Microwave Spaghetti Squash - Healthy Recipes Blog (2024)

Ingredients

You'll only need one ingredient to make this recipe! A two-pound spaghetti squash.

Once it's cooked, you can toss the strands with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and butter. But those are optional ingredients.

When I use microwave spaghetti squash to make noodles, I season them with melted butter, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

A tasty variation is to sprinkle the cooked strands with ¼ cup of dry-grated parmesan cheese.

Sometimes, I add ¼ teaspoon of dried thyme or oregano.

The detailed instructions for microwaving a spaghetti squash can be found in the recipe card below. Here are the basic steps for making this recipe.

Your first step is to pierce the squash with a knife or a fork. You can leave it whole - there's no need to cut it first. As long as you pierce it all over before cooking, it shouldn't explode in the microwave.

Place the squash on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it until tender, for 5-6 minutes on each side, depending on its size.

Once the squash is cooked, let it cool so it's not too hot to handle. Then, cut it open with a sharp knife and remove the seeds and pulp.

Rake a fork back and forth across the squash's flesh to create strands.

Remove the strands to a bowl. As shown in the photo below, I use a paper towel to protect my hands, since the squash tends to still be quite hot at this point.

Microwave Time

The cooking time suggested here of 5 minutes per side is ideal for a small, 2-pound squash. If yours is larger, you'll need to microwave it for longer. Your goal is a soft squash that can be easily pierced with a fork. I recommend starting with six minutes per side for larger squashes. You can always add more time in the microwave.

Undercooked Squash

Microwave cooking is a bit of a gamble because microwave ovens vary. If you decide that your squash is ready, but upon slicing it, you realize it's still too hard, don't despair! This happened to me a few times.

Here's what to do: Scoop out the pulp and seeds. Place each squash half in a large, microwave-safe bowl. Add two tablespoons of water, cover, and microwave until fork-tender. This should take about two more minutes for each half.

Overcooked Squash

Sometimes, microwave spaghetti squash can end up overcooked and mushy, like this squash that I cooked a few weeks ago - you can see it's soggy:

If this happens to you, place the squash halves, cut side down, on a clean towel for a few minutes. This will help absorb some of the excess liquid. The strands will still be a bit mushy. However, take comfort in the fact that they will still taste great!

Should I cut the squash in half before microwaving it?

No. That's the best part of this cooking method - you don't need to tackle the task of cutting a hard, raw squash.

Is it better to bake spaghetti squash or microwave it?

Microwaving is faster and easier, but microwave-cooked strands tend to be a bit mushier than baked ones. It's up to you if the slight mushiness is worth the easier and faster preparation.

What to do with the seeds?

You can discard them, but they are edible, so I usually roast them with olive oil and spices to make roasted spaghetti squash seeds. You can use this recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds as a guide.

Serving Suggestions

Using microwave spaghetti squash can be as simple as adding some melted butter (or good olive oil), salt, and garlic powder. Then, you have a truly delicious and easy-to-make side dish. Parmesan is another tasty addition.

In the photos below, you can see the spaghetti squash strands in a bowl before I added anything, and after I added olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.

You can also use microwave spaghetti squash as the basis for many recipes, including spaghetti squash casserole, spaghetti squash boats, and spaghetti squash fritters.

The leftovers keep well in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to four days. In fact, they taste great even on the fourth day - almost as good as when freshly prepared. Reheat them gently in the microwave, covered, at 50% power.

In the photo below, I made a quick meal of reheated spaghetti squash strands topped with sauteed shrimp:

Microwave Spaghetti Squash

Microwave spaghetti squashis so easy to make. The microwave is the fastest and easiest way to cook this winter squash.

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 40kcal

Add Your Own Notes

Nutrition per Serving

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 40kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 1g | Sodium: 27mg | Fiber: 2g