Creamy Spaghetti Squash with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Basil

Spread the love

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 sheet pan dinner

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

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.

creamy spaghetti squash instructions

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 ready to serve

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.

creamy spaghetti squash ready to serve

Creamy Spaghetti Squash

Try this favorite cheesy garlic creamy spaghetti squash sheet pan dinner recipe when you need an easy, nutritious weeknight meal that's packed with flavor.
5 from 5 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 260 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 Sharp knife
  • 1 cutting board
  • 1 Ice cream scooper or sturdy spoon
  • 1 Rimmed baking sheet pan
  • 1 garlic press optional
  • parchment paper optional

Ingredients
  

  • 8 ounces fontina cheese cut into chunks
  • 1 cup grape or cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cloves of garlic minced
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 4 tablespoons olive oil
  • ¼ cup chopped, fresh basil or 4 teaspoons dried basil
  • ½ cup cooked, crumbled Italian sausage or bacon optional

Instructions
 

  • 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.
  • 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 bacon, if desired.
Keyword cheese, dinner, easy recipes, squash

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 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.

editable meal plan templates free offer

Get my digital, editable, printable templates!

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

First Name Signature Conclusion

 

 

 
Lisa Mitchell is a wife, mom, and school librarian who likes to create and share recipes, often using fresh ingredients from her family’s small Pacific Northwest farm. To get more easy recipes, click on over to the Food page.

 

14 thoughts on “Creamy Spaghetti Squash with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Basil”

  1. 5 stars
    This creamy spaghetti squash recipe will be a hit in my home. Got to try it this weekend!

    Reply
    • Wonderful! I’m glad you are a fellow squash fan. Enjoy making creamy spaghetti squash with all of the fixings.

      Reply
  2. This sounds like a fantastic way to enjoy spaghetti squash! Cheesy garlic goodness is always a winner, and the idea of a simple sheet pan dinner makes it perfect for busy weeknights. I love that it’s both nutritious and flavorful—definitely a recipe to try for a deliciously easy meal!

    Reply
    • Thanks for the kind words! Yes, the cheese and garlic add a lot to this creamy spaghetti squash sheet pan dinner.

      Reply
  3. 5 stars
    Thanks a lot for sharing this delicious and healthy recipe for creamy spaghetti squash with cheese, tomatoes, and basil! I need to try it as soon as possible!

    Reply
    • You are most welcome! I hope you get to try it soon.

      Reply
  4. 5 stars
    This Creamy Spaghetti Squash with Cheese, Tomatoes, and Basil recipe sounds absolutely divine! I love squash and can’t wait to try this recipe!

    Reply
    • Awesome! I am a huge fan of squash myself, and this creamy spaghetti squash recipe is now a favorite.

      Reply
    • Thank you! I hope you get to try the creamy spaghetti squash recipe.

      Reply
  5. 5 stars
    This creamy spaghetti squash with cheese, tomatoes, and basil sounds amazing! I have never cooked with spaghetti squash before, and I am definitely trying this!

    Reply
    • Excellent! I hope you enjoy making easy creamy spaghetti squash with the cheese of your choice.

      Reply
  6. 5 stars
    Yummy! I love recipes that use fresh produce from my garden, and this easy creamy spaghetti squash recipe will help me use my squash, basil and tomatoes!

    Reply
    • Yes, anything that helps me use fresh garden produce is a winner for me, and this sheet pan dinner is definitely easy!

      Reply

Leave a Comment

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Skip to content