• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Art From My Table
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Meet Chellie
  • Subscribe
  • Contact
  • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Meet Chellie
    • Subscribe
    • Contact
    • Shop
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Loaded Spaghetti Squash Casserole Boats

    Published: Jan 10, 2017 · Modified: Jan 29, 2020 by Chellie Schmitz

    Pin
    Share
    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    There's nothing like ooey gooey yummy cheese to bring you the ultimate comfort food. These Loaded Spaghetti Squash Casserole Boats will bring you all the comfort and deliciousness but in low carb fashion.

    Cooked spaghetti squash loaded with cheese, spinach, and seasoning served in the shell of a spaghetti squash garnished with tomatoes, parsley, and toasted squash seeds.

    Low Carb ~ Yea or Nay?

    The low carb thing has been a trend for awhile now. At first, I wasn't really on board, I LOVE my carbs! And I didn't want to give them up. However, I realized that my choice of carbs were really not doing so well for my body.

    This all started when I decided to change up the way I eat and I joined the Trim Healthy Mama bandwagon. Heard of it? THM is not only about what you eat, but about how you pair your foods together.

    spaghetti squash that has been sliced in half on a cutting board, seeds still in tact.

     I found this quite interesting. And, I was pleasantly surprised. You can read more of my THM journey in this post where I talk about my favorite metabolism boosting tea~ The Shrinker.

    Loaded Spaghetti Squash Casserole Boats

    Let's talk about why this recipe is so amazing.

    Cheese. Really, need I say more? Okay. Bacon. What more do you need in life? 🙂

    bowl of cooked spaghetti squash mixed with cheese, spinach, cream cheese and bacon.

    But we're not stopping there. I added some spinach, tomatoes and topped it all off with crispy crunchy squash seeds. Did you know you can roast squash seeds just like you do pumpkin seeds? They are de-lish!

    We are really liking spaghetti squash as a substitute for pasta. Now, it's not the same texture at all. Spaghetti squash is more firm for sure.

    So don't try to trick your kids into thinking this is pasta. Not gonna work. But, I do think they'll love it anyway with all the cheesy yumminess.

    loaded spaghetti squash casserole boat topped with tomatoes, parsley, and toasted squash seeds.

    Even if you're not into the low carb lifestyle, this is an amazing side dish to pair with any meal. Because, again, CHEESE! 🙂

    You can easily turn these loaded  spaghetti squash casserole boats into a main dish if you want to. To do so, I'd recommend increasing the protein by adding some chicken or ground turkey to it.

    UPDATE: Since having an Instant Pot, I now cook the squash in there. It's much easier for cutting and removing the seeds and it cuts the time down.

    This recipe was adapted from the Trim Healthy Mama cookbook.

    Looking for more ways to use Spaghetti squash? Try these!
    • Thai Style Spaghetti Squash
    • Garlic & Herb Spaghetti Squash
    loaded spaghetti squash casserole boats

    Loaded Spaghetti Squash Casserole Boats

    Baked spaghetti squash loaded with cheese, spinach, bacon and tomatoes topped with crispy roasted squash seeds.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour
    Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 450kcal
    Author: Chellie Schmitz
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    • 1 large spaghetti squash
    • 4 tablespoon butter
    • 2 cups grated cheddar cheese
    • 1 cup cream cheese
    • 1 ½ cups fresh baby spinach leaves
    • ½ cup chopped bacon (cooked)
    • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, chopped
    • salt & pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Preheat the oven to 350
    • Slice the squash in half length wise and scoop out the seeds.  Reserve seeds for roasting (optional)
    • Bake the squash cut side down on a lightly oiled baking sheet (preferably coconut oil or olive oil) for 45 minutes, or until tender. Take care to not over bake, or your 'boats' will be too tender to use.
    • While the squash is baking, boil the squash seeds for 10 minutes, drain and dry, toss with some olive oil and salt and place on a baking sheet. Roast at 350 for 20-30 minutes, tossing every 10 minutes.
    • Using a fork, carefully remove the flesh of the squash and place into a bowl. At this point, the squash will be 'spaghetti' like in shape.
    • Add butter, half the cheddar cheese and cream cheese and stir.
    • Add the bacon, spinach salt and pepper, and stir until incorporated.
    • Gently return the squash mixture back to the shells or 'boats', top with remaining cheese and return to the oven for 15 minutes or until warmed throughout. 
    • Top with chopped tomatoes and roasted squash seeds and serve.

    Notes

    • You can bake the seeds at the same time as the squash OR pop them into the oven after you remove the squash to scoop out the flesh.
    • If you don't want to serve this in the squash boats, you can simply place the mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole dish for the second bake. 
    • We serve this as a side dish, but you can make it a main meal by adding some chicken or ground turkey. 
    • If you want to cut down on time and arm muscle, Cook your squash in the instant pot.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 450kcal | Carbohydrates: 15g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 21g | Cholesterol: 111mg | Sodium: 619mg | Potassium: 411mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 7g | Vitamin A: 2225IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 358mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!I love to see what's on YOUR table! Mention @artfrommytable or tag #artfrommytable on your favorite social.

    I would love to connect with you! Leave me a comment and follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

    Pin
    Share

    More Side Dish Recipes

    • Grilled Corn on the Cob
    • 15 Easy Side Dishes to Serve With Mongolian Beef
    • Instant Pot Quinoa
    • Air Fryer Green Beans
    about chellie

    ABOUT CHELLIE

    Chellie is the creator of Art From My Table, where her passion for delicious food and gathering with loved ones comes together. She believes anyone can cook a great meal, it doesn't have to be complicated or stressful. Her recipes and food photography have been featured in many publications including Buzzfeed, Southern Living, Today Food, and Fitness magazine. Read more...

    Join the Cooking Club

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a Reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    1. chellie

      January 26, 2017 at 6:22 am

      I would love to grow my own squash, how fantastic! We tried butternut once, but other varieties haven't done well for us.

    2. chellie

      January 26, 2017 at 6:21 am

      Enjoy Sammi! Glad to have a fellow squash lover. 🙂

    3. Sammi

      January 24, 2017 at 10:14 pm

      Sign me up! I love spaghetti squash, but have yet to roast the seeds. Great idea! I eat low carb so this meal is going in the rotation. Thanks for sharing!

    4. Angie ~ ambient wares

      January 23, 2017 at 5:14 pm

      This sounds fantastic! We grew squash for the first time a couple of years ago and it is the best! Thank you for sharing this with us at Funtastic Friday!

    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Chellie! Welcome to my table. I believe there is something sacred about sharing a meal together. I'd love to share my tips and easy-to-follow real food recipes with you and help you gather the ones you love around YOUR table.

    More about me

    Healthy Habits

    • Chicken Bone Broth
    • Kombucha Recipe
    • Easy Roasted Vegetables
    • Green Monster Smoothie

    Quick & Easy

    • Kielbasa Skillet with Apples and Onions
    • Turkey Skillet Dinner with Sweet potatoes and Kale
    • Sheet Pan Chicken Fajitas
    • Low Carb Sausage and Kale Soup

    Free E-book!

    Click on the image for your free book.

    10 super smoothies to supercharge your day

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    Privacy Policy

    Accessibility Statement

    Newsletter

    Sign Up! for emails and updates

    Contact

    Contact
    Work With Me

    Copyright © 2022 Art From My Table, LLC