Spaghetti Squash with Bacon, Garlic, and Parmesan
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I know. You’re confused. So am I.
I roasted this weird vegetable squash thing. Then I put it in my mouth.
Gross!
Only, not. Weird vegetable squash things are actually quite tasty. Who knew?
This was my first time cooking or eating a spaghetti squash and, I’m not going to lie, I was scared. I figured if I tossed in some bacon, garlic, and Parmesan that things would work out. After all, bacon makes everything taste good, right?
Funny story: spaghetti squash actually taste just fine without the bacon. Sprinkle on some salt and pepper and I could eat it straight from the pan. Of course, adding the bacon doesn’t hurt things.The squash has this slightly sweet, earthy flavor. Earthy in a good way, not earthy in a dirt way. Earthy in a “this is what I imagine Fall would taste like if I didn’t already imagine it tastes like pumpkin pie” sort of way.
This was so filling and would easily feed my family of four as a main dish. Add in a salad and some garlic bread, and you have a healthy, scrumptious dinner.
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SaveSpaghetti Squash with Bacon, Garlic, and Parmesan
Ingredients:
1 spaghetti squash, around 4 pounds
4 slices bacon, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
Parmesan cheese, shaved or grated, as much as you like
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil.
Wash the spaghetti squash and slice off the end with the stem. Stand it up with the flat cut side down. Slice the squash in half lengthwise. (Use your muscles, squash can be difficult to cut!)
Scrape the seeds from the center of the squash and discard (or save for roasting and eating as a snack). Sprinkle the inside of the squash with salt and pepper.
Place on the prepared pan cut side down and bake for 30-45 minutes or until a sharp knife can be easily inserted with only a little resistance.
Set aside.
Fry the bacon over medium heat until crisp. Add the garlic to the bacon and continue cooking one minute or until fragrant.
Use a fork to scrape the flesh from the squash in long strings. Place in a bowl.
Add the bacon and garlic to the bowl of squash. You can drain the bacon first or add the grease right to the squash if you're feeling naughty.
Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle on some Parmesan cheese.
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Yum! spaghetti squash is one of my favorite fall dishes! Add bacon? Wins at life.
I cannot tell you how many times I have picked one of those up thinking I would try it…but put it back on the shelf before i check out because it scares me! I think you have me totally convinced it needs to stay in the cart next shopping trip!!!
Karly — October 24th, 2012 @ 8:56 am
@Jocelyn,
It is so much easier and tastier than you would think!
My coworkers & I were just talking yesterday about how we need to make spaghetti squash soon! Thanks for the timely recipe
Why have I never had spaghetti squash? A vegetable that tastes like pasta? Is that real life or is this some kind of sick teaser joke?
Bacon makes my heart happy. And so does this dish. I want this in my mouth now please.
Karly — October 24th, 2012 @ 9:02 am
@Hayley @ The Domestic Rebel,
Personally, I think it LOOKS like pasta more than it tastes like it. It’s definitely similar in taste, but it does have this earthiness that isn’t there in regular old spaghetti. It’s yummy, but don’t expect a big bowl o’noodles, cuz it’s not that.
You’ve given me the courage to try this out…I’ve always been a bit skeered of spaghetti squash!
Spaghetti squash is a huge favorite here. I make a homemade spaghetti sauce with diced tomatoes, ground beef, onions, etc. and add that to the cooked squash, then put in a baking dish with mozza cheese on top and bake. So yummy.
I also find it easier to bake the squash before trying to cut it in half – so much easier. Just poke it full of holes (I use a metal BBQ skewer) and bake till soft. Easy-peasy!!!
Definitely gonna try the bacon one – bacon and spaghetti squash seem to be a match made in heaven!!
I always convince myself to like strange veggies at first by smothering them with something I know I love. usually cheese. It’s always a good idea.
Wow! This looks awesome! I just made a butternut squash risotto with parmesan and I can’t wait to give this twist a try. Yum!
I love my pasta! i’ll have to try this, I know it won’t taste just like pasta but I bet it’s still yummy!
yum, yum, yum!
YUM. My kids love spaghetti squash and actually request it- I can only imagine how much better it will be with bacon.
This sounds soo good! You can also cook the squash in the microwave. Cook whole squash for a minute. Remove from micro, cut in half, and remove seeds. Put a 1/4 inch water in bottom of microwave safe bowl. Place squash inside facing down and cook for about 8 minutes. Check for tenderness. Fork out the insides and you’ve got “spaghetti “. Mmm. Of course, next tine i make it, thete will be bacon involved!!
I love spaghetti squash and am always looking for new ways to try it! Thanks! Also if you throw it in the microwave whole for five minutes it is much easier to cut through.
Looks delicious!
Thank you so much for this recipe! My 6 y/o LOVES it!
So I made this last night and sauteed some onions in the bacon grease (those are healthy vegetables, right?) and added some leftover Thanksgiving turkey. I went back for seconds. And thirds.
I made this tonight and removed the bacon, drained the grease, added tomatoes and garlic into the pan with the greased left on the bottom. Good and simple!!
My first time making and trying spaghetti squash. Your directions were excellent. Followed the recipe completely and LOVED the results. Thank you! The picture sold me.
Karly — January 29th, 2013 @ 11:35 pm
So glad you were brave enough to try it!
Thanks for letting me know how it turned out!