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    Home » Vegetable » Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash With Sauce

    Published: Feb 11, 2022 · Modified: Apr 29, 2022

    Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash With Sauce

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    Slow cooker spaghetti squash with sauce is delicious, healthy, and super easy to make. Just add in some protein and you have a full, healthy meal that takes very little effort.

    Side view of a plate of slow cooker spaghetti squash topped with meat sauce

    Why use a slow cooker to make spaghetti squash? The answer is the same for almost every slow cooker dish - it's easy! Your crock pot makes incredible recipes that require little oversight.

    Spaghetti squash is no exception. It's amazing anytime, but it's especially wonderful on busy weeknights. AND, it is one of the best and easiest healthy recipes. Loaded with vitamins, minerals, and fiber while being low in calories. It is the perfect, low-carb alternative to regular spaghetti.

    Spaghetti squash mixed with meat sauce and topped with cheese ready to serve

    📝Shopping list

    Exact quantities in recipe card below

    Spaghetti Squash - about 4 lbs or so

    For the sauce shown in this recipe:

    Marinara Sauce

    Ground beef or turkey

    🥣Method

    Wash your spaghetti squash to remove any dirt. Poke the flesh several times with a sharp knife or fork to allow steam to escape. Place squash into slow cooker, cover, and cook on low for 5-6 hours. The exact cooking time will depend a bit on the size of your squash and on your crockpot.

    Your squash is fully cooked when you can easily push a dent into the flesh. BEWARE - the squash will be HOT! Using the back of a spoon is a safer way to test your squash than burning your finger. 😉

    whole squash in crockpot after cooking with a finger making a dent showing it is finished

    Remove whole squash from your slow cooker carefully, using tongs, and set it on a cutting board to cool slightly. If serving your spaghetti squashes with sauce, add it to your slow cooker now to warm it up. For the squash shown here, I used some homemade marinara sauce and browned ground turkey.

    Squash with sauce in slow cooker before mixing

    Once cooled enough to handle, use a sharp knife to cut squash in half. Place squash cut side up and use a spoon to remove the center seeds and pulp.

    Spaghetti squash cut in half with a spoon holding seeds and pulp

    Next, use a fork to begin to shred the meat of the squash into noodle-like strands.

    An open spaghetti squash with a utensil demonstrating how to pull into spaghetti-like strands

    Pro tip: You may want to save those seeds! Spaghetti squash seeds can be roasted like pumpkin seeds!

    🍴Serving ideas

    The fun thing about this vegetable is how versatile it is. The squash in these pictures was served with a meat sauce. This is our favorite way to use it as a main course, but the possibilities are endless!

    Spaghetti squash on a plate topped with meat sauce and some fresh herbs

    If you plan to serve your squash as a side dish, keep it simple. One option is to mix in in some salt and black pepper and then drizzle with a little olive oil.

    Adding your favorite spaghetti sauce topped with some red pepper flakes is another option. This makes a great side dish for entrees such as Italian beef and chicken Parmesan.

    If you plan to serve this as a main course, use any recipe you would normally add to spaghetti noodles. Everything from creamy alfredo sauce to bolognese sauce to frozen meatballs topped with fresh basil goes!

    Storing leftovers

    Leftover squash should be stored in an airtight container or bag. It will last 5-7 days in the refrigerator and can be frozen for 6-7 months.

    Spaghetti squash cut in half after cooking

    😉Hints & hacks

    1. Spaghetti squash is "in season" from early fall through winter. However, it is usually available in the grocery store any time of year.
    2. Sauces can be mixed into your slow cooker along with your finished spaghetti squash. The squash mixture can be kept on warm for an hour or so while waiting for serving time. Alternatively, sauces can be served by the plate on top of the spaghetti squash.
    3. A fun way to serve your finished dish is to use each half of the spaghetti squash shell as a bowl.
    4. Frozen, pre-cut veggies will work in this recipe just as well as fresh.
    5. I am a big fan of slow cooker liners and always suggest using them for easy clean-up.
    6. In the market for a new slow cooker? I love my new one!

    As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Side view of a plate of slow cooker spaghetti squash topped with meat sauce

    Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash Recipe

    Slow cooker spaghetti squash is delicious and super easy to make. Just top it with your favorite sauce and you have a full, healthy meal the takes very little effort.
    5 from 1 vote
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    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 6 hours
    Total Time: 6 hours 5 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 217kcal
    Author: The Lazy slow cooker
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 4 qt slow cooker or larger
    • sharp knife
    • fork for shredding

    Ingredients

    • 3 - 4 lb spaghetti squash whole
    • 2 - 3 cups sauce of choice
    • 2 cups browned ground beef or turkey Optional
    • ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese optional
    • Oregano optional

    Instructions

    • Wash the outside of your spaghetti squash and carefully prick it with a sharp knife or fork several times.
      3 - 4 lb spaghetti squash
    • Place whole spaghetti squash into slow cooker
    • Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours.
    • Spaghetti squash is ready when you can easily dent it by pressing it with your finger or the back of a spoon. (be very careful if using a finger. It will be VERY hot!)
    • Use tongs to remove squash from slow cooker
    • Allow squash to cool off a bit for easier handling
    • While your squash is cooling, add sauce to your slow cooker. If you are planning to use ground meat, that should be added to your slow cooker along with the sauce
      2 - 3 cups sauce of choice, 2 cups browned ground beef or turkey
    • When squash has cooled enough to touch, carefully cut it in half. Use a spoon to scoop out seeds and pulp from the middle of your squash and discard.
    • Next, use a fork to loosen the strands into "spaghetti-like" pieces. These strands can be added back into your slow cooker and mixed with your sauce. Alternatively, you can plate the squash strands and top with your heated sauce.
    • top with grated parmesan and oregano when serving
      ¼ cup grated parmesan cheese, Oregano

    Notes

    Notes:
    If you choose to add ground beef or turkey to this dish, make sure it is browned and drained of fat in advance.  
    Nutritional information was calculated based on lean ground beef and marinara sauce

    Nutrition

    Calories: 217kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 50mg | Sodium: 792mg | Potassium: 902mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 824IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 118mg | Iron: 4mg

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    Welcome to The Lazy Slow Cooker. I am so happy you are here! My name is Susan (yep - I am Lazy Susan!) and I am the recipe developer/blogger behind these posts. I am the mom of three amazing but super busy kids and the wife of one awesome and also super busy guy. All 5 of us have very different schedules and I would not survive mealtime without my crockpot. Read More…

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