Name: Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 70 min
Total time: 80 min
Ingredients: 2 spaghetti squash (2-3 pounds each); 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided; 2 teaspoons chili powder; 2 teaspoons cumin; 1 teaspoon oregano; ½ teaspoon smoked paprika; ½ teaspoon garlic powder; ½ teaspoon onion powder; ½ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional); 1 lb ground turkey (beef or chicken work too); 1 green bell pepper, diced; 1 cup tomato purée (or crushed tomatoes/plain tomato sauce); 2 cups grated cheddar cheese; To garnish: sliced green onion, salsa, sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced avocado, shredded romaine lettuce

Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash is what happens when you mix taco filling with spaghetti squash and top it with melty cheddar cheese. It’s a healthy, high-protein meal your entire family will love!

If you have an Instant Pot, you might like this Garlic Parmesan Spaghetti Squash with Chicken!

Taco stuffed spaghetti squash garnished with sliced green onion.

I love when spaghetti squash is in season. It’s such a versatile winter squash. It’s often used as a pasta replacement in low-carb and keto diets, but I’m a fan because its mild flavour pairs so well with pretty much any sauce or seasoning you can think of. And they’re fun because you can make spaghetti squash boats, like we’re doing with this recipe!

From a nutrition standpoint, spaghetti squash is high in fibre and a source of nutrients like vitamin C, beta carotene, manganese and vitamin B6. It’s definitely a healthy addition to your menu!

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make Taco Stuffed Spaghetti Squash. See the recipe card below for exact quantities and detailed instructions!

Spaghetti squash – you’ll need two medium squash, 2-3 pounds each (mine were on the larger side…pick based on the size of your appetite!)
Olive oil – for brushing onto the squash and for sautéing the turkey
Southwest spices – the spice blend below is so flavourful and delicious, but to save time you could use a packet of taco seasoning. Packaged taco seasoning varies in salt content, so adjust the salt to taste once you’ve cooked the filling!
Ground turkey – ground chicken or lean ground beef both work too!
Green bell pepper – for colour, texture and nutrition
Tomato purée – or crushed tomatoes or plain tomato sauce
Grated cheddar cheese
Garnishes – like sliced green onion, salsa, sour cream or Greek yogurt, diced avocado and shredded lettuce

Ingredients for taco stuffed spaghetti squash viewed from overhead.

Step-by-step instructions

Step one: Roast the squash

Preheat the oven to 400 °F and line a large sheet pan with parchment paper. Slice the squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. If you have a grapefruit spoon, the serrated edge makes it a lot easier to get the seeds out!

Brush the cut sides of the squash with olive oil, then place face down on the baking sheet. Roast for 45 minutes, or until the squash strands are fork tender and pull away easily from the skin.

A two photo collage showing spaghetti squash being brushed with olive oil and flipped face down on a sheet pan.

Step two: Remove squash from the rind

Once the squash is done roasting, carefully transfer each half to a large bowl and use a fork to scrape out the cooked strands. Place the empty squash skin face up on the baking sheet and set the cooked squash aside.

Step three: Make the southwest spice mix

In a small bowl, mix together the chili powder, cumin, oregano, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, sea salt and cayenne pepper (if using).

Step four: Make the filling

Heat a small amount of olive oil over medium heat in a large non-stick skillet. Add the ground turkey and sauté until mostly cooked, then add the bell pepper. Continue to sauté until the turkey is no longer pink and fully cooked through.

Sprinkle on the southwest spices and mix until the turkey is evenly coated. Pour in the tomato purée and mix.

Add the cooked spaghetti squash and mix until well combined.

A two photo collage showing spaghetti squash being added to taco filling in a black skillet, then mixed together.

Step 5: Stuff the squash and top with cheese

Evenly divide the filling among the empty squash skins on the baking sheet, top each of them with grated cheese and return them to the oven for about 10 minutes, or until the cheese is nicely melted. Serve immediately with your favourite garnishes.

Four taco stuffed spaghetti squash halves on a sheet pan with grated cheese added on top before melting.

Tips for Success

Pick nice, ripe spaghetti squash. See my tips below for picking the best squash. Squash that is not dark yellow tends to have a less pleasing texture and can be somewhat watery once it’s cooked.

Pick two squash that are similar in size. This will ensure they need similar cook times.

Use a large bowl when scraping out the squash. It can be a bit messy and awkward to scrape out the squash. It’s also super hot, so be careful. I like to place the squash halves (one at a time) in a large bowl and use two forks to scrape out the cooked squash – one to hold the squash in place and one to scoop.

Be efficient with time: start cooking the meat before the squash is done roasting. The turkey will take 7-8 minutes to cook through. I start prepping this part of the recipe 5-10 minutes before the squash will be done.

Taco stuffed spaghetti squash on a baking sheet garnished with green onion.

How to pick good spaghetti squash

Be sure to start this recipe with nice squash! Some qualities to look out for are:

Dark yellow in colour – this means it’s ripe! You’ll often find squash that are super pale yellow or almost white at the store; I find these squash don’t have as nice a texture once cooked (they often turn out mushy).
Dry rind that is free from punctures, cracks and soft spots – it’s fine if the squash rind isn’t perfectly free of blemishes (some occur naturally), but you don’t want it to be broken or bruised.
A nice, dry stem – avoid choosing squash that are without a stem.

How to safely slice spaghetti squash

Spaghetti squash can be tricky to cut. Some tips to slice it safely are:

Work on a steady surface. Be sure your cutting board won’t slip. You can use a damp dish cloth or towel underneath to prevent it from moving.
Use a sharp knife. Dull knives can slip and cause accidents. Keep your knives sharp!
Cut off a thin slice of each end (or at least the bottom, if you want to keep the stem for decoration). Once you slice off a small piece from the bottom, place the squash flat end down on the cutting board, standing tall, and cut through the squash lengthwise.
Ask for help. If you’re having a really hard time and you have the option, ask for help! I regularly call in my husband. No shame 🙂

A cheesy forkful of taco stuffed spaghetti squash being pulled up from the squash half.

More easy dinner ideas

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