Make Easy Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash (in the Shell)

You’re going to love this recipe for Cheesy Chicken Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. It combines some of my family’s favourite fall foods – chicken, cheese, squash and tomato sauce.

Also Read: How to Select, Cut & Cook Spaghetti Squash, 4 Ways to Cook Tender Chicken Breasts, Cooking Perfect Chicken is Easy – Cooking Temps

Spaghetti squash is a unique and fun winter squash variety.  The long fibrous strands don’t taste exactly like spaghetti, but their color, texture and mild flavour are perfect for your favourite pasta sauces. And, as an extra bonus, once you remove those beautiful golden strands, you can use the shell as a cooking vessel. Whoo hoo, less dishes to clean!

This fall, I decided to stuff my spaghetti squash with ground chicken, tomato sauce, squash and cheese. It was so good, the whole family loved it and this recipe has become one of our favourite ways to enjoy spaghetti squash.

Do you cook with ground chicken? It’s such an easy way to add a little variety to your weekly meal routine. I like that it’s a nice lean source of protein and that it’s easy to use in so many different dishes. In this recipe, it pairs perfectly with the seasoned tomato sauce, cheese and spaghetti squash. We also enjoy it in recipes like Chicken Cheeseburger Pizza, Chicken Kofta or these amazing little Chicken Tartlets which make the best holiday appetizers. If you need even more inspiration, visit Manitoba Chicken Producers to find more incredible recipes.

It’s always a pleasure to partner with Manitoba Chicken Producers to share tasty and affordable recipes like this. It also feels good to support local growers. If you want to do the same look for this logo when shopping for chicken.

Helpful Tips

Cutting and Cooking Spaghetti Squash

To make the task of cutting and cooking the spaghetti squash easier, read this article on How to Cook and Cut Spaghetti Squash. Choose the method that works best for you to get a mountain of cooked, spaghetti strands. Personally, I like to soften my spaghetti squash in the microwave for a few minutes (poke with holes first) and then use a big knife to slice through.

Substituting Ground Chicken with Leftover Cooked Chicken

If you have leftover cooked chicken, you can use it instead of ground chicken. Shred or chop the ground chicken and stir into tomato sauce to heat through. Once everything is thoroughly heated, continue by mixing in the cheese, filling the squash shells and baking.

Cooking in a Casserole Dish

If your squash shells tore or you just prefer using a casserole dish, you can bake this dish in an oven proof dish instead of the spaghettis squash shell.

Make Ahead

Prepare the various components ahead of time. Prepare the spaghetti squash and the sauce 2-3 days ahead and keep in fridge until ready to assemble. OR assemble the entire dish and store for 2-3 days before baking. To bake, remove from fridge while oven is preheating to 350°F. Then bake for 40-50 until hot and bubbly – if browning too much, cover with foil.

Because of the high water content in the spaghetti squash, I don’t recommend freezing this dish, either baked or unbaked.

Using Different Cheese

Use whatever kind of cheese you like! We love the combination of ooey gooey mozzarella with the salty, more robust flavour of Parmesan. Old, sharp cheddar would be very tasty. Swiss or gouda would be tasty and gooey. Gosh, you could even mix in a little ricotta to resemble the taste of lasagna. So many options!

Recipe – Cheesy Baked Chicken Spaghetti Squash