This Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan Mushrooms is the cosmic loop of my childhood eating habits.
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Reflecting on my childhood dinner table behavior, I’d like to remember myself as a demure young lady with tastes beyond her years, who never (EVER) complained about what her mother served, (Mom, are you laughing yet?).
The truth is, as a kid, I was a fairly picky eater. Although I’d finish my Roasted Broccoli eventually, dessert bribery was nearly always involved.
One of the few vegetables I met with genuine enthusiasm was roasted spaghetti squash (and Crockpot Spaghetti Squash).
Sprinkled with cinnamon and brown sugar, I could happily devour an entire baked spaghetti squash and call it a meal.
Since then, my love for spaghetti squash (and other roasted veggies like Roasted Acorn Squash), has never waivered, only grown to include today’s recipe (and others like these Taco Spaghetti Squash Boats).
5 Star Review
“I made this tonight and wow. It is so delicious and easy to make.”
— Ellen —
This roasted spaghetti squash with Parmesan and mushrooms is my childhood Roasted Spaghetti Squash, all grown up (and better than ever).
- Originally intended as a side, this baked spaghetti squash recipe is a full meal that can stand on its own.
- Instead of loading up on sweet brown sugar and cinnamon, I went for a healthier combination of mushrooms, spinach, and garlic.
- Skip the butter and drizzle on the heart-healthy olive oil.
How to Make Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan Mushrooms
This roasted spaghetti squash with Parmesan mushrooms is easy, delicious, and hands down one of the best meals I’ve made for myself in a long time.
The Ingredients
- Spaghetti Squash. Mild, tender, and versatile, you’ll be amazed at what you can do with this delicious little squash (I recommend trying this Spaghetti Squash Lasagna next).
- Olive Oil. While I won’t deny the perfection that is melted butter on spaghetti squash, for this recipe I went for a drizzle of EVOO. Unlike butter, it contains monounsaturated fats that can help reduce one’s risk for heart disease.
- Mushrooms. Low on calories, but BIG on flavor and nutrition, you can use any variety of mushrooms you’d like for this recipe. I stuck with affordable and accessible cremini mushrooms.
- Garlic. Add a little bite and zip.
- Spinach. For bulk, flavor, and your daily dose of vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, iron, and calcium. You could also easily swap for kale or Swiss chard.
- Parmesan. For just a touch of nutty, cheesy creaminess.
- Parsley + Thyme. Add color and a blast of herby freshness in every bite.
The Directions
- Halve the spaghetti squash and remove the seeds.
- Drizzle the squash with olive oil, season with salt, and bake, cut sides down, until fork tender. Remove and let cool slightly.
- With a fork, shred the insides of the squash. Set aside.
- Next, saute the mushrooms, garlic, and spinach.
- Stir in the shredded squash, season with salt and pepper, and add the parmesan and parsley. Serve warm and ENJOY!
Storage Tips
- To Store. Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F until hot. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave.
So mom, more than 20 years later, the little girl who could eat an entire roasted spaghetti squash for dinner is at it again.
Frequently Asked Questions
I don’t recommend freezing roasted spaghetti squash since it tends to become mushy once thawed and loses its texture. If you don’t mind this change, you can certainly try freezing cooked spaghetti squash though.
No. However, you may make this recipe vegan by simply omitting the parmesan cheese. If you want a little vegan “cheesy” flavor, you could try sprinkling a little nutritional yeast over top instead.
To make a single serving on this recipe, half all of the ingredients other than the squash. Prepare as directed, except save one-half of the roasted squash for a different recipe (like Spaghetti Squash Boats with Chicken).
Roasted Spaghetti Squash with Parmesan Mushrooms
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Ingredients
- 1 medium spaghetti squash about 2 pounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil plus additional for drizzling on squash
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt divided
- 16 ounces sliced cremini baby bella mushrooms
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 tablespoons minced fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 cup minced fresh parsley plus additional for serving as desired
- 3 cups fresh spinach roughly chopped
- 4 ounces freshly grated Parmesan plus additional for serving as desired
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat a large baking sheet with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Halve the spaghetti squash and remove the seeds. Lightly drizzle and rub the insides and outsides of the squash with olive oil, sprinkle the insides of each half with 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, then place cut sides down on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake the squash until fork-tender, about 25 minutes. Let rest for 10-15 minutes, until cool enough to handle, then shred in insides into strands with a fork. Set aside.
- Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium-high. Add the mushrooms and sauté until golden brown, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic, thyme, remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt, and black pepper, then sauté until fragrant, about 1 additional minute. Add the chopped spinach by handfuls, allowing it to wilt, then adding more as it will fit into your skillet. Cook just until all of the spinach wilts, about 2 minutes.
- Add the shredded squash to the skillet, then cook just until heated through, about 2 minutes. Taste and add additional salt and pepper as desired. Stir in the Parmesan and parsley. Serve warm, topped with additional parsley and Parmesan as desired.
Notes
- TO STORE: Place leftovers in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
- TO REHEAT: Gently rewarm leftovers in a baking dish in the oven at 350 degrees F until hot. You can also reheat leftovers in the microwave.
Nutrition
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Made this tonight and it was sooooo yummy!!! Thank you :)
HOORAY! Camala, that is wonderful to hear. Thanks for trying it and for letting me know!
I just finished a sizeable plate of this fantastic dish – delicious and satisfying! :)
(Wish I could’ve attached a pic – turned out perfectly!)
Bridget, I am SO excited to hear this! Thank you so much for trying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out. It means a lot!
I love this recipe! I made it for dinner last night and added chickpeas and a splash of lemon juice. Such a delicious, healthy weeknight meal. Thank you for the recipe!
Jess, I’m so glad that you liked this, and the addition of chickpeas is brilliant! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and letting me know how it turned out for you.
~Made it this week and loved it!…earthy, comforting, healthy, easy, fall-like! …will definitely make it again and again. Shared it with family and friends and on facebook, pinterest…Thanks again for another great recipe!
Linda, I am SO happy to hear this! Thanks so much for trying the recipe and sharing it with family and friends too. That means more than I can say!
Needed to use the other half of the spaghetti squash I had, and this recipe help me put it to good use. Very tasty! And I like the fact that the recipe didn’t use a tomato sauce of some type. It’s like a main dish or a vegetable medley side.
Hi Candace! I’m so happy this dish turned out to be a great way to use your leftovers and that you enjoyed it. Thanks so much for trying the recipe and letting me know!
I am a carnivoire to the bone and the mere mention of “meatless Monday” brings a sneer to my face…however, I just made this for lunch today and can honestly say that I didn’t even miss the meat! Thanks for sharing – this goes in my “Go-to Meals” board for sure
Peggy, this is the highest praise I could wish for a vegetarian dish. Thank you!!! I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for letting me know!
Love this recipe. It was actually pretty easy and yummy!
YAY!!! I am so happy to hear that. Thanks for trying the recipe and leaving this lovely review!
I am not much of a cook these days but this spaghetti squash recipe caught my eye. I made this dish yesterday and it was a great hit with all of my family. Will definitely make it again and add more mushrooms and spinach. I can’t wait to try the healthy scampi dish.
Belinda, I’m so happy to hear that this recipe was a winner for your family! Thank you so much for taking the time to leave this great review.
Hi friend! I love this recipe – it was the first spaghetti squash recipe I ever made! Do you know if it does okay being frozen and reheated? Thanks!
Hi Ari, unfortunately spaghetti squash isn’t very freezer friendly—it gets pretty mushy when reheated. If that texture doesn’t bother you, you can certainly give it a shot!
Thanks for the quick answer. :)
This was delicious, and I’m thrilled that it’s “meatless”. Definitely a keeper! Thank you!
Linda, I’m so happy to hear this recipe is a winner for you! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave this review!
This was amazing. I will definitely add this to my regular dinner rotation. Yummy!
Jaime, I am so glad to hear it, thank you!
I told you this combo might make me like this squash. Yes, indeed. I roasted the squash whole for an hour at 425 and then followed the directions as written. It was delicious.
Randy, I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to report back.
Hi, I made this recipe but the spaghetti squash came out mushy after I mixed it with the mushrooms & spinach. Not sure if its because I cooked the squash in my crock pot. Still tasted pretty good!
Hi Toni, I’m glad you enjoyed the taste! It sounds like the squash may have been overcooked before mixing it with the mushrooms and spinach. I hope if you try the recipe again the texture comes out perfect!
I just made this for dinner tonight and it was a hit! Thank for the tasty recipe. ?
I’m glad it was a winner, Ty! Thanks for sharing this review!
Does your recipe call for 4 oz. Parmesan by weight or volume? Thanks.
Hi Jimmy! This calls for 4 ounces of Parmesan by weight, but it should yield about 2/3 cup as well. I hope you love the recipe!
This looks incredible! How do you think this would fare with a kale substitution for the spinach? Either way, definitely trying this for dinner! Thanks for the dinner inspo!
Hi Natalie! Thank you so much for this kind comment! Yes, I do think you could substitute kale in this recipe. I hope you love it!
I made this for my family and it was amazing, everyone loved it! Also was great to bring to lunch at work the next day.
I’m so happy this was a hit, Kat! Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review!
Your story besides the pic on Yummly sold me on this dish!!!
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Robin!
Good! I’ll be making this routinely.
Thank you for taking the time to share this kind review, Jennifer! I’m so happy that this recipe was a hit!
This was delicious! Next time I may add pine nuts.
YUM! Thank you for sharing this kind review, Cathy!
There is just one of me, could I do it with half a squash and save the other half for something else?
Sure Leigh! You can half all of the ingredients but the squash and save the other half of the squash for whatever you like.
I think this recipe looks wonderful, and I just sautéed a batch of wild mushrooms last night, and plenty of leftovers. Would kale work for the green vegetable instead of spinach? Also, I thought I could sauté thin slices of leek and add to the mushrooms.
Hi Mary Anne! I think you could swap in kale for the spinach. I hope you enjoy the recipe!
I did try the kale, and it was great! Also used my leftover sauteed wild mushrooms and sliced leeks in it. Spaghetti squash seems so versatile! Thank you!
I’m so happy that it was a hit, Mary Anne! Thank you for reporting back!
I made this tonight and wow. It is so delicious and easy to make. Thank you, Erin.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Ellen! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
I changed this up by adding some sautéed onions , some roasted grape-tomatoes, and instead of spinach, I added a handful of chopped basil. Delicious.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Marie! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
My family loved it! My husband couldn’t stop saying, “Num Num!!!!!”
I’m so happy that it was a hit, Annette! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
My new favorite recipe! I did add more garlic, but that’s my personal preference. Used portabella mushrooms, and less spinach, because that’s what I had.
This meal is kind of like chili, in the sense that, the leftovers were even better! Topped with more Parmesan! Delicious! Will definitely make again…soon!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it, Claire! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
Delicious! I added fresh squeezed Meyer lemon and some roasted chicken as I had both on hand. Definitely will make again and again. Also I cheated and roasted the spaghetti squash whole rather than chopping.
I’m so happy that you enjoyed the recipe, Anne! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This is by far my favorite recipe for spaghetti squash. I should not get ahead of myself because I haven’t tried your other recipes yet. I love how I just need to follow the recipe exactly as you wrote it and it comes out perfect every time. All those flavors really work their magic together.
This MAKES my day, Stina! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
This recipe is absolutely delicious! It has become a family favorite. It’s so yummy but also healthy. Love it!
Hi Gisele! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
This is the most delicious way to enjoy spaghetti squash!! I was looking for something other than tomato based ingredients and this was such a surprise! Quick and easy and will be a favorite of this household!!
I’m so happy that you enjoyed it! Thank you for sharing this kind review!
My husband and I really enjoyed this recipe!
So happy to hear Christina! Thank you!
Do not have spinach or kale, just some broccoli slaw would that work?
Hi Laura! Maybe? I haven’t tested it that way, so can’t say for sure. If you decide to experiment, I’d love to know how it goes!
I substituted the Parmesan cheese with nutritional yeast & it was delicious. Prepped everything a day ahead. Easy healthy dinner!!!
So glad, thanks Shelby!
Hi is the nutrition incorrect it can’t be 10 g of sugar, right?
Denise, we provide the info as a courtesy so it might not be 100% accurate (lots of variation depending upon the size of your squash, etc) but the sugar in this would be naturally occurring in the ingredients; as you can see from the ingredient list, there is no added sugar.