How Long To Roast Spaghetti Squash

With a delicate balance of nutty and subtly sweet flavors, the spaghetti-like strands are easy to roast, tasty, and perfect for low-carb dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan diets.

Spaghetti Squash is my favorite grain-free substitute for pasta. A bowl of spaghetti squash is always so delicious. It has a slightly longer cooking time than pasta, but it's always worth the wait.

How to Choose Squash at the Grocery Store

1. Depending on where you shop, the skin will be pale or bright yellow. It should feel hard and free from soft spots and dents or bruises.
2. Choose a medium-sized spaghetti squash, 3 to 5 pounds.
3. A good spaghetti squash will feel heavy for its size.
4. Tap the squash lightly. Ripe spaghetti squash will make a hollow sound, similar to tapping a watermelon.

When you get your squash home, store it in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight. You can store it for several weeks.

What You Need

1. Spaghetti squash
2. Olive oil or you can sub avocado oil, butter, or ghee.
3. Salt. Use clean sea salt, pink salt, or Celtic salt.
4. Freshly ground pepper

How To Roast Spaghetti Squash at 400 Degrees

• Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) with the rack set in the center of the oven.
• Rinse the outside of the squash with water to remove dust and debris. 
• Place the squash on a cutting board. With a sharp chef’s knife, cut the squash in half lengthwise. 
• Scoop out the spaghetti squash seeds and loose fibers.
• Place the squash on a sheet pan covered with parchment paper.
• Season the cut squash halves with a little olive oil. Sprinkle salt, and freshly ground pepper over the flesh.
• Place the squash halves, cut side down, on the parchment paper. Pierce the skin of the squash with the tines of a fork several times.
• Place the pan in the center of the oven and set a timer for 30 minutes. Roast until fork tender and golden brown. 

Serving Suggestions

For a main course, figure one-half squash per person. Depending on the size of the squash, you can serve one squash to 4-6 people.

Spaghetti squash, Cucurbita pepo, can transform all your favorite Italian dishes. Try it in baked ziti or lasagna! Instead of pasta, use an equal amount of cooked squash and mix or layer with marinara sauce, ricotta cheese, and chopped vegetables.

My favorite topping is a big pat if Kerrygold butter and flaky sea salt.

For a sweet holiday dish, dress the squash with brown butter, raisins, and a little cinnamon sugar right before putting it in the oven to roast.

Pair spaghetti squash with your favorite dishes like Baked Mahi Mahi, Roasted Snapper, and Roasted Lemon Basil Chicken.

You can layer Blackened Shrimp with Butter Sauce over a bed of roasted spaghetti squash. The butter sauce seasons the squash and it tastes great!

Leftovers and Storage

Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

You can freeze leftovers in freezer-safe bags for up to two months.

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