Recipe Wednesday | Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

I am a huge fan of the hearty classic spaghetti.  I mean, who isn't?  But, I always tend to overindulge and then regret piling the pasta on.

Over the years, I have made a conscience decision to eat healthier and really try hard at making our family meals delicious but also healthy.  A few years ago, I had heard about making spaghetti using spaghetti squash instead of pasta and from that point on, it was no turning back. NEVER AGAIN will I feel guilty loading my plate, and this low calorie/fat-free pasta alternative still allows me to feel like I am eating a hearty and filling meal.

If you are not totally familiar with Spaghetti Squash, it is a large yellow veggie you see that in the grocery store but are always afraid to buy because you don't know what to do with it.  At least, that is what I use to think. (See image to left.)

Once cooked, you can take your fork and "score" it and the insides shred like pasta (see image to right).  There is very little/no flavor, which makes it a GREAT pasta alternative.  The only real difference is that it does have a slightly crunchier texture that you may have to get used to the first time you make it, but you quickly forget about the second time around.


Here is my favorite recipe that I make using the veggie, turning a hearty classic into a healthy option!

Spaghetti Squash with Meat Sauce

Prep Time: 10min

Cook Time: 1hr

Ingredients

• 1 Spaghetti Squash
• 1lb ground hamburger meat (we use Organic Grass-Fed hamburger from Costco)
• 1 jar of Pasta Sauce (we use Muir Glen Organic Garlic Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce)
• 3/4 Small onion
• 2 Garlic cloves
• Dash of Salt and Pepper to taste

Instructions

-Preheat oven to 350. Pierce the whole spaghetti squash several times and place the whole squash in the oven once preheated. Let it cook for 1 hr.

-Dice up 3/4 of onion and mince garlic, set aside until read to mix with hamburger.

-Once squash is almost done, start browning your hamburger meat on medium/high on stove in skillet. Once done, drain hamburger.

-Return drained, return meat to skillet and mix in onion and garlic, sauteing for 2 minutes on medium/high. Then, mix pasta sauce in and let mixture heat up.  Add salt and pepper to taste.

-Pull squash out of oven after 1hr. Cut in half and scoop out seeds in the middle. Then, take fork and score the spaghetti squash (this removes the flesh in pasta like strands)

-After all scoring has been done, grab a plate and combine squash with meat mixture and enjoy!

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XOXO,

Sherri

Questions:

Do you have a favorite recipe you use with Spaghetti Squash?