Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with spicy Italian sausage, spinach, pecans, and dried cranberries is the right fall and winter dish. The stuffing combines savory, spicy, candy flavors, and pairs superbly with the squash. This gluten- and dairy-free recipe is nice for each vacation meals (like Thanksgiving and Christmas) and straightforward weeknight dinners. It is a lighter, more healthy different to common pasta.
Stuffed spaghetti squash
In the event you’ve by no means cooked spaghetti squash earlier than, it’s time to rethink! This recipe will make you fall in love with it, I promise! I used fall substances like pecans and dried cranberries, and the completed dish really appears to be like like autumn on a plate. It’s a terrific alternative on your weekly fall dinner rotation and makes a beautiful addition to any Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation menu.
Why you will find it irresistible
- An ideal different to common pasta. Not solely is the stuffed spaghetti squash scrumptious, nevertheless it’s additionally loaded with nutrient-rich, healthful substances. Spaghetti squash is an unimaginable different to conventional pasta—it’s a lot decrease in carbs and energy, naturally gluten-free, lighter, and more healthy.
- Nutrient-dense and budget-friendly recipe. Filled with veggies, fiber, and protein, it’s a well-balanced family-friendly meal that everyone will love! I used easy, inexpensive substances you possibly can simply discover at any grocery retailer. You’ll be able to serve it as a aspect or major course.
- Vacation dish. Stuffed spaghetti squash is an ideal vacation major or aspect dish. The presentation of the stuffed “boats” (or roasted squash halves) is at all times spectacular, and you’ll use festive substances like pecans, dried cranberries, and dried herbs.
Elements and Substitutions
- Spaghetti Squash. Low in energy and wealthy in vitamins, spaghetti squash is a superb supply of folic acid, potassium, and beta-carotene. It is a terrific different to common pasta! You’ll be able to substitute with different winter squash varieties like butternut or acorn squash. If utilizing acorn squash, be aware that it’s smaller and bakes sooner (about half-hour at 400°F).
- Sausage. I used spicy crumbled Italian sausage. You’ll be able to substitute it with another sausage: delicate, candy, hen sausage, and many others. If utilizing sausage in casings, merely take away the casings and crumble it because it cooks.
- Onion. You should utilize any kind of onion—candy, yellow, white, and even pink.
- Spinach. I cooked recent spinach till wilted. You may also use frozen spinach, so long as it’s thawed and drained. Kale is one other nice different.
- Pecans. They supply a pleasant crunch and texture. Walnuts can be utilized as a substitute.
- Dried Cranberries. These add a contact of sweetness. Different choices embody dried figs, blueberries, or cherries.
Storage and reheating suggestions
- Refrigeration. Retailer any leftover stuffed spaghetti squash in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 4 days.
- Reheating within the Oven. Heat it in a preheated oven at 350°F for round half-hour till heated by means of.
- Reheating within the Microwave. For faster reheating, take away the sausage and spinach filling, microwave the filling and the squash individually, then restuff the squash earlier than serving.
What to serve with it
Spaghetti squash enhances quite a lot of easy sides, together with seasonal roasted greens like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or inexperienced beans. It additionally pairs properly with roasted or mashed potatoes. Listed below are a few of my favourite Fall-inspired aspect dishes:
- Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Toasted Pecans, and Dried Cranberries
- Straightforward Scalloped Potatoes with Garlic, Thyme, and Parmesan Cheese
- Tacky Baked Asparagus with Gruyere cheese, Garlic, and Bacon
- Inexperienced Beans with Pine Nuts
- Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
Different stuffed spaghetti squash recipes you may like
- Italian Sausage Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Spinach, Tomatoes, and Mushrooms
- Spaghetti Squash with Hen, Tomatoes, Spinach, and Feta Cheese
- Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Broccoli, Sausage, and Cheddar Cheese
- Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with spicy Italian Sausage, Spinach, Apples, Cheddar, and Pepper Jack Cheese
- Baked Spaghetti Squash with Zucchini, Corn, and Bacon
- Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Smoked Sausage, Roasted Bell Peppers, and Zucchini
- Southwestern Spaghetti Squash with Hen
Stuffed Spaghetti Squash with Sausage, Spinach, Cranberries, and Pecans
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Elements
Roasted Spaghetti Squash
- 2 complete spaghetti squash medium or massive
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- salt and coarsely floor black pepper to style
Sausage filling
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 14 oz Italian sausage spicy, crumbled
- 5 oz spinach recent
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- 1 cup pecans chopped
Directions
roast spaghetti squash
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Preheat oven to 400 Fahrenheit. Line the baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Minimize the squash in half and scoop out the seeds and fibers from every half. Repeat with the second squash. (Tip: Earlier than reducing, you possibly can soften the squash by microwaving it. To do that, make just a few massive slits alongside the road the place you’ll slice it, then microwave the entire squash for five to 10 minutes. This makes it simpler to chop it in half.)
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Drizzle olive oil over the minimize sides and inside the squash, and season generously with salt and pepper.
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Place the 4 squash halves minimize aspect down on a ready baking sheet. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes on the center rack till delicate and cooked by means of. You’ll be able to verify doneness by piercing the squash with a fork—it ought to really feel tender.
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Whereas the squash is baking, proceed with the remainder of the recipe.
Make the sausage filling
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Make the sausage filling whereas the squash is being roasted within the oven.
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In a big, high-sided skillet, warmth olive oil, add diced onion, and prepare dinner it on medium-high warmth for about 2 minutes till cooked and a bit charred.
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Add crumbled sausage and prepare dinner for about 5 minutes or extra on medium warmth till the sausage is totally cooked by means of.
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Add recent spinach and prepare dinner for one more 5 minutes on medium warmth till the spinach wilts.
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Add dried cranberries and chopped pecans and blend all the pieces.
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Season with salt and pepper. Most likely not crucial for the reason that sausage is already often salty (except you utilize candy sausage).
Meeting
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By now, the spaghetti squash has roasted for 30 to 40 minutes. Take away it from the oven and switch the halves minimize aspect up. Allow them to cool barely.
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Heat up the sausage combination in the identical skillet you cooked it in.
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Evenly distribute the filling among the many 4 squash halves, stuffing them till the combination is stage or barely mounded. End with freshly floor black pepper and a sprinkle of recent thyme.
Diet
