Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash

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Air fryer spaghetti squash made easy! Serve the perfectly cooked spaghetti squash with our quick and easy garlic parmesan sauce, or use it in your favorite recipes in place of pasta. Learn how to make the best AF spaghetti squash in the air fryer recipe!

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Spaghetti Squash in the Air Fryer is so good!

Air frying spaghetti squash is a game changer, you'll never use the oven to cook it again! Not only is it the fastest way for cooking spaghetti squash, but it also turns out tender and flavorful. Use our hack for making spaghetti squash even easier by first briefly microwaving the squash.

We show you how to make air fryer spaghetti squash simple with olive oil, salt, and pepper, or if you have extra time we know you'll LOVE our garlic parm sauce too! If you're trying to eat less carbs, you won't even miss them with spaghetti squash recipes like this!

Serve the air fryer spaghetti squash recipe with turkey spinach meatballs and marinara sauce for a healthy yet comfort food dinner. Looking for more air fryer recipes? We have a TON!

Great for meal prep: You can make a batch of spaghetti squash for the week and store it in the fridge for quick healthy meals. Great as a pasta substitute!
Super yummy: You can make squash similar to a light pasta like dish simple style or without seasoning, but our parmesan garlic sauce recipe takes it up a notch!
Quick and easy: With just a few simple ingredients and a little prep, this recipe is a breeze to make.
Healthy: Gluten-free, keto-friendly, and low carb.
If you love spaghetti squash, then cooking it in an air fryer is the simplest method!

Ingredients you'll need

air fryer spaghetti squash recipe 2 ingredients

spaghetti squash
extra virgin olive oil
salt and pepper
butter
sea salt
ground black pepper
garlic cloves- you can use garlic powder
chicken broth - vegetable broth can be used instead
parmesan cheese
Garnish-fresh parsley

** Please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the exact quantities **

Supplies

An air fryer - an air fryer basket style or air fryer oven
Rubber Tip Tongs
Small skillet

Substitutions

As written, the spaghetti squash air fryer recipe is gluten free, low carb, and keto friendly.

Vegan- use vegan approved margarine like Earth Balance and plant based cheese or skip the parm sauce entirely. Swap the chicken broth for veggie broth.
Whole30/Paleo- Top air fried spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in an Air Fryer

There's just a few basic steps for cooking spaghetti squash in the air fryer: prep the squash, air fry it, shred the strands and mix it with garlic parmesan sauce. So yum!

Prep

Preheat your air fryer to 370°F for 5 minutes.

Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise with a sharp knife. Scoop out the seeds and discard them.

OPTIONAL: To make it easier to cut the spaghetti squash in half, you can first microwave the whole squash for 3 minutes to soften the flesh a bit.

Poke several holes in the bottom of each squash.

Brush or spritz the cut side of the squash with olive oil and sprinkle it with salt and pepper.

air fry the spaghetti squash 3 in the air fryer

Place the cut sides up in the air fryer basket and air fry them at 370F for about 25-30 minutes or until the squash is fork tender. The squash needs to easily come apart in strands to be perfectly cooked spaghetti squash.

air fry spaghetti squash parmesan 4 instructions

Make the Garlic Parmesan Sauce

While the air fryer spaghetti squash halves cool enough to handle, make the garlic parmesan sauce. Over medium-low heat, melt the butter in a small skillet. Add the minced garlic and stir for 1 minute until fragrant. Add the salt, pepper, and chicken broth and combine.

Use a fork to gently scrape the strands in the squash halves, start from the outside in fluffing the squash strands as you go.

Toss the air fryer spaghetti squash with the garlic parmesan sauce to taste. Serve it directly in the hulled-out squash or in a bowl. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, more salt and pepper to taste, and a little more parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

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Recipe notes

To make the squash easier to cut, you can first microwave it whole for 3 minutes to loosen the flesh.
You can totally skip the garlic parm sauce and instead just toss the air fryer spaghetti squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Other terrific sauces to mix in are pesto sauce, marinara sauce, or alfredo sauce.
Use air fryer spaghetti squash in place of pasta to make a low carb and lighter meal.
If your squash is larger than 3 lbs, the squash halves will take longer to cook than 25-30 minutes for fork tender, we'd recommend air frying it face down for part of the time to keep it from getting too brown on top if you have a large squash.

air fryer spaghetti squash 6 simple recipe ready to serve

Recipe Variations

Cheesy twist: Add shredded mozzarella cheese or cheddar cheese on top in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Veggie-packed: Toss in some chopped quick cooking veggies like bell peppers, mushrooms, or spinach in the last 5 minutes of cooking.
Creamy option: Substitute the chicken broth for heavy whipping cream in the garlic parmesan sauce
Other sauce ideas: Serve the spaghetti squash in the air fryer with pesto sauce, marinara sauce, or alfredo sauce.
Use other types of squash: You can cook any type of squash in an air fryer! Just adjust the cooking time depending on what variety you're making.

What to Do With Leftovers?

Use them for meal prep lunches or dinners: Add to lunch containers with a protein and raw veggies for easy and healthy meals.
Spaghetti squash stir-fry: Sauté the spaghetti squash with your favorite veggies and protein for a quick and healthy stir-fry.
Spaghetti squash fritters: Mix the spaghetti squash with eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices, then pan-fry until crispy.
Spaghetti squash casserole: Layer the spaghetti squash with marinara sauce, cheese, and any desired toppings, then bake until bubbly and golden.
Spaghetti squash salad: Toss the spaghetti squash with fresh greens, cherry tomatoes, roasted vegetables, and a tangy vinaigrette for a refreshing salad option.

Serving ideas

Marinara tomato sauce or our Tomato Meat Sauce: Top your spaghetti squash with a rich and flavorful marinara sauce for a classic combination. Our favorite storebought is Rao's or try our homemade meat sauce recipe.
Cooked Chicken or Shrimp: Add some protein to your meal by serving chicken or shrimp alongside the spaghetti squash.
Meatballs: Enjoy spaghetti squash with homemade beef, turkey, or chicken meatballs or store-bought meatballs.
Sheet Pan Roasted Vegetables: Add a side of roasted vegetables such as broccoli, zucchini, or bell peppers to create a well-rounded meal.
Salad: Pair your spaghetti squash with a fresh green salad for a lighter option. The crispness of the salad provides a refreshing contrast to the squash.
Parmesan Cheese

Storing and leftovers

Raw whole spaghetti squash: Find a cool area in your kitchen, pantry, or any other place away from direct sunlight and moisture. Don't wash it beforehand but be sure to clean it before using it in a recipe. It should keep for up to 1-2 months depending on when it was first picked.
Storing Cooked: Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to a week.
Freeze spaghetti squash: Unfortunately, spaghetti squash doesn't freeze very well due to its high water content and it's best enjoyed fresh! If you're using it later in a recipe such as a soup or stew, then it would be perfectly fine to freeze it. If that's the case, place the cooked spaghetti squash strands in a Ziplock freezer bag and squeeze out the excess air. Spaghetti squash freezes for up to 3 months.

Reheating tips

To reheat the air fryer spaghetti squash, simply place leftover strands in the air fryer on parchment paper at 350°F (175°C) for 5-10 minutes or until warmed through. If you're meal prepping recipe for the week, you can reheat spaghetti squash or even leave it cold. Both ways are delish!

Tips on cutting the squash

Cutting spaghetti squash can be a bit challenging due to its tough outer skin, but here's our tips for making it easier.

Prep your workspace: Choose a stable cutting board and make sure it won't slip around. Having a sharp chef's knife is essential for cutting through the thick outer skin.
Wash the squash: Rinse the spaghetti squash under running water to remove any dirt or debris from the skin. Dry with paper towels so it won't be slippery.
Create stability: Slice off a small portion from each end of the squash to create flat surfaces. This will help the squash stay steady while you're cutting it.
Cut lengthwise: With one end flat on the cutting board, hold the squash firmly and carefully insert the tip of your knife into the center of the squash. Apply even pressure and carefully cut through the squash lengthwise, applying gentle rocking motions if needed.
Apply leverage: Once you've made the initial cut, use both hands to guide the knife along the length of the squash, applying downward pressure as you cut through the tough skin. Be careful here!
Separate the halves: Once the squash is cut in half lengthwise, use your hands to gently pry the two halves apart.
Scoop out the seeds: Use a spoon or a sturdy metal scoop to remove the seeds and any fibrous strands from the center of each half. You can discard the seeds or save them for roasting if desired.

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