37 Spaghetti Squash Recipes You'll Actually Crave

Spaghetti squash is one of our favorite ingredients to cook with. It's a versatile veggie that, when cooked correctly, is easily shredded into spaghetti-like strands. And, while the long, noodle-like pieces of squash don't taste anything like pasta, their mild flavor is perfect for pairing with all your favorite sauces — making spaghetti squash a naturally gluten-free replacement for pasta. And, that's just the beginning; spaghetti squash can be used in casseroles, as an alternative pizza crust, alongside your favorite mains and more. Whether you choose to turn it into a simple vegetable side dish or serve it up as a hearty vegetarian meal, you'll find that, with the right recipes, spaghetti squash is easily transformed into a surprisingly craveworthy bite.

Best of all, cooking spaghetti squash is remarkably simple, as this go-to recipe proves. Use a fork to scrape the roasted spaghetti squash flesh into strings (no special kitchen tools, needed!), then toss with Parmesan and butter — and prepare to be impressed.

This recipe takes classic creamy potato gratin to a new level. Spaghetti squash adds amazing texture and great flavor — giving you yet another reason to buy the versatile veggie!

There's no need to preheat the oven, or even use pots and pans for this recipe! A fresh, no-cook sauce and microwave squash prep help bring this flavorful and healthy side to the table in under 30 minutes.

Toss butter, lemon, garlic and shrimp with your spaghetti squash for even more flavor. Serve in the hollowed-out squash shell for a pretty presentation.

Have to feed a crowd? Craving something comforting? Looking for a recipe that freezes beautifully? This lasagna checks all the boxes.

No waiting for water to boil here: Spaghetti squash proves (once again) that it can sub out pasta. It's perfect in this pancetta and egg-enriched cream sauce.

This might be the easiest way to cook spaghetti squash — pierce a whole squash all over with a fork, then cook it in a pressure cooker until perfectly tender. It cooks in a fraction of the time it would take in the oven, and there's no need to struggle with cutting the sturdy squash beforehand.

Spaghetti squash is often thought of as a noodle substitute, but why not use it as a rice substitute too? Microwaving the squash for this dish will get it done in about 1/3 of the time it takes in the oven. Properly cooked squash will still have a little texture and bite, and is an earthy, neutral base for the bold flavors in this recipe.

Pizza night just got a whole lot healthier. Before adding the spaghetti squash into the rest of your ingredients, Katie recommends squeezing as much excess water out as you can — so the pizza crust gets nice and crispy.

Cut down on carbs by switching pasta out for spaghetti squash in this flavorful, pancetta-laced Alfredo dish.

Perfect for a special occasion side dish or vegetarian main course, here we top strands of perfectly cooked spaghetti squash with a nutty and spicy-sweet pesto. The creamy pesto is great warm or at room temperature and comes together quickly with pantry ingredients including jarred roasted red peppers, toasted pine nuts, tomato paste and Calabrian chile paste. For a showstopping presentation, we spread the spaghetti squash on a large serving platter, then top it with the pesto, fragrant basil, sharp pecorino and more toasted pine nuts.

Katie's 5-star recipe proves spaghetti squash is made for the twice-baked treatment (it's not just for potatoes!). The squash gets roasted, blanketed in a creamy sauce with chicken and broccoli, and topped with cheese before taking a turn under the broiler for a golden brown crust.

Here's a twist on Cincinnati "five-way" chili: spaghetti squash and chili, plus cheddar cheese, onion and kidney beans.

You’ll have a healthy cold-weather favorite on the table in just one hour with this recipe for roasted spaghetti squash. It’s warm, comforting and sneakily nutritious.

Add Mediterranean flair to buttery squash with sweet shrimp, salty feta and briny olives. It's a dish that's great hot, but also delicious at room temperature.

You won't miss the meat at all with Valerie's hearty, mushroom-and-veggie-based sauce. She uses red wine and a Parmesan cheese rind to give the Bolognese a deep, savory flavor that's perfect over tender spaghetti squash.

Pack the flavors of a sausage and white bean soup into a tender roasted spaghetti squash for a hearty all-in-one meal.

You don’t need a prepared jar of spices to make a dish evoke the same savory, seedy bite of an everything bagel; a few pantry ingredients can do the job! When preparing the shallots for this side dish, be sure to cook them until they are well-browned. This will ensure that their rich oniony flavor permeates through to the squash.

Who needs meat to make a delicious slider? These vegetarian squash sliders are sweet, tangy and messy. If you can't find mini slider buns, slice hot dog buns into thirds.

As much as we love a pasta sub, spaghetti squash doesn't always have to be the main affair. Keep things simple and add it to your plate as a side for pork scallopini.

Guy brings the wow factor to an ordinary spaghetti dish. He uses spaghetti squash instead of pasta and tops it with crispy kale chips and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Spaghetti squash subs don't have to be limited to pasta — it works just as well in noodle dishes! In this recipe, spaghetti squash is flavored with a sweet and tangy peanut sauce for an easy meal or side that's ready in 25 minutes.

Mix kale-subbed pesto and squash-subbed pasta for a fun and tasty way to eat your veggies.

In this twist on a classic Southern dish, the noodle-like strands of crisp-tender squash find their way into a creamy chicken and vegetable casserole.

A celebrated dish throughout Latin America, this picadillo pairs well with the mild, nutty flavors of spaghetti squash, which stand in for the rice and beans typically served.

A little bit of truffle oil and a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano go a long way in flavoring Guy's 5-ingredient spaghetti squash.

The mild flavor of spaghetti squash makes it the perfect base to mix with Asian-style soy and ginger sauce in this 20-minute side dish.

As fancy as it might sound, DIY compound butter is a cinch! In her recipe, Katie adds curry, lemon zest, shallots and cilantro to room-temperature butter to add major flavor to roasted spaghetti squash. Tip: Make an extra batch of butter and keep on hand for flavoring fish, rice and everything nice.