Name: Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Yield: 1
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 medium spaghetti squash; 1 1/2 cup water; 1 T parsley; 1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste; 1 T olive oil, (extra virgin, optional); 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, (grated, optional); 1/4 lb ground turkey, (or ground hamburger); 1 cup tomato sauce, (garlic and basil)

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Make this yummy Instant Pot spaghetti squash recipe in a matter of minutes! The sauce and seasoning really make this delicious dinner.

Instant Pot spaghetti squash with ground meat sauce pasta substitute

I always thought I hated squash. I had bad memories of it as a kid, being stringy and having no flavor. Which is probably a pretty common feeling about most veggies when you’re a child, right?

Luckily times have changed, and I’ve been willing to try a lot more vegetables as I’ve gotten older – spaghetti squash being one of them.

A foray into Whole30 a few years ago introduced me to this love, and I actually like it more than pasta! In fact, this spaghetti squash recipe is a replacement for pasta.

If you’re trying to get healthy – or just want to try something new and delicious – this dish is for you.

You can make this spaghetti squash recipe in an Instant Pot in a matter of minutes. Once you try it, you’re never going to go back – I promise!

Cooked spaghetti squash with meat tomato sauce and parmesan cheese

Spaghetti Squash in the Pressure Cooker

One medium spaghetti squash
1 cup water
1/4 cup parmesan cheese
1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon parsley
1/4 lb hamburger (or ground turkey, or ground veggie sausage)
1 cup tomato sauce (pre-seasoned is good)
Salt/pepper to taste

Tools

Instant Pot pressure cooker

Spaghetti squash sitting on a white cutting board with a Calphalon knife

Start by cutting your squash – using a sharp blade as opposed to a saw-type. Sawing a squash doesn’t work as well as piercing and cutting with a paring knife . . . trust me!

Spaghetti squash cut lengthwise, showing the insides

You can cut it either lengthwise or through the middle. Depends on how long you want the strands because either way works.

Scooping the guts and seeds out of a spaghetti squash with a spoon

Use a spoon to scrap out the guts; discard.

Two spaghetti squash halves in the Instant Pot

Place your trivet and 1 1/2 cups of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the spaghetti squash on top.

Instant Pot with the top valve closed on the Manual setting

Close the lid to the Instant Pot and make sure the top valve is closed. Press the “Manual” button and change the time to 6 minutes. Let it cook and when it is done, quick release the valve.

While your spaghetti squash is cooking, spray a pan with cooking spray and cook your meat on medium-high heat until cooked through. Add tomato sauce and let simmer until done.

Spaghetti squash cooked in a pressure cooker

Scraping out the insides of a spaghetti squash

Remove the squash from the Instant Pot and let it cook slightly. Grab a fork and shred the insides into a bowl. They will come out easily.

Adding parsley to baked spaghetti squash

Add in the olive oil, parsley, and salt/pepper to taste.

Roast spaghetti squash with parmesan cheese

Combine with your fork, then add the parmesan cheese and toss until combined well.

instant pot spaghetti using spaghetti squash

Place the spaghetti squash on a plate and top with the meat sauce. Serve and enjoy.

Yield: 1 serving

Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash

Make this yummy Instant Pot spaghetti squash recipe in a matter of minutes! The sauce and seasoning really make this delicious dinner.

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Ingredients

1 medium spaghetti squash
1 1/2 cup water
1 T parsley
1 pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 T olive oil, (extra virgin, optional)
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, (grated, optional)

Spaghetti Sauce

1/4 lb ground turkey, (or ground hamburger)
1 cup tomato sauce, (garlic and basil)

Instructions

Start by cutting your squash - using a sharp blade as opposed to a saw-type. Sawing a squash doesn't work as well as piercing and cutting with a paring knife . . . trust me! You can cut it either lengthwise or through the middle. Depends on how long you want the strands because either way works.
Use a spoon to scrap out the guts; discard.
Place your trivet and one cup of water in the bottom of the Instant Pot. Place the spaghetti squash on top.
Close the lid to the Instant Pot and make sure the top valve is closed. Press the "Manual" button and change the time to 6 minutes. Let it cook and when it is done, quick release the valve.
While your spaghetti squash is cooking, spray a pan with cooking spray and cook your meat on medium-high heat until cooked through. Add tomato sauce and let simmer until done.
Remove the squash from the Instant Pot and let it cook slightly. Grab a fork and shred the insides into a bowl. They will come out easily.
Add in the olive oil, parsley, and salt/pepper to taste. Combine with your fork, then add the parmesan cheese and toss until combined well.
Place the spaghetti squash on a plate and top with the meat sauce.
Serve and enjoy!

Notes

Note: the nutritional information only includes the spaghetti squash. Since the calories vary in the ground meat and tomato sauce, please add accordingly.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

Serving Size:

1 squash
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 62Total Fat: 1.2gSaturated Fat: 0.2gSodium: 34mgCarbohydrates: 14gFiber: 3gSugar: 5.6gProtein: 1.2g

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love to hear how you like it in the comments! I’d also love it if you’d check out these additional Instant Pot recipes: