I intended to post this low carb side dish recipe a couple of weeks ago to complement my Mozzarella Stuffed Turkey Pesto Meatballs, but it just never got done. Better late than never I guess!
This one is super easy – and you can even cook and freeze the spaghetti squash ahead of time, which makes this the perfect weeknight side dish.
I love the flavors in this recipe when using my easy lemon and basil pesto, but you can use store bought, or even make it with marinara sauce instead.
When making this recipe with the pesto, you add the pesto AFTER it comes out of the oven – otherwise the basil cooks and it completely changes the flavor. Cooking the pesto also causes it to turn an unappetizing grey color, instead of a lovely vibrant green color. Even in these photos it started to turn quickly because I didn’t wait for it to cool long enough before adding the pesto. It still tasted great, just wasn’t quite as pretty!
If you want to make this with the marinara, you just add the marinara on top of the squash, then the ricotta and mozzarella cheese, and bake it until hot and bubbly – Yum!
[pinterest text=”Cheesy Spaghetti Squash with Pesto (low carb and gluten free) a low carb side dish by ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/squashpesto2small-695×950.jpg”]
This recipe is delicious on it’s own, or it would make a great side to not only the pesto meatballs mentioned above, but also to the low carb meatballs alla parmigiana!
You could also add some cooked chicken to this recipe (with either the pesto or the marinara sauce) before baking, and it would be an easy one dish casserole. Serve with a side salad and you’re good to go. You can even assemble it the day before and pop it in the oven when you get home from school or work. Easy, peasy…
[pinterest text=”Cheesy Spaghetti Squash with Pesto (low carb and gluten free) a low carb side dish by ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/squashpesto3small-700×941.jpg”]
PrintCheesy Spaghetti Squash with Pesto (Low Carb and Gluten Free)
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
An easy and versatile low carb side dish recipe using spaghetti squash.
Ingredients
- 2 cups cooked spaghetti squash, drained
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 4 oz fresh mozzarella cheese, cubed
- 1/4 cup basil pesto
Instructions
- In a medium-sized bowl combine the squash and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Spread the squash about 2 inches deep in an oven proof casserole dish. Drop ricotta cheese on top by the spoonful. Scatter the cubes of mozzarella cheese over the top. Bake for about 10 minutes in a 375 degree (F) oven, or until the cheese has melted and is bubbly. Remove from the oven, cool for about 5 minutes, then drizzle the pesto over the top and serve.
Notes
Approximate nutrition info per serving: 207 calories, 17g fat, 4.8g net carbs, 11g protein
Nutrition
- Serving Size: Approximately 3/4 cup or 1/4th of casserole
[pinterest text=”Cheesy Spaghetti Squash with Pesto (low carb and gluten free) a low carb side dish by ibreatheimhungry.com” layout=”horizontal” image=”https://www.ibreatheimhungry.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/squashpesto6small-684×950.jpg”]
For more great side dish recipes, download your copy of The Gluten Free Low Carber from Amazon.com today!!!
Cindy says
This is a wonderful recipe! The flavors go great together.
★★★★★
Anna says
I know you posted this 3 years ago, but I made it a couple of nights ago and it was seriously amazing. I’ve made a lot of low carb food, but this innocuous little recipe has been one of my favorites so far. I seriously didn’t think it would taste so good! Thank you :)
★★★★★
Kate says
Conversion for Instant Pot: I had success with cutting in half at the equator, scooping the seeds out, and placing on the steaming rack in the Instant Pot. Set vent to sealing, use manual pressure from 8-12 minutes depending on size of squash and desired tenderness. 10 minutes usually works for me to get a nice al dente texture that didn’t get mushy after the baking step. Quick steam release.
Nancy P. says
This dish was so delicious! Thanks for a good recipe. Looked good and tasted great! I am going to try it again with Zucchini.
movita beaucoup says
The words cheesy and spaghetti squash should always go together. This looks fabulous. Now, lemme tell you about spaghetti squash: I love it. It is the BEST. Now, here’s a sad story about spaghetti squash: once, at the grocery store, someone put a MELON which looked exactly like a spaghetti squash in the in the spaghetti squash pile. And then someone (me) unwittingly placed that melon in her grocery cart whilst getting very excited about the pasta sauce she planned to put all over it. The rest of this story is, of course, too sad to tell.
Kelly says
Looks yum, how do you cook your spaghetti squash? :)
Mellissa Sevigny says
Thanks Kelly – I hope you like it! To cook the spaghetti squash I pierce my entire squash a few times, put it on a plate and microwave it for 18 – 20 minutes. Then I wait for it to cool, open it and remove the seeds, and then scoop out all of that yummy squash! I love it because there is very little hand’s on time!
andy says
Microwave for 18-20 minutes? I don’t have a microwave, can it be done in the oven? If so, what temp and for how long? Thanks!
Mellissa Sevigny says
Here’s a link to the different ways you can cook it! http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/cooking/a/spagsquash.htm