Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2024)

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (1)

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Table Of Contents hide

  • Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe
  • How To Make Spaghetti Squash Casserole
  • Optional Add-Ins
  • Storage Instructions
  • More Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipes
  • Recommended Tools
  • Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!)

Looking for a filling and healthy dinner? Baked spaghetti squash casserole recipes to the rescue! This buffalo chicken spaghetti squash casserole is a chicken dinner winner for a few reasons: It’s delicious, satisfying, and packed with nutritious ingredients. And perhaps most important, it’s buffalo chicken!

If you like the flavors of Instant Pot buffalo chicken dip or homestyle dishes like cheesy yellow squash casserole, you’ll love this one too. And don’t worry, you can make it as spicy or as mild as you like!

Why You’ll Love This Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe

  • Tangy, lightly spicy flavor
  • Tender noodles, creamy sauce, and juicy, hearty chicken
  • Easy, grocery store ingredients
  • Mostly hands-off prep
  • A naturally gluten-free, keto, and low carb chicken spaghetti squash casserole
  • Easy to freeze or make ahead
Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (2)

Ingredients & Substitutions

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for casserole spaghetti squash, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see therecipe card below.

  • Spaghetti Squash – Find a medium spaghetti squash, about 4-6 pounds, for this recipe.
  • Blue Cheese Dressing – You can get a store-bought version or make homemade blue cheese dressing for extra flavor. If blue cheese isn’t your thing, you can easily swap in ranch dressing as well.
  • Buffalo Sauce – Any brand and spice level will do. I used this one for my buffalo chicken casserole.
  • Cream Cheese – I used a full-fat variety, but any kind should work — including non-dairy ones.
  • Shredded Chicken – I prefer using my Instant Pot shredded chicken for best texture, but you can also cook and cube air fryer chicken breast or baked chicken breast for this recipe. Alternatively, you can use ground turkey or ground beef. Before using it in this dish, simply brown the meat on the stove top over medium-high heat, with olive oil, sea salt, and black pepper to taste.
  • Cheddar Cheese – Use a pre-shredded variety, or shred your own. You can also swap half of the cheese for mozzarella cheese.
  • Green Onions – Optional, for a zippy garnish.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (3)

How To Make Spaghetti Squash Casserole

This section shows how to make a casserole with spaghetti squash, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see therecipe card below.

  1. Bake squash. Pierce with a knife and bake until fully tender. (Get full instructions for baking spaghetti squash here.) Remove from oven and set aside.
  2. Make sauce. In a large bowl, stir together blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese. Stir in shredded chicken.

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (4)

TIP: Want more spice?

If you want your chicken spaghetti squash casserole to have more kick, add two additional tablespoons of buffalo sauce to the mixture.

  1. Prep squash. Cut spaghetti squash in half and use a spoon to scoop out seeds. Use a fork to release the strands.
  2. Assemble. Stir spaghetti squash into the chicken mixture, then transfer to a baking dish.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (5)
Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (6)
  1. Bake. Sprinkle buffalo chicken spaghetti squash bake with cheese. Bake spaghetti squash casserole until cheese melts.
  2. Finish. Drizzle with additional blue cheese and sprinkle with green onions. If desired, drizzle additional buffalo sauce on top.

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (9)

Optional Add-Ins

  • Tomatoes – Slice or chop tomatoes, removing any seedy areas. Lay flat in between layers of the chicken and squash mixture, or (if chopped) mix with the ingredients before baking.
  • Garlic – Use freshly minced or jarred minced garlic, and stir it together with the chicken mixture before combining with squash strands. You can also saute it first if you prefer.
  • Bell Pepper – Chop up to 1 whole bell pepper (any color), saute in a little oil, and add to the chicken mixture before mixing with squash.
  • Avocado – Dice or slice and add to the top of the casserole after baking.

Storage Instructions

  • Store: Keep spaghetti squash casseroles covered in the fridge for 4-5 days.
  • Meal prep: Prep one of two ways. You can make squash and remove strands, make blue cheese dressing, and prepare shredded chicken — store each separately, then assemble and bake right before serving. Alternatively, you can assemble everything in a casserole dish, top with foil, and refrigerate until ready to bake.
  • Reheat: Heat in a 350 degree F oven, or gently in the microwave, until hot and bubbly.
  • Freeze: You can freeze this recipe for spaghetti squash casserole! Let it cool completely, wrap in foil, and freeze for 2-3 months. Bake from frozen for 30-40 minutes, or thaw first in the fridge and bake for 15-20 minutes until hot.
Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (10)

More Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipes

  • Lasagna Style – Similar to spaghetti squash lasagna boats! Instead of using chicken, brown ground beef in a skillet with a teaspoon of Italian seasoning mix, then mix with 1/2 cup of your favorite pasta sauce or marinara. In a separate bowl, mix 2/3 cup ricotta, 1/3 cup parmesan cheese, 1 tablespoon olive oil, and salt to taste. Add spaghetti squash strands to the dish, followed by cheese, then meat sauce, then top with 2/3 cup shredded mozzarella cheese and bake.
  • Three Cheese – Swap cream cheese with a 15 ounce container of ricotta cheese, 1/2 cup of provolone or mozzarella cheese, and 1/4 cup shredded parmesan cheese. Swap blue cheese dressing and buffalo sauce with a tomato or marinara sauce.
  • Classic Spaghetti – Prepare meat and tomato sauce in the lasagna style squash above, but mix together with squash strands instead of layering. Sprinkle 2/3 cup mozzarella cheese over the top before baking.
  • Chicken Alfredo – Omit cream cheese and swap cheddar cheese with mozzarella. Substitute the blue cheese dressing and buffalo sauce with a batch of alfredo sauce. Mix and bake as usual.
  • Baking Sheet– The first step of any cheesy spaghetti squash casserole recipes is to bake the squash. This pan makes it easy and cleans up in a flash.
  • Ceramic Baking Dish– Spaghetti squash bakes may not be fancy, but served in this baking dish, they look great on any table.
  • Glass Storage Container– Store any leftover spaghetti squash casserole in these glass dishes and take to work for lunch!

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Recipe Card

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!) - Wholesome Yum (12)

4.97 from 31 votes☝️ Click stars to rate or click here to leave a review!

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe (So Easy!)

You need just 6 simple ingredients for this chicken spaghetti squash casserole recipe. Make it for a healthy, comforting meal tonight!

Prep: 15 minutes

Cook: 40 minutes

Total: 55 minutes

Author: Maya Krampf from WholesomeYum.com

Servings: 6 (adjust to scale recipe)

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Ingredients

Tap underlined ingredients to see where to get them.

Instructions

Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (204 degrees C).

  2. Use a knife to poke a few holes all over the spaghetti squash. Place onto a baking sheet and bake for 30-40 minutes, until a knife goes in with very little resistance. Remove from the oven (leave it on) and set aside.

  3. Meanwhile, in a large bowl, stir together the blue cheese dressing, buffalo sauce, and cream cheese. Stir in the shredded chicken.

  4. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and use a spoon to scoop out the seeds. Use a fork to release the strands into the bowl with the chicken mixture. Stir together.

  5. Transfer the casserole mixture to a large casserole dish (12×8” oval dish, 2.4 qt.). Top with shredded cheese. Place in the oven for 10 minutes, until the cheese melts.

  6. If desired, drizzle the top with additional blue cheese dressing and sprinkle with green onions.

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Related Easy Recipes

  • Spaghetti Squash Carbonara

  • Keto Spaghetti Squash Pad Thai

  • Spaghetti Squash Chicken Alfredo

  • Chicken Cordon Bleu Casserole

Recipe Notes

Serving size: 1 1/3 cup or 1/6 of recipe

Nutrition Facts

Amount per serving. Serving size in recipe notes above.

Calories443

Fat34.1g

Protein22.2g

Total Carbs14.1g

Net Carbs10.3g

Fiber3.8g

Sugar6.5g

Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.

Course:Main Course

Cuisine:American

Keywords:spaghetti squash casserole, spaghetti squash casserole recipe

Calories: 443 kcal

© Copyright Maya Krampf for Wholesome Yum. Please DO NOT SCREENSHOT OR COPY/PASTE recipes to social media or websites. We’d LOVE for you to share a link with photo instead. 🙂

Spaghetti Squash Casserole Recipe

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FAQs

How does Paula Deen cook squash casserole? ›

In separate medium size skillet, sauté the sliced onion in butter for 5 minutes. Remove from pan and, using a large bowl, add squash, onions, sour cream, Paula Deen's House Seasoning and sharp cheddar cheese. Pour mixture into a buttered casserole dish and top with cracker crumbs. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes.

How do you keep squash casserole from getting watery? ›

Salting and sautéing the squash before baking helps to remove excess moisture and prevents the casserole from becoming watery. Cream cheese and sour cream lend the filling richness and tang.

Is spaghetti squash good for a low carb diet? ›

One cup (155 grams) of cooked spaghetti squash contains 42 calories. That's only 18% of the 239 calories in 1 cup (151 grams) of cooked spaghetti ( 1 , 8 ). It's also a low carb alternative to pasta, containing only 10 grams of carbs in 1 cup.

How does Rachael Ray cook spaghetti squash? ›

Heat the oven to 450 degrees F and cover a baking sheet with foil. Split the squash in half and scoop out the seeds. Season the squash with salt and pepper and place, cut-side down, on the baking sheet. Roast the squash until very tender, 45 to 60 minutes.

What is Paula Deen seasoning? ›

The ingredients listed in order are: "sea salt, granulated garlic, black pepper, granulated onion, ground cumin, and other spices". I have used the recipe listed on this site and included equal amounts of garlic powder and onion powder.

How do you keep spaghetti squash from getting mushy? ›

The trick is to make sure you don't overcook them! Be prudent when it comes to checking on the squash in the oven to make sure it doesn't get too soft. If you're mixing the spaghetti squash noodles into a hot sauce, or adding it to ingredients on the stovetop, it's best to be slightly undercooked than overcooked.

Why does spaghetti squash get watery? ›

I find that adding too much oil and too much salt at this stage makes the squash a bit watery, so a light drizzle and a light sprinkle will do. Then, poke a few holes in the skin of the squash with a fork and place it cut side down on a baking sheet. Pop it in a pre-heated 400°F oven.

How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

When should you not eat spaghetti squash? ›

That's a long time, but it would be a mistake to use spaghetti squash once it's started going bad. Some small unsavory spots can be cut away, but you'll want to toss the squash if it feels mushy, soft, or hollow.

Which is healthier spaghetti squash or pasta? ›

Spaghetti contains on average about 200 calories and 42 grams of carbohydrates per serving (2 ounces). However, spaghetti squash contains only 70 calories and around 17 carbohydrates per serving. A serving of spaghetti squash is about 4 ounces, and one spaghetti squash serves four people.

Is spaghetti squash better for you than pasta? ›

Spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles are popular alternatives to traditional pasta, offering several health benefits: 1. Low in Calories: Both spaghetti squash and zucchini noodles are low in calories, making them a lighter option for those looking to manage their calorie intake.

Can dogs eat spaghetti squash? ›

Yes! Spaghetti squash is healthy for your dog and is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals support the health of your dog's vision, immune system, colon, muscles, and more. Squash also helps kidney function and can decrease your dog's chances of heart failure.

Why can't I cut through my spaghetti squash? ›

To soften spaghetti squash for cutting, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C). Pierce the squash several times with a fork, then microwave it for about 4-5 minutes to soften the skin. Alternatively, place the whole squash in the oven for 10-15 minutes. This makes cutting easier.

Why can't i cut into my spaghetti squash? ›

Spaghetti squash can be tough to cut raw. The outside is hard and the raw flesh can be a bit of a challenge to work through. To safely cut into a squash (spaghetti or another kind), you need to make sure you have a nice sharp knife and a flat, stable work surface to cut on.

How to cook butternut squash Paula Deen? ›

directions
  1. In a medium saucepan combine squash, onions, carrots,broth, and salt. Simmer, uncovered, until squash is very tender, about 40 minutes.
  2. Puree soup in a blender or food processor with the butter. Whisk cream into soup. Serve in wide, shallow bowls with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

Should squash be cooked cut side up or down? ›

You can cook it face up or face down, but I like to turn the squash face down with the flesh on the parchment paper. Finally, roast your squash for about 50 minutes or until the squash flesh is tender.

How does Gordon Ramsay cook butternut squash? ›

In a large bowl mix the cubed squash, garlic cloves and ginger with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of the spice mix. Season with salt and pepper and scatter in a single layer in a roasting tray. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 30 minutes until tender all the way through.

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