• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
All Our Way
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Wild Game
  • Contact
  • Navigation Menu: Social Icons

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
menu icon
go to homepage
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Wild Game
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Life
  • Wild Game
  • Contact
  • Subscribe
×
Home » Recipes » Vegetables and Sides

Make Perfectly Roasted Spaghetti Squash Al Dente

Published: Mar 26, 2020 · Modified: Jan 28, 2021 by Marisa Franca · 21 Comments

Jump to Recipe
You can make spaghetti squash al dente. It's a matter of letting the squash release some of its liquid and then roasting with the right seasoning. Eat the squash as is or use it in your favorite pasta dishes.

It is possible to make long al dente strands by a perfectly roasted spaghetti squash that mimics your favorite pasta. All you need to do is slice the squash into circles, let the squash sweat, and then season it before roasting it in the oven.

Aqua plate with roasted spaghetti squash
Jump to:
  • Ingredients and equipment
  • Preparation
  • Sweating the squash
  • Seasoning and baking
  • Noodling the squash
  • Chef tips
  • Make the squash along with us
  • Check out the story
  • Roasted spaghetti squash recipe
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Ingredients and equipment

You won't believe how easy this is! Once you try this method you'll never go back to the mushy spaghetti squash you were used to.

  • spaghetti squash
  • olive oil
  • kosher salt
  • freshly ground pepper
  • wire rack
  • baking sheet
  • knife

Preparation

Forget all you've been taught about preparing the squash. We used the old-fashioned method in Spaghetti Squash alla Carbonara and our Squash with Shrimp. I love this NEW method and I will never go back to the old way.

First collage with instructions for the roasted spaghetti squash

You don't slice it horizontally and scoop out the seeds.

Instead you nip off the ends and you slice the vegetable into 1 ½ inch rings. This may be a little tricky since the squash has a tendency to roll, so place the veggie on a towel.

Then you scoop out the seeds and throw them away. Isn't that simple?

Sweating the squash

Generously sprinkle kosher salt on all of the ring surfaces.

Then arrange the circles on a wire rack set on top of a rimmed baking sheet. Let the rings release some of its moisture for 20 minutes.

Getting rid of that extra water is what will make the strands mimic spaghetti strands.

Remember the first time you ate the squash and thought, "Hmmm. No way does this resemble spaghetti!" Well, you're in for a pleasant surprise.

Second collage with instructions for making roasted spaghetti squash

Seasoning and baking

Pat each of the spaghetti squash ring dry with a paper towel. There will be some moisture on the baking sheet so wipe that dry too.

Brush the rings on all sides with olive oil and season with freshly ground pepper.

Roast the circles until caramelized and tender, about 40 minutes.

Third collage with instructions on making al dente spaghetti squash

Noodling the squash

With a fork, separate the strands from the peel. You'll get nice long noodles that look and feel like spaghetti.

This is where you can eat your perfectly roasted spaghetti squash as is or make it into your favorite pasta dish. Those pasta strands will not get watery. You've taken care of that my roasting and not steaming the vegetable.

You can refrigerate the squash in an airtight container up to 2 days.

Al dente roasted spaghetti squash with the strands separate and golden.

Chef tips

  • a towel on your cutting board prevents the squash from rolling.
  • long sharp knife is essential.
  • spray the wire rack with vegetable spray.
  • line baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up.

Make the squash along with us

Roasted Spaghetti Squash | Al Dente

Tutti a tavola è pronto!

Alla prossima.

YOU MAY NEED...

As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

We use this combination of wire rack and rimmed baking sheet all the time. The rack fits inside of the tray and when we line the pan with foil, the clean-up is super fast. We bake our Garlicky Meatballs so they have a nice cooked finish.

What's new? check out my All Our Way Store on Amazon. We'll be adding more items we love and use or wish we had to make cooking fun and easy. 

Thank you for being part of All Our Way!

Grilled barbecue pork strips with roasted spaghetti squash tossed with pesto on a white plate.

Check out the story

Roasted Spaghetti Squash | Al Dente

Roasted spaghetti squash recipe

Al dente spaghetti squash strands are easy to achieve. It's all in the process and once you've tasted them you'll never go back to the old steamed method. Our family loves the way the vegetable pasta mimics our favorite spaghetti and you can include the noodles as part of your favorite pasta dishes.

If you like this recipe please give it a 5-star rating.

📖 Recipe

Al dente roasted spaghetti squash with the strands separate and golden.

How To Make Perfectly Roasted Spaghetti Squash

It's possible to make a perfectly roasted spaghetti squash that's al dente. All it takes it cutting it into rings, letting the squash sweat some of it's water, then seasoning and roasting. The strands are long and al dente, ready to eat the way you like best.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: vegetable main, vegetable side
Cuisine: American-Italian
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 40 minutes minutes
Sweating the rings: 20 minutes minutes
Total Time: 1 hour hour 5 minutes minutes
Servings: 2 people
Calories: 273kcal
Author: Marisa Franca @ All Our Way
As An Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Equipment Needed

  • 10"large kitchen knife
  • Cutting Board
  • pastry brush
  • wire rack
  • rimmed baking sheet

Ingredients

  • 1 spaghetti squash cut into 1 ½ inch rings
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon Kosher salt you may need more or less depending on size of squash.
  • freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  • Place the spaghetti squash on a towel covered cutting board. With a sharp knife, cut off the peel ends. Then slice the squash into 1 ½-inch rings.
  • Remove the seeds.
  • Arrange the squash circles on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet. Depending on the size of your squash, you may need two wire racks and baking sheets.
  • Generously season all sides of the squash with the salt. Let rest for 20 minutes to release some of the water.
  • As the squash is resting, preheat the oven to 400℉. with rack in the center. If you need more than one baking sheet, place racks in upper and lower thirds.
  • After 20 minutes, pat each squash slice with paper towels. Clean the water from the bottom of the baking sheet so it doesn't burn.
  • Brush all the sides of the rings with the olive oil. Season with pepper. Roast until caramelized and tender, about 40 minutes.
  • With a fork, separate the strands from the peel. You will get long noodle like pasta strands that will be al dente and not mushy.
  • Serve the way you like your pasta or add it to your favorite dish.
  • Can be refrigerated in an air-tight container for up to 2 days.

Notes

CHEF TIPS:
  • a towel on your cutting board prevents the squash from rolling.
  • long sharp knife is essential.
  • spray the wire rack with vegetable spray.
  • line baking sheet with aluminum foil for easy clean-up.

Nutrition

Calories: 273kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 3571mg | Potassium: 521mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 579IU | Vitamin C: 10mg | Calcium: 111mg | Iron: 1mg

Sign up for the emails and never miss another recipe!!

    Powered By ConvertKit
    We'll never share your email or send you spam. Promise

    Note: Recipes and content from © 2014-2020 All Our Way are copyright protected.  Please do not use content or recipe without prior written permission. If you want to share the information, please link to this post. Grazie.

    Pin
    Share
    Tweet
    Share

    More Vegetables and Sides

    • Colored bell peppers sauteed with onions and olive oil.
      Traditional Italian Peperonata
    • Sauteed fresh baby spinach with grape tomatoes served with crispy, black drum a fish that's light, tasty, not oily.
      Sauteed Fresh Baby Spinach and Grape Tomatoes
    • A bowl filled with Ciambotta an Italian vegetable stew.
      Italian Ciambotta or Giambotta
    • Herbed lemon quinoa with spinach in a brown pottery bowl.
      Herbed Lemon Quinoa with Spinach

    Primary Sidebar

    You can make spaghetti squash al dente. It's a matter of letting the squash release some of its liquid and then roasting with the right seasoning. Eat the squash as is or use it in your favorite pasta dishes.

    I’m Marisa Franca, a home chef, food writer, and photographer who believes that you can make gourmet quality food at home with simple seasonal ingredients. I’m passionate about family, food, friends, everything Italian, and happy endings.

    More about me →

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    🍁Cozy Autumn Favorites

    • A white plate filled with Johnny Marzetti casserole with a sprinkle of parsley on top.
      Johnny Marzetti Casserole
    • White Lasagna made with cheese ravioli and layered with delicious béchamel sauce with cheese.
      White Lasagna Ravioli
    • A cast iron skillet holding the Beefy Ravioli Bake with torn basil leaves sprinkled on top.
      Beefy Baked Ravioli
    • A large skillet filled with cheese ravioli with pumpkin cream sauce and topped with roasted chopped hazelnuts and fried sage leaves.
      Ravioli With Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    💨 Chill Chasing Soups

    • Closeup of a white ceramic bowl filled with a vegetable hamburger soup with potatoes.
      Hamburger Soup With Vegetables
    • A white bowl filled with chicken lentil soup a Mediterranean dish.
      Chicken Lentil Soup
    • Closeup of potato soup.
      Copycat Outback Potato Soup Recipe
    • An overhead view of a bowl filled with Tuscan Sausage Kale soup on a white table and kale leaves sprinkled around the bowl.
      Tuscan White Bean Soup

    Footer

    You can make spaghetti squash al dente. It's a matter of letting the squash release some of its liquid and then roasting with the right seasoning. Eat the squash as is or use it in your favorite pasta dishes.

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • About
    • Accessibility

    Newsletter

    • Subscribe for emails and updates

    Contact

    • Contact

    As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Copyright © 2023 All Our Way