If you haven’t hopped on the spaghetti squash bandwagon yet, I suggest you get on board. The humble spaghetti squash is so versatile and delicious. And it’s AMAZING how much the little strands of squash resemble its namesake- spaghetti! Spaghetti squash makes a great alternative to pasta if you’re looking to add more veggies to your diet or want something low carb. You can toss cooked spaghetti squash with marinara sauce, bolognese sauce, pesto, or any other pasta-type fare. Spaghetti squash cooks in the instant pot in only 7 minutes! You can stop there, and use the cooked squash however you want. But in this recipe, I’ll explain how to sauté some pine nuts and minced garlic right in your instant pot, with plenty of olive oil and fresh herbs, tossed with the spaghetti squash and parmesan cheese for a complete one-pot side dish or light meal. Yum yum! And if you don’t have an instant pot, never fear: you can roast it or slow cook it and then add the other ingredients to the squash on your stovetop.
How to prep and cut spaghetti squash
Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise CAREFULLY! It’s round and slippery and dense, so it’s easy to make a mistake. I usually stick the tip of my knife right in the center and then press down on the handle. Then, I repeat on the other side to get an even cut. After you cut the squash in half, use a spoon to scoop the seeds out. Alternatively, this is another great way to use that pumpkin seed scoop you usually only take out for pumpkin carving, or even an ice cream scoop.
How to cook spaghetti squash in your instant pot
All you need is a cup of water and a cut, seeded spaghetti squash, along with your wire rack/trivet that came with your pressure cooker.
How to remove the strands of squash
It’s easiest to remove the spaghetti squash “noodles” using the tines of a fork. This causes them to stay apart and not smush together, and you’ll be able to separate them easily as you scoop them out. Scoop them out using a fork right down to the edge of the peel- there’s a lot in there!
Making spaghetti squash with garlic and herbs in your instant pot
Just sauté some pine nuts and garlic in olive oil, then toss with the cooked spaghetti squash, fresh herbs, parmesan cheese, and salt and pepper! It’s so easy. Here are some tips for success:
But I don’t have a pressure cooker!
Don’t worry. You can easily cook spaghetti squash in your slow cooker or roast it in the oven. Then, just sauté the pine nuts and garlic in a large skillet over medium heat for about a minute, and add the remaining ingredients to stir to coat. Easy peasy!
What to serve with instant pot spaghetti squash
Roast Chicken Chicken Piccata Shrimp Scampi Greek Meatballs
Other low-carb vegetable side dishes
Mashed Cauliflower with Butter and Herbs Roasted Broccoli with Garlic and Lemon Greek Green Beans (Fasolakia) Mexican Roasted Zucchini
Here are all my instant pot recipes. Did you make this Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash recipe? Please click the stars below to comment and Rate this Recipe!
