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    Home » Recipes » Sides

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash (dairy free, gluten free)

    Published: Jan 29, 2016 · Modified: Aug 28, 2020 by Jenn Sebestyen

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    Pesto Spaghetti Squash - an easy way to satisfy your pasta craving without all the carbs! No fancy gadgets required,- a simple fork will magically creative the "noodles." A budget friendly meal that will please even the kids.

    This Pesto Spaghetti Squash is a low carb way to satisfy your pasta craving!

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash

    Raise your hand if you’re trying to eat a healthier diet this year.

    One of the things the average person usually tries to cut back on when attempting to lose weight, or just eat healthier, is carbs. The dreaded carbs, right?

    Personally, I don’t think carbs are the enemy, but that discussion would be enough for it’s very own blog post and I’m not going to tackle it today (and technically winter squash is a carb, but it’s nutrition profile is obviously completely different than the white pasta, white bread, sugary cakes and pastries you are used to associating with the word CARBS). 

    Regardless, this Pesto Spaghetti Squash is delicious and satisfying and you’ll fool your brain into thinking you are eating actual pasta without all the heavy calories. Win!

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash

    How to Prep Spaghetti Squash

    Spaghetti Squash is really simple to prepare once you get it cut open. Cutting it open is sometimes the hardest part. You need a big sharp knife and you need to be very careful because the squash is very hard.

    Once it’s open, you scoop out the seeds and fibers with a spoon until it’s clean. You can save the seeds and roast them to snack on too, just like pumpkin seeds!

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash

    Once the squash is baked, it will easily form strands by scraping the flesh with a fork. From there, you can serve it however you wish.

    The squash itself has a very mild flavor, which makes its the perfect accompaniment for my flavorful Parsley Kale Walnut Pesto – simply mix it together and, voila, Pesto Spaghetti Squash! 

    You can also toss the squash with marinara or roasted veggies, throw it in a stir fry, add it to soups, tacos, enchiladas, etc. Your options are limitless!

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash is a budget-friendly, waist-friendly (1 cup of spaghetti squash is only 76 calories – not including the pesto. Compare that to about 220 calories in a cup of plain spaghetti pasta), even kid-friendly recipe for any day of the week!

    The squash/pesto combo will also provide you with plenty of vitamin A, vitamin C, B vitamins, fiber, folate, vitamin K, omega-3 fats, protein, and MORE!

    More vegan vegetable recipes

    • Sugar Snap Pea Salad
    • Broccoli Green Bean Stir Fry
    • Green Vegetable Soup
    • Roasted Rainbow Carrots
    • Roasted Cauliflower Salad
    • Raw Veggie Chopped Salad

    I hope you love this recipe as much as we do! If you tried it, please use the rating system in the recipe card and leave a comment below with your feedback.

    Be sure to sign up for my FREE Newsletter to be the first to get my NEW recipes! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest.


    For even more easy family recipes, be sure to check out my cookbook, The Meatless Monday Family Cookbook!

    Pesto Spaghetti Squash

    Spaghetti squash “noodles” with pesto sauce is a low carb way to satisfy your pasta cravings! No fancy gadgets required – a simple fork will magically make the spaghetti squash stands separate. Paired with the Parsley Kale Walnut Pesto, it’s a flavorful, healthy, lightened up dish you can feel good about.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Rate
    Course: Main Dishes, Sides
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free, Vegan
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 55 minutes minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 170kcal
    Author: Jenn Sebestyen

    Ingredients

    • 1 spaghetti squash
    • 2 teaspoon olive oil
    • sprinkle of salt/pepper
    • 1 recipe Parsley Kale Walnut Pesto
    • ½ cup fresh cherry tomatoes (halved) (optional)

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 400 degrees C.
    • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
    • Carefully cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise.
    • With a spoon, scrape out the seeds and fibers.
    • Place each half on the prepared baking sheet cut side up and pour 1 tsp olive oil into each half. With your fingers, spread the olive oil all over the cut side of the squash. Sprinkle with salt/pepper.
    • Turn the squash cut side down on the baking sheet and bake for 35-55 minutes, until desired tenderness is reached.
    • The amount of time baked will depend on the size of your squash. A smaller one will take less time than a larger one. It will also depend on how tender you want the strands. For strands with a slight crunch, bake it less. For strands that are super tender, bake it longer. You can easily check the doneness by using a fork to pull away a few strands and doing a taste test….start checking around 35 minutes.
    • When squash is fully cooked, using a fork, “scrape” the inside of the squash so the strands come loose. Continue until all the strands have come away from the peel.
    • Toss the squash “noodles’ with the Parsley Kale Walnut Pesto and top with cherry tomatoes, if desired.
    • Serve immediately.

    Notes

    ~I like my “noodles” with a slight bit of crunch left…almost like an al dente pasta noodle. I had a large squash and baked it 45 minutes.
     
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 170kcal | Carbohydrates: 19g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 327mg | Potassium: 551mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 3900IU | Vitamin C: 79.2mg | Calcium: 180mg | Iron: 2mg

    Nutrition values are calculated using online calculators and are estimates only. Please verify using your own data.

    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @Veggie_Inspired or tag #VeggieInspired!

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    Comments

    1. Vegan Expectation vs Reality says

      November 17, 2020 at 5:49 pm

      Great recipe! It is SO SATISFYING to run your fork on the inside of the squash and see it turn into “spaghetti”. The pesto flavour is great and the recipe comes together easily, even though it takes a long time simply because the spaghetti squash roasts for so long. I went with the full 55-minute cooking time and found that the squash was still crunchy – not a bad thing, but next time I might go a little longer to see if I can get closer to a pasta texture.

      5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn Sebestyen says

        November 17, 2020 at 6:22 pm

        I’m so glad you loved it! I just saw your IG post and commented there as well. Thank you so much for your feedback!

        Reply
    2. Suzanne says

      August 21, 2018 at 8:57 pm

      Love this idea! I’m hoping to make this using the spaghetti squash from my weekly CSA – but wanted to make it for an event in 3 days. How long can this last in the fridge? If it lasts, does the quality lessen significantly after a day or two? Thanks again for this!5 stars

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        August 22, 2018 at 8:49 am

        It will last for a day or two. Just fluff it up again before serving because it will probably settle a bit in the fridge. You might need to add a tbsp or two of broth before reheating to loosen it up. But the flavors will still be great! Enjoy!

        Reply
    3. Anjali @ Vegetarian Gastronomy says

      February 07, 2016 at 11:49 pm

      LOVE spaghetti squash, especially mixed in with pesto. This looks delicious Jenn! I just posted a similar recipe with my newest pesto recipe and I can’t get enough of it!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        February 08, 2016 at 8:23 am

        Well, as they say – great minds think alike! I’m heading over now to check it out!!

        Reply
    4. AvocadoPesto says

      February 03, 2016 at 8:36 am

      I know this dish is a winner because I make something similar myself! SO good right?! Got to try your kale parsley walnut pesto! My go to is vegan basil pine nut pesto with nutritional yeast and hemp hearts.

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        February 03, 2016 at 10:22 am

        Thanks, Vicky! Hemp hearts are a GREAT idea. I love them so much. Can’t believe I’ve never thought to put them in a pesto. Is that one on your blog? I’ll just switch out the pine nuts.

        Reply
        • AvocadoPesto says

          February 03, 2016 at 11:53 am

          The hemp hearts are so good in pesto! Yep you can find that recipe on my blog : ))

        • Jenn S. says

          February 03, 2016 at 12:11 pm

          Awesome! Going to check it out now!

    5. Jenn S. says

      February 01, 2016 at 5:19 pm

      Thanks, Gin! It’s a great combo!

      Reply
    6. marlymcb says

      February 01, 2016 at 10:23 am

      I love how filling spaghetti squash is. This recipe looks like a real winner!

      Reply
      • Jenn S. says

        February 01, 2016 at 10:28 am

        Yes..it is filling, yet it tastes light. The perfect balance! Thanks, Marly!

        Reply
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