I know, I know… I just posted a spaghetti squash recipe a few weeks ago, but while getting groceries last week, I couldn’t help but pick one up and make this Spaghetti Squash Casserole! I toyed with making another Mexican dish, but ultimately decided to go the more traditional Italian route.
Growing up, my mom always fixed the best spinach lasagna, it is loaded with sautéed onions, garlic, ground sausage, herbs and tomato sauce that simmered for 45 minutes allowing the flavors to mingle and enrich one another. Then you layer this savory sauce with tender lasagna noodles, ricotta cheese, spinach and mozzarella and bake it until it is hot and gooey. Pair the lasagna with a side of corn and some toasted garlic bread and it is one AMAZING meal.
And while there are definitely health benefits to be found in this meal, they are also accompanied by a plethora of carbs. This Spaghetti Squash Casserole with Spinach encompasses some of these same flavors, while lightening things up and cutting back a bit on the carbs and fat content.
Not to mention, outside of the cook time for the spaghetti squash, it comes together quickly and with little effort!
The seasoned bread crumbs, Parmesan and mozzarella cheese help beef up this vegetarian dish, while adding immense flavor! However if you’re looking for a little more protein, ground turkey would be a great addition!
A little side note, the pictures do not show the pasta sauce on the bottom of the casserole, I made that change to the recipe after making the dish. We put a thin layer of pasta sauce down with each individual serving and it was the perfect touch, I wish I’d have baked it that way from the beginning. Oh well, always next time!
Before I go, can I just I’m so glad the weekend is here! Josh’s mom is arriving this evening to stay the weekend with us and I’m so excited to have her here! Unfortunately, his dad wasn’t able to get the time off from work, so he won’t be joining us, but will definitely be missed.
We have no real plans this weekend other than to enjoy being together and possibly visit a used bookstore we really like in West Nashville. I’m looking forward to a few low-key days and hoping for some sunshine!
I hope each of you have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the Spaghetti Squash Casserole!
Spaghetti Squash Casserole with Spinach
Ingredients
- 1 medium spaghetti squash
- 1 tbsp organic butter
- 1 cup sweet onion chopped
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper chopped
- 2-3 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach chopped
- 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt
- 1 free range egg
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- salt and pepper to taste
- 2 cups spaghetti sauce
- 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs or see notes to make your own
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Cut squash in half lengthwise, remove all seeds and place on baking sheet face down. Bake for 40 minutes or until tender.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat, add butter, onions, bell pepper, and minced garlic, saute for 4-5 minutes or until onions are translucent. Add chopped spinach and continue cooking another 2-3 minutes, or until spinach is cooked and wilted. Remove from heat.
- Once squash is cooked and cooled, use a fork to shred flesh into large bowl. At this point, increase oven temperature to 400 degrees.
- Add free-range egg, Greek yogurt, chili flakes and half of bread crumbs and Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper and stir to combine.
- Pour 1 cup spaghetti sauce into 2 quart baking dish. Next, spoon spaghetti squash mixture over sauce and spread evenly. Then layer sautéed veggies over squash, stirring just slightly to combine it with squash, add another cup of spaghetti sauce, spread evenly then top with remaining bread crumbs, Parmesan and 3/4 cup mozzarella cheese.
- Bake at 400 degrees for 20-25 minutes, or until lightly browned.
- Top with additional red pepper flakes and Parmesan cheese if desired, then serve!
Notes
Nutrition
Recipe inspired by Baker by Nature’s Swiss Chard & Spaghetti Squash Gratin.
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
It sounds like there are some mighty tasty (and healthy) ingredients in there, Kaylee! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Kaylee Pauley says
Thank you Helen! You’re Risotto Arancini and Marinara recipe from the other day looks wonderful, I meant to comment but the day got away from me, I’ll go do that now :)
Jana says
This sounds so yummy! I’ve never tried to make mom’s spinach lasagna, but I love it so. Seems like forever ago since i’ve had it.
Kaylee Pauley says
You definitely need to make it, so good! But this lightened up version is pretty good, too! :)
Heather Peters says
We finally fixed this the other night, and it was so fun! We thought it resembled a “baked spaghetti” after trying it, and the flavors just got better & better over the next couple of days as leftovers…SO GOOD!!
Kaylee Pauley says
Yay, so glad you liked it! And love that the spaghetti squash acts much like regular pasta and just gets better with time! Thanks for the comment! :)
Lynn Marie Herndon says
I must try this for company! Looks so yummy
Kaylee Pauley says
Thank you Lynn, I hope you enjoy it as we did! :)
Ashley Wasser says
Thanks for posting this! I love how the nutrition facts are listed, but what is one serving size? Thank you!
Kaylee Pauley says
Hi Ashley, great question! I baked it in a 2 quart baking dish, it was a little smaller than a 9×13, then cut it into 8 servings, the nutrition info is essentially for 1/8 of the recipe – does that help? Hope so – and hope you enjoy the dish! :)
Lauren says
Can leftovers be frozen or would that make them mushy?
Kaylee Pauley says
Hi Lauren, I haven’t tried freezing the leftovers, but I do think it would work! Let me know if you give it a try and how it turns out! :)
Lauren says
Turns out it won’t be necessary, it went a lot faster than I thought. Absolutely delicious and very easy to put together, thank you!
Kaylee Pauley says
Oh I’m so happy to hear that, thank you for sharing! :)
Sarah says
Made this for dinner tonight. It was absolutely delicious.
Kaylee Pauley says
So glad to hear it – thanks Sarah! :)
Laura says
This is one of my favorite dinners. I make it a head of time so it’s ready for the oven on week days. Love this dish!
Morgan Meloche says
I tried making this and it was very yummy but also very mushy and wet. I didn’t have time to cool the spaghetti squash before baking it with the other ingredients – could this be the problem? I would like it to come out like it looks in the pictures! Thanks for the help :)
Kaylee Pauley says
Hi Morgan, I’m glad to hear the flavors were good but I’m so sorry it turned out soggy or mushy! I read through the recipe again trying to figure out what might have caused this. I do think the spaghetti squash needs to cool, but I don’t think that would make it that soggy. Was the spaghetti sauce you used a thicker or thinner one? I’m wondering if it were on the thinner side if it was just too much liquid. You used the parmesan cheese and bread crumbs as well, right? I hope I can help figure this out – thank you for trying the recipe! :)