, like zucchini and onions.  Add some parmesan cheese and you've got yourself a delicious side, meal or base for a pasta dish.

Here are some of my favorite pasta sauces for cooking with spaghetti squash noodles:

• Simple Tomato (Marinara) Sauce
• Cauliflower Cheese Sauce
• Healthy Pesto Sauce
• Spaghetti Meat Sauce

Making spaghetti squash noodles with pasta sauce is very easy to do.  You can treat the squash noodles just like pasta and either top the baked spaghetti squash noodles with your pasta sauce of choice or toss it to coat before serving.  The noodles will hold up well either way.

Try these Spaghetti Squash Noodles with my Spaghetti With Meat Sauce for a fantastic meal.

Can You Freeze Spaghetti Squash Noodles?

While making spaghetti squash is amazingly easy, it does require about an hour of your time from start to finish.  One way to have baked spaghetti squash noodles on hand more quickly is to freeze your spaghetti squash noodles once they've been cooked.

The good news is it is very easy to freeze spaghetti squash noodles.  The bad news is the texture wont be quite the same, as it will be slightly more soggy once defrosted.  That being said, it'll still work and hold up enough to enjoy. All you have to do is portion it out and freeze it without any sauce.

To remove the most amount of sogginess from frozen spaghetti squash noodles, you can put the squash noodles into a colander and then set the colander inside a large mixing bowl, covered, and then store it in the refrigerator overnight. This will help it drain and prevent it from getting too soggy later. Then, freeze in freezer-safe bags.

Frozen spaghetti squash noodles are best when used within 1-2 months.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use regularly and highly recommend.