Ingredients
Spaghetti Squash
- 2 small spaghetti squash
- 2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
- Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Sauce and Filling
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 10 to 15 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4 to 5 large garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups shredded rotisserie chicken breast
- 3 cups marinara sauce (or vodka sauce)
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (or bone broth)
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach, chopped
- ¼ cup fresh basil, roughly chopped
- ¼ cup fresh parmesan, grated
- 1 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella, divided
Garnish
- Chopped fresh basil or parsley
- Additional parmesan for sprinkling
Instructions
- Heat the oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for roasting the squash.
- Prep the squash: Carefully slice each spaghetti squash in half lengthwise through the stem, then scoop out the seeds. Drizzle 2 teaspoons of olive oil over the cut sides and rub it in evenly. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Roast the squash: Place the cut squash halves cut side down on the baking sheet. Roast for 35 to 45 minutes until the skin is lightly browned and the flesh is fork-tender.
- Start the sauce: With about 15 minutes remaining on the squash roasting time, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and halved cherry tomatoes, cooking for 3 to 4 minutes until they soften and begin to caramelize. Then add the minced garlic, salt, and pepper, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
- Finish the filling: Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken, marinara sauce, chicken broth, chopped baby spinach, fresh basil, grated parmesan, and half of the shredded mozzarella (½ cup). Reduce to a simmer and keep warm until the squash finishes roasting.
- Shred the squash: Remove the roasted squash from the oven and flip each half over so the cut side is up. Using a fork, shred the flesh into spaghetti-like strands, leaving at least a ¼ inch border of squash against the skin so the halves maintain their shape. Add the shredded squash strands to the sauce mixture and stir gently to combine.
- Fill and broil: Spoon the chicken Parmesan filling evenly into each squash half. Top with the remaining ½ cup of shredded mozzarella cheese. Switch the oven setting to BROIL and broil the stuffed squash for 3 to 5 minutes until the cheese is bubbly and golden brown. Watch closely to prevent burning.
- Rest and serve: Garnish the stuffed squash boats with chopped fresh basil or parsley and a sprinkle of parmesan cheese. Allow to cool for about 5 minutes before serving to let the flavors meld.
Notes
- Use rotisserie chicken for a quick and flavorful protein addition; leftover cooked chicken can also be used.
- Feel free to substitute marinara sauce with vodka sauce for a richer flavor.
- To save time, the squash can be roasted ahead of time and kept refrigerated until ready to assemble.
- Watch the broiler carefully as cheese can burn quickly under high heat.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or garlic bread for a complete meal.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Italian-American
- Diet: Low Fat