Creamy Spaghetti Squash with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Basil

Looking for delicious and easy ways to enjoy spaghetti squash? Whether you’re in the mood for cheesy garlic goodness or a healthy, simple sheet pan dinner, this creamy spaghetti squash recipe has you covered! Try this favorite cheesy garlic spaghetti squash recipe when you need an easy weeknight meal. Read on for an easy, nutritious meal that’s packed with flavor!

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Backstory

I am so grateful for friends (and my local food bank) who are always happy to take some of my squash harvest. No matter how many good intentions I have, the squash plants get out of control. Before I know it, I have massive amounts of large, colorful vegetables that need to be picked. It’s a blessing for sure, but I also want to make sure to make good use of the bounty.

When I gave a spaghetti squash to a friend recently, she excitedly shared her favorite easy way to prepare spaghetti squash for a meal. Her version involved feta cheese, but I didn’t have any feta on hand. When I made the recipe, I used creamy fontina cheese we had left over from a raclette party. The result was a tasty, simple meal that made good use of three fresh produce items from our garden: grape tomatoes, basil, and of course, spaghetti squash. Here’s how to get started.

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Equipment

For this easy, creamy garlic spaghetti squash recipe you will need:

A knife for slicing the squash

A cutting board

An ice cream scooper or sturdy spoon

A sheet pan (one with a rim is best)

A garlic press (optional, for mincing the garlic)

Parchment paper

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Ingredients

For this cheesy garlic spaghetti squash, you will need a few simple ingredients. Although I used fontina chees, you could also try using other creamy cheeses like mozzarella, provolone, gouda, havarti, or gruyere. Here are the ingredients I used:

8 ounces of fontina cheese cut into chunks

1 cup of grape or cherry tomatoes, halved

2 cloves of garlic, minced

Salt and pepper to taste

4 tablespoons of olive oil

1/4 cup chopped, fresh basil (or 4 teaspoons of dried basil)

1/2 cup cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or cooked, crumbled bacon (optional, if you want to add some meat)

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and use an ice cream scoop or sturdy spoon to scoop out the seeds. Discard the seeds (we give ours to our chickens). Place the squash cut side up on the prepared baking sheet.

Divide the cheese in half and place half in the middle of each half of the spaghetti squash. Slice the grape or cherry tomatoes in half and add them to the top of the cheese, along with the chopped basil, minced garlic, and olive oil. Sprinkle on the salt and pepper.

Bake until the spaghetti squash is fork tender, about 50 minutes. The cheese will be nice and melted. Transfer the baked squash onto plates or a serving platter. Sprinkle each half with 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or cooked, crumbled bacon, if desired.

The nice thing about this recipe is that the spaghetti squash forms its own bowl. Using a fork, you can scrape the spaghetti squash strands off of the squash shell and mix them with the melted cheese, tomatoes, and basil to make a delicious bowl of creamy goodness. Enjoy your creamy garlic spaghetti squash!

Creamy Spaghetti Squash Questions

What if I Don’t Have Parchment Paper?

If you’re out of parchment paper, here are a few substitutes you can use for this creamy spaghetti squash recipe:

Silicone Baking Mats (Silpat): These are reusable, non-stick mats that work perfectly for baking cookies, pastries, and other items. I have one of these, and it’s amazing. I love that it’s reusable.

Aluminum Foil: While not non-stick, you can grease it lightly to prevent sticking. It’s best for roasting or baking items that don’t require the same level of precision as parchment.

Greased Baking Sheet: You can simply grease your baking sheet with butter, oil, or cooking spray to prevent sticking.

Non-Stick Cooking Spray: This can be used directly on the baking surface or on foil to prevent food from sticking.

Can I Use Tangy Cheese in this Creamy Spaghetti Squash Recipe?

Sure! You could use goat cheese, feta (which is what my friend uses), blue cheese, or manchego. Aged, sharp cheddar cheese would be a delicious option as well.

Love to Cook with Garden Fresh Ingredients?

If making the most of the produce from your garden gives you a thrill like it does for me, you might enjoy making chocolate chip zucchini bread. If you grow potatoes, an easy way to cook them is to make roasted red skin potatoes with garlic and rosemary. Make a healthy, economical meal with taco soup or scarlet runner beans. Got more squash or zucchini? Cook up some creamy tomato butternut squash soup, some butternut squash mini pizzas, zucchini fritters, or some fried zucchini with dipping sauce. Make the most of a bountiful onion harvest by making French onion sausage soup in the crock pot. There are many delicious possibilities when you grow your own fresh vegetables!

More Meal Inspiration

It’s always nice to have a plan when it comes to meals. If you’re looking for a way to get more organized with your meal planning efforts, I’ve got something for you. Free, editable meal planners! The templates can be used over and over, as often as you need them. You can make as many duplicates as you like, and you’ll be able to save old meal plans for future reference. I hope it simplifies things for you.

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Have fun making this sheet pan creamy spaghetti squash dinner, and may all of your garden-fresh cooking endeavors meet with great success!