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Swap those carb-heavy noodles and pasta for this Air Fryer spaghetti squash. With just a handful of pantry staple and 10 minutes of prep time, you can whip up this easy and delicious side that you can pair with your Air Fryer ribeye steak or Air Fryer pork chops.
Best of all, this pasta impersonator is low in calories and naturally gluten-free too.
We used to eat regular spaghetti a lot (and still do on occasion because mama loves her pasta!), but we’ve all decided that this is one of our favorite ways to shake things up. Air frying spaghetti squash gives it that beautiful texture, and that delicate sweetness makes it a hit with kids- it’s an absolute win-win for me.
If you like squash recipes, you may also want to try this Stuffed Butternut Squash recipe- everyone in my family just loved it!
Quick Look At This Recipe
✨ Flavor: Tender, lightly roasted and cheesy.
⏱️ Prep time: 10 minutes.
🔥 Cook time: 20 minutes.
⏲️ Total time: 30 minutes.
👥 Servings: 4 servings.
🥄 Tools: Air Fryer + chopping board and a sharp knife.
❄️ Freezer friendly: Yes.
👩🏻🍳 Tip: If the spaghetti squash seems too tough to slice, you can poke it a bit with a fork and microwave for 2-3 minutes to soften it slightly, and then slice it.
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Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Squash is a great substitute for spaghetti noodles and makes for a really quick side dish to pair with Air Fryer chicken Parmesan.
- It’s perfect as a low-carb swap for any pasta, and works well with almost all Italian mains.
- Air Frying lends the squash a delicate golden brown exterior and ensures it is perfectly cooked and tender on the inside- an absolute no-fail recipe.
Recipe Ingredients
- Spaghetti squash: Look for one that is ripe and just the right size to fit both the halves into your Air Fryer basket.
- Seasonings: I used a mix of sea salt, black pepper and some smoked paprika here. Sometimes, I also sprinkle some of my homemade Ranch seasoning for a bit of extra flavor.
- Parmesan cheese: For that delicate cheesy flavor.
- Olive oil: To help the seasonings stick to the squash and to get that delicate golden brown crispiness.
- Parsley: Chopped fresh, to garnish.
See recipe card for quantities.
Variations
- To make a vegan version of the recipe, swap the Parmesan cheese for nutritional yeast, or just skip using it completely.
- You can play around with the toppings depending on what you like. Chopped fresh herbs are always great, and some crushed Air Fryer bacon can also jazz it up.
- You can also smash up some Air Fryer roasted garlic and use it to season the squash. This lends a brilliant smoky flavor to it!
- Don’t forget that toppings are always great! Just use simple ingredients and change up what you add. Since this is a great low-carb substitution, make sure that you’re using low carb toppings, too.
How to Make Air Fryer Spaghetti Squash
- Use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the ends of the squash and then cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise.
- Make sure to cut the halves as evenly as possible.
- Scoop out the flesh and seeds with a spoon.
- Place the two halves into the Air Fryer basket with the flesh side up.
- Drizzle olive oil and sprinkle the seasonings over each of them. Massage to ensure they’re nicely coated. Air fry at 360 F for 20 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce the flesh.
- Once cooked, carefully transfer the cooked squash to a dish and fluff up the flesh of the squash with a fork. Top with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley before serving.
Serving Ideas & Suggestions
You can team up the air fried spaghetti squash with a nice sauce and some protein like Air Fryer meatballs or Air Fryer chicken cutlets to make it a wholesome meal.
Another great idea is to serve it as a side dish with Air Fryer chicken thighs or some Air Fryer chicken Cordon Bleu. Pair it it with a pasta like Air Fryer mac and cheese or Air Fryer gnocchi if you want to make it more filling.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- The size of the squash will determine the cooking time. If you’re using a smaller or a larger squash, you’ll need to adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Every Air Fryer works differently, which is why, it is best to check the squash at the 18 minute mark to see if it is done or not. I like to do this when I’m making my Air Fryer cauliflower steaks and Air Fryer sweet potato cubes as well.
- To get those perfect noodle-like strands, fluff up the center with a fork immediately after you get the squash out of the Air Fryer.
- Use a fork to check if the spaghetti squash is done or not. It should easily slide into the flesh, and not be too tough.
Recipe FAQs
You can! I always take them out from the squash once I halve them, but you can set them aside and save them for later. They taste super delicious and are a great snack- just like my Air Fryer pumpkin seeds.
Allow the spaghetti squash to cool down completely, then transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for 3-4 days.
Absolutely! Freezing leftover air fryer spaghetti squash is a great way to have some for later. Just remember to let it cool down completely before you transfer it to the freezer. If you store it while it’s hot or warm, it will release moisture into the bag, and that can make it soggy. Once you store squash in the freezer, it should stay good for up to 8 months of time!
More Air Fryer Veggie Recipes
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Butternut Squash
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Squash
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Acorn Squash
Side Dishes
Air Fryer Zucchini
If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a STAR ⭐️ RATING in the COMMENTS 📝 SECTION below.
Spaghetti Squash in Air Fryer
Equipment
- 1 Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash
- 3 Tablespoons parmesan cheese
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon fresh parsley
Instructions
- Use a sharp knife to carefully cut off the ends of the squash and then cut the spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise.
- Make sure to cut the halves as evenly as possible.
- Place the two halves into the air fryer basket of the air fryer with the flesh side up.
- Drizzle each half with the oil and then sprinkle each half with the seasoning.
- Air fry the spaghetti squash at 360 degrees Fahrenheit/180 degrees Celcius for 20 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce the flesh.
- Once cooked, carefully transfer the cooked squash to a dish and fluff up the flesh of the squash with a fork.
- Top with parmesan cheese and fresh parsley before serving.
Notes
- If you want to add some creaminess to your serving, a little bit of cream cheese stirred in is delicious!
- A great way to boost the nutrition is to add some chopped onions, chopped bacon, or even some fresh cilantro right on top! (fresh herbs are great, too!)
- You can add a little bit of spaghetti or tomato sauce or alfredo sauce to this delicious recipe to make it really taste like spaghetti!
- Don’t forget that toppings are always great! Just use simple ingredients and change up what you add. Since this is a great low-carb substitution, make sure that you’re using low-carb toppings, too.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
