This article was updated on 1/8/2023 for clarity and freshness.
If you’re wondering what to serve with your spaghetti squash, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, I list 45 of the most popular side dishes for spaghetti squash.
In a rush? Here’s the short answer.
The best dishes to serve with spaghetti squash are meatballs, pesto chicken, cauliflower parmesan, or creamy pork tenderloin. You can also serve stuffed mushrooms, teriyaki tofu, or chili. To keep things light, serve a black bean and corn salad, or some sauteed shrimp.
Psst… Fall is just around the corner, so I’ve added my favorite cozy pork chop with apples and osso bucco recipes to help you celebrate the season!
Great flavor pairings for spaghetti squash
Spaghetti squash is a popular low-carb alternative for pasta. It has a mild flavor, with subtle sweet and nutty notes.
- Citrusy flavors: Naturally tart ingredients like lemon and lime add a brightness that enhances spaghetti squash’s natural sweetness. Add the juice or zest straight into the spaghetti squash or incorporate them in sauces to elevate your dish.
- Meaty, savory flavors: Spaghetti squash’s mild sweetness provides a tasty balance to rich and meaty ingredients. Try incorporating your spaghetti squash into dishes like chili, stews, or sauces like bolognese.
- Spicy flavors – Adding heat and smokiness is a great way to jazz up your spaghetti squash. Try adding spices like paprika, cumin, or chili powder in small quantities. Remember not to add too much to avoid overpowering the squash.
Proteins
Spaghetti squash has your carbs and veggies covered, so you’re only missing a meaty protein to complete the meal.
Whip up a batch of pesto chicken if you want to keep it light, but my go-to are juicy meatballs in marinara sauce. Or why not go the seafood route with seared halibut or a platter of fiery blackened shrimp?
Italian meatballs
Turn your roasted spaghetti squash into a classic American dinner with Italian meatballs.
You’re getting the best of both worlds here – the satisfaction of eating a comforting spaghetti meal without all the added calories from pasta (which means more room for cheese!).
Scoop some meatballs and marinara over your shredded spaghetti squash, and you’re good to go.
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Italian meatballs in marinara
Make it Italian-inspired
Veal piccata baked meatballs
Go Caribbean
Jerk meatballs in coconut curry sauce
Pesto chicken and veggies
Pesto sauce has a bright, herby flavor that works well with many dishes – spaghetti squash included.
The zesty sauce is an excellent contrast to the subtle sweetness of squash, and the addition of chicken and veggies makes this combination a satisfying meal.
Psst… making your own pesto is well worth the time and effort it takes.
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Basil pesto chicken and veggies
Ditch the pesto
Creamy Tuscan chicken
Make a favorite
Butter chicken
Garlic butter shrimp
One of my all-time favorite dinner party dishes is shrimp scampi with linguine. It sounds fancy and hard to cook, but it’s really simple. The indulgent flavors come together in under 20 minutes.
Swap the linguine for spaghetti squash, and you have a light and bright meal guaranteed to wow your guests.
Hint: drizzle the leftover sauce over your spaghetti squash for extra flavor.
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Garlic butter shrimp scampi
Add heat
Blackened shrimp
Go Asian
Hoisin shrimp
Pork chops with apples – Fall special
Fall doesn’t just mean it’s pumpkin season — apples are in abundance too, and they’re one of the main ingredients in this tasty porkchop dish. They bring a delightful fruity sweetness and the slightest tang that pairs well with the mildness of the pork chops.
Cooking Classy also adds a splash of apple cider vinegar to the pan sauce to really make those fruity notes sing.
Enjoy with a side of freshly roasted and shredded spaghetti squash for the ultimate fall-inspired dinner.
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Pork chops with apples and onions
Skip the apples
Grilled porkchops with maple cranberry glaze
Make it fancy
Pork marsala with mushrooms
Comfort food
Spaghetti squash on its own won’t make you feel cozy, but pair it with these dishes and you’re guaranteed a heartwarming meal.
I especially love these faux noodles with warm, meaty chili or a rich, cheesy soup.
Want to try something new? Shakshuka is a must-try!
Steak chili
Chili needs something to mop up the sauce, but it can be pretty heavy so rice is sometimes too much. But that’s where spaghetti squash comes in to undercut the rich, spicy, sauce and add a hint of sweetness.
And using steak instead of mince makes this dish extra special. Don’t forget the cilantro for a burst of freshness either!
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Steak chili
Make it Tex-Mex
Taco chili
Skip the beans
Texas chili
Broccoli cheddar soup
Pairing this soup with spaghetti squash may sound odd, but trust me, it works.
Especially if you have a thick, luxurious broccoli cheddar soup. You know, the kind that’s thick enough to completely coat your mouth? Ladle a scoop of this decadent soup over your shredded spaghetti squash like you would a sauce, and you’ve got a winning meal.
Not a fan of broccoli soup? Sub it out for your favorite soup flavor. Anything tomato-based will pair beautifully.
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Broccoli cheddar soup
Skip the broccoli
Cauliflower cheese soup
Make it indulgent
Beer cheese soup
Shakshuka
You’re in for a treat if you’ve never had shakshuka before.
Picture a spiced tomato sauce studded with tender veggies and poached eggs – is your mouth watering yet? This classic Tunisian dish is often served with a slice of bread, but I like mixing in cooked spaghetti squash for the ultimate comfort meal.
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Shakshuka
Add leafy greens
Green shakshuka
Make it creamy
Baked eggs florentine
Osso bucco – Fall Special
Osso bucco is the epitome of cozy food, which is exactly what you need when fall is in full swing.
Traditional recipes originally call for veal shanks, but The Kitchen Magpie uses beef shanks in her recipe to make it affordable.
The only catch is osso bucco requires a long cooking time (over five hours), but most of it is spent simmering the beef shanks. Plus, it’ll fill your kitchen with a mouthwatering aroma. Now that’s what I call a win-win!
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Osso bucco
Go French
Beef bourguignon
Make an Indian favorite
Beef vindaloo
Meatless options
Why let the meat-eaters have all the fun? These meatless options are just as tasty with spaghetti squash.
A piping hot bowl of vegetable stew will lift your mood, but you can also try cauliflower steaks if you want something more elegant.
Teriyaki tofu stir fry
Add an Asian twist to your spaghetti squash by serving it with teriyaki tofu stir fry.
This stir fry is a plant-based dish packed full of sweet and savory flavors that will make your mouth water. Even non-vegetarians will love it!
It’s quick and easy to make, and you can add pretty much any vegetables you have in the fridge.
Tip: add a dash of red pepper flakes for a light, spicy kick.
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Teriyaki tofu and broccoli stir-fry
Another Asian twist
Orange tofu
Fire up the oven
Tofu nuggets
Stuffed portobello mushrooms
You can eat spaghetti squash on its own with a simple sauce, but these stuffed portobello mushrooms will really elevate your meal.
Portobello mushrooms have a meaty texture and loads of umami flavor – enough to fool you into thinking you’re eating meat! But the best part? The stuffing.
The mushrooms are stuffed to the brim with a thick and cheesy spinach filling. And there’s no breadcrumbs, keeping them gluten-free.
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Spinach stuffed portobello mushrooms
Make it Italian-inspired
Tuscany-stuffed portobello mushrooms
Fire up the grill
Grilled portobello mushrooms
Cauliflower parmesan
Cauliflower parmesan is a fun take on the classic chicken parmesan dish.
As the name suggests, this is a thick cauliflower slice roasted and topped with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese. Prop a cauliflower steak over your spaghetti squash strands for a quick and healthy weeknight meal.
These roasted cauliflower parmesan steaks have crunchy, crispy edges that are to die for. And you can make them up to 5 days in advance.
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Cauliflower parmesan
Make it Middle-Eastern inspired
Shawarma-spiced cauliflower steaks
Add heat
Harissa-spiced cauliflower steaks
Vegetable stew with dumplings
Who said comfort food can’t be vegan? This vegetable stew with dumplings is the epitome of comfort food. Hearty and filling – it’s the best meal for a cold winter day.
Now imagine your strands of spaghetti squash getting coated with the warm, flavorful broth of the stew.
Sounds divine, doesn’t it? Get cozy with this vegan winter stew.
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Vegan winter vegetable stew
Keep it simple
Vegetable soup
Add a protein
Chickpea and lentil stew
Salads
Salads are the way to go if you want to keep your spaghetti squash light and healthy.
Go with a leafy kale salad to celebrate fall flavors, but you can also try black bean and corn salad for a heartier meal.
Black bean and corn salad
This black bean and corn salad adds a Mexican flair to your plain, roasted spaghetti squash. It features a medley of black beans and juicy, vibrant vegetables, all tied together by the lime-cilantro dressing, giving you a refreshing bite.
Add spaghetti squash to the mix and you have a colorful feast for the eyes!
Cooking Classy suggests chopping everything small so you get a bit of everything in each bite.
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Black bean and corn salad
A Mexican favorite
Mexican street corn salad
Add protein
Cilantro lime shrimp corn salad
Kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette
This isn’t your ordinary kale salad.
Instead of the typical dressing, the hearty kale leaves and chickpeas are tossed in a vinaigrette made from bacon drippings.
The results? Crisp-tender greens brimming with a delicious savory-tangy flavor.
Enjoy your buttered spaghetti squash with this warm salad for a tasty, nourishing meal.
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Kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette
Back to basics
Kale salad with lemon dressing
Ditch the kale
Shaved brussels sprouts salad with crispy bacon
Greek salad
Greek salad is one of my favorite salads in my rotation.
It’s packed with lots of veggies that make it extra healthy, and it’s super easy to make – simply chop everything and toss in the herby dressing!
You can enjoy this salad alongside your spaghetti squash, but I prefer tossing the spaghetti squash strands with the salad for a nourishing one-bowl dinner.
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Greek salad
Make it simpler
Shirazi salad
Add a creamy hint
Tomato avocado salad
What To Serve With Spaghetti Squash (45 Ideas)
Ingredients
- 1 portion italian meatballs
- 1 portion teriyaki tofu stir fry
- 1 portion black bean and corn salad
- 1 portion steak chili
- 1 portion cauliflower parmesan
- 1 portion creamy mushroom pork tenderloin … and more
Instructions
- Prepare your spaghetti squash according to your favorite recipe.
- In the meantime, choose one of the following sides to serve alongside it.
- Side dishes include: italian meatballs, pesto chicken and veggies, garlic butter shrimp, creamy mushroom pork tenderloin, steak chili, broccoli cheddar soup, shakshuka, braised short ribs, teriyaki tofu stir fry, stuffed portobello mushrooms, cauliflower parmesan, vegetable stew with dumplinngs, black bean and corn salad, kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette, and greek salad.
- Serve immediately and enjoy.
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