Air-Fryer Spaghetti Squash

This amazing air-fryer spaghetti squash is perfect for anyone who wants a healthy, delicious side dish that practically makes itself! Busy families and health-conscious cooks will love how this simple recipe gives you tender, flavorful squash strands in just 25 minutes.

Recipe Details

Timing & Servings: Active Time: 5 minutes, Total Time: 25 minutes, Serves: 4 people.

Nutrition Profile: Diabetes-Friendly, Nut-Free, Dairy-Free, Soy-Free, Heart-Healthy, Vegan, Vegetarian, Egg-Free, Gluten-Free.

Nutrition Facts (per serving): 82 Calories, 4g Fat, 11g Carbs, 1g Protein.

Ingredients You’ll Need

Extra-virgin olive oil: You’ll need just 1 tablespoon to brush over the squash flesh. This helps create that beautiful golden color and adds a lovely flavor that makes the squash taste amazing.

Spaghetti squash: Look for 1 small squash that weighs about 2 pounds, and make sure to halve it and scoop out all the seeds. The air fryer works best with smaller squashes, so they cook evenly and get perfectly tender.

Kosher salt: Just ½ teaspoon is all you need to bring out the natural sweetness of the squash. You can use regular table salt if that’s what you have on hand!

Ground pepper: A simple ¼ teaspoon of black pepper adds the perfect finishing touch. It gives just a tiny bit of warmth without being too spicy.

How to Make Air-Fryer Spaghetti Squash

Step 1: Start by preheating your air fryer to 375°F for about 5 minutes. While it’s heating up, brush that olive oil all over the cut flesh of your squash halves.

Step 2: Sprinkle the salt and pepper evenly over both squash halves. Make sure you get good coverage so every bite tastes great!

Step 3: Place the squash halves in your air fryer basket with the skin-side down. If your squash is too big, just work in batches – no worries at all!

Step 4: Cook for about 18 minutes until the flesh feels tender when you poke it with a fork. The edges should look lightly golden and smell amazing.

Step 5: Carefully remove the hot squash from the air fryer. Use a fork to shred the flesh into those perfect spaghetti-like strands, then transfer everything to your serving dish.

Easy and Quick Air-Fryer Spaghetti Squash Version

Want to make this even faster? You can skip the oil and seasonings completely and just cook the plain squash halves! It’ll still taste great and cook in the same 18 minutes. Then you can add your favorite sauce or seasonings after it’s done cooking.

Serving Ideas

This versatile squash works as a complete side dish or even a main course! Try it with marinara sauce and parmesan cheese for a pasta-like meal. It’s also delicious with butter and herbs, or tossed with your favorite pesto.

Storage

Store leftover spaghetti squash in the fridge for up to 4 days in a covered container. To reheat, just pop it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes or warm it up in a skillet with a little oil for 3-4 minutes.

Substitutions

No olive oil? You can use avocado oil or melted butter instead. Don’t have kosher salt? Regular table salt works perfectly – just use a little less since it’s saltier. You can swap the black pepper for garlic powder or Italian seasoning if you want different flavors.

Pro Tips

• Perfect cutting: Use a sharp knife and cut slowly – spaghetti squash can be tough to slice through!
• Even cooking: Make sure your squash halves are similar in size so they cook at the same rate.
• Easy scooping: Let the cooked squash cool for 2-3 minutes before shredding – it’s easier to handle and the strands come out better.
• Crispy edges: Want extra flavor? Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes to get slightly crispy, caramelized edges.

FAQs

Can I cook a larger spaghetti squash in the air fryer?

Sure! If you have a bigger squash, just cut it into smaller pieces that fit comfortably in your air fryer basket. You might need to add 3-5 minutes to the cooking time depending on the thickness.

How do I know when the spaghetti squash is done?

You bet it’s easy to tell! The flesh should feel tender when you poke it with a fork, and the edges will look lightly golden. If it still feels firm, just cook it for another 3-4 minutes.

Can I season the squash with other spices?

Absolutely! Try garlic powder, Italian seasoning, paprika, or even a little parmesan cheese before cooking. The air fryer will help all those flavors get nice and toasty.

Do I need to flip the squash while cooking?

Nope! Just leave it skin-side down the whole time. The air fryer circulates heat so well that flipping isn’t necessary, and this way you get perfectly cooked squash every time.

I’d love to hear how your air-fryer spaghetti squash turns out! Drop a comment below and let me know what seasonings or sauces you tried with it. Happy cooking, friends!