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.
Ready? Let’s jump right in.
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.
Spaghetti squash pairs well with:
- 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. Just 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!).
Just scoop some meatballs and marinara over your shredded spaghetti squash, and you’re good to go.
Featured recipe
Italian meatballs in marinara
Make it Italian-inspired
Vealpiccata 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 complete and satisfying meal.
Psst… making your own pesto is well worth the time and effort it takes.
Featured recipe
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 linguine.
It sounds fancy and hard to cook, but it’s actually 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.
Featured recipe
Garlic butter shrimp scampi
Add heat
Blackened shrimp
Go Asian
Hoisin shrimp
Creamy mushroom pork tenderloin
Whether you’re cooking dinner for yourself or guests, this creamy mushroom pork tenderloin will be a mainstay on your menu.
This dish has everything you’d want – a smooth, velvety sauce, melt-in-your-mouth pork, and earthy mushrooms.
Serve it alongside roasted spaghetti squash, and you’ve got a winning meal.
It’s so good that you might find yourself licking your plate when you’re done eating!
Psst… if you don’t like pork, you can use chicken instead.
Featured recipe
Mushroom pork tenderloin
Go Southern
Smothered pork chops
Make it crispy
Pork milanese
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.
That’s where spaghetti squash comes in.
The spaghetti squash undercuts the rich, spicy, sauce and adds 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!
Featured recipe
Steak chili
Make it Tex-Mex
Taco chili
Skip the beans
Texas chili
Broccoli cheddar soup
This may sound like a weird food pairing, 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.
Not a fan of broccoli soup?
Sub it out for your favorite soup flavor. Anything tomato-based will pair beautifully.
You can cook this creamy broccoli and cheddar soup on your stovetop, in a slow cooker, or in an instant pot.
Featured recipe
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.
Featured recipe
Shakshuka
Add leafy greens
Green shakshuka
Make it creamy
Baked eggs florentine
Braised short ribs
Braised short ribs are the epitome of comfort food.
Not only do you get melt-in-your-mouth, tender beef pieces, but you also get a rich, flavorful stew that can perfectly coat your spaghetti squash strands.
This dish requires a long, slow cook (over 3 hours of inactive cooking time), but the results are worth it!
Featured recipe
Braised short ribs
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.
Ready to get cooking? Foodie Crush’s recipe is super tasty.
Tip: add a dash of red pepper flakes for a light, spicy kick.
Featured recipe
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 to keep them gluten-free.
Featured recipe
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 parmesans have crunchy, crispy edges to die for. And you can make them up to 5 days in advance.
Featured recipe
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.
Yum.
Sounds divine, doesn’t it? Get cozy with this vegan winter stew.
Featured recipe
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.
This salad is a medley of black beans and juicy, vibrant vegetables, all tied together by the lime-cilantro dressing.
This zesty dressing gives the salad a fresh bite.
Add spaghetti squash to the mix and you have a colorful feast for the eyes, it will look amazing on any table.
Cooking Classy suggests chopping everything small so you get a bit of everything in each bite.
Featured recipe
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 fall-themed meal.
Featured recipe
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 – just 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.
Featured recipe
Greek salad
Make it simpler
Shirazi salad
Add a creamy hint
Tomato avocado salad
The best things to serve with spaghetti squash
- Italian meatballs
- Pesto chicken and veggies
- Garlic butter shrimp
- Creamy mushroom pork tenderloin
- Steak chili
- Broccoli cheddar soup
- Shakshuka
- Braised short rbs
- Teriyaki tofu stir fry
- Stuffed portobello mushrooms
- Cauliflower parmesan
- Vegetable stew with dumplinngs
- Black bean and corn salad
- Kale salad with warm bacon vinaigrette
- Greek 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.
![25 Delicious Ways To Enjoy Matcha [Sweet And Savory]](https://pantryandlarder.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Matcha-recipes-200x200.jpg)
