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Spaghetti and Meatballs just got better!  This dinner recipe is nutritious and delicious.  Grab this Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs recipe and serve up dinner in a bowl tonight.  This post is sponsored by Florida Beef Council in conjunction with a social media campaign through Sunday Supper LLC. All opinions are my own.

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowl

We were traveling a lot this summer and when we got home, I couldn’t wait to get back into the kitchen.  Fresh vegetables and home-cooked meals were calling out to me!  Restaurant food is nice now and again, but there is nothing like a hot meal and my family around MY dinner table.

I wanted to make something nutritious, fun, and fairly easy to make, so I decided I would make Spaghetti Squash with Homemade Meatballs…and serve it in it’s own bowl!  I am all for easy clean up.

Spaghetti Squash is not only easy to make, but it’s delicious!  It is a low-carb option to pasta, it’s inexpensive, it’s good for you, and great with a variety of sauces.  Why is it called spaghetti squash? Well, when you prepare it, it actually resembles pasta noodles.  I even had my kids fooled for a few 😉

Why I chose Spaghetti Squash:

• It’s easy to prepare.
• Spaghetti squash is loaded with vitamins. It has vitamin C, A, B-6, k, thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, folate, and more.
• Spaghetti squash also contains several minerals, the most important one is manganese. Manganese can assist the body with metabolism, regulation of blood sugar, absorption of calcium and the functioning of the nervous system.
• Spaghetti squash also fiber, fiber has been linked to weight loss as it makes you feel fuller longer.
• It’s low-calorie AND low-carb!  There is only 42 calories and 10 carbs in a 1-cup serving of cooked spaghetti squash.

Why I chose to make my meatballs with lean ground beef:

• A single serving of lean beef is 3 ounces (approximately the size of a smart phone), has an average of 150 calories and less than 10 grams of fat.
• One serving of beef meets 50% of your recommended daily value of protein.
• Not only does beef provide complete, high quality protein, but also contains high amounts of zinc, iron, and vitamins B6 and B12, along with other key vitamins and minerals your body needs.

As you can see, my Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowl is a meal that is loaded with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and protein!

Now, here’s how to make this meal for your family.

Use a sharp paring knife to pierce the squash several times (I did it about 10 times) around the center, then put it on a microwave-safe plate and microwave it on high for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping it half way through.

While your squash is in the microwave, start making your meatballs.  I used 1 pound of lean ground beef, but you can easily double the recipe and freeze some for later.  Meatballs are easy to make and taste so much better when they are homemade.

Once the squash a bit softer thanks to the microwave, use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise.

Once it’s cut open, remove the seeds with a spoon and the part of the squash that is around the seeds, think of it like a pumpkin 🙂

Place a piece of foil on a cooking sheet and spray it with cooking spray.  Place the spaghetti squash halves on the cooking sheet, and drizzle the insides with olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.  Now you can toss them into the oven at 400 degrees for 50 minutes to an hour.

After 15 minutes, add your meatballs to the oven, letting them cook for 35 – 45 minutes.

When the 50 minutes is up, let the squash rest for a few minutes, and once it’s cool enough to handle, use a fork to scrape the insides.  You can do it in all directions, you will see spaghetti-like strands of squash. You can get really close to the shell, as it is hard and pretty unlikely to collapse.

Once your spaghetti is ready, top the squash with 6 meatballs (more or less to your liking), your favorite marinara sauce, and sprinkle on some mozzarella or Italian blend shredded cheese.

Toss your Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowls back in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.

Now, enjoy these Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowls with your family!  Be sure to print and pin the recipe so that you can make it again and again.

Print Recipe

Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowls

This is a healthy spin on pasta night. Use spaghetti squash as the "pasta" and your bowl in this delicious Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs recipe.

Prep Time15 minutes mins

Cook Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Course: Dinner

Cuisine: Italian

Keyword: comfort food, meatballs, spaghetti squash

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 484kcal

Author: Tracy

Equipment

• Microwave
• Oven

Ingredients

• 2 spaghetti squash
• Olive oil
• Salt and pepper
• 24 oz Marinara sauce
• 1/2 cup shredded cheese - mozzarella or Italian cheese blend

Ingredients for Meatballs

• 1 lb lean ground beef
• 1 egg
• 1/4 - 1/2 cup bread crumbs - just enough to firm up the meat mixture
• 1 tbsp your favorite seasoning I used VOODOO Chef Dust

US Customary - Metric

Get Recipe Ingredients

Instructions

Instructions for Meatballs

• While your squash is in the microwave, get started on making your meatballs.
• Mix the ingredients into a large bowl.
• Using a tablespoon scoop the beef out and form the meatballs, I used my hands.
• Place the meatballs on a baking sheet.
• After the squash has been in the oven for 15 minutes, add your meatballs to the oven, letting them cook for 35 - 45 minutes.

Instructions for Spaghetti Squash Bowls

• Use a sharp paring knife to pierce the squash around the center.
• Put the squash on microwave save plate and microwave it on high for 6 to 8 minutes, flipping it half way through.
• Once the squash a bit softer, use a sharp knife to cut the squash in half lengthwise.
• Remove the seeds with a spoon and the part of the squash that is around the seeds, think of it like a pumpkin.
• Place a piece of foil on a cooking sheet and spray it with cooking spray.
• Place the spaghetti squash halves on the cooking sheet, and drizzle the insides with olive oil and season liberally with salt and pepper.
• Place them into the oven at 400 degrees for 50 minutes to one hour.
• When the time is up, let the squash rest for a few minutes.
• Now that it’s cool enough to handle, use a fork to scrape the insides. You can do it in all directions, you will see spaghetti-like strands of squash. You can get really close to the shell, as it is hard and pretty unlikely to collapse.
• Once your spaghetti is ready, top the squash with 6 meatballs (more or less to your liking), your favorite marinara sauce, and sprinkle on some mozzarella or Italian blend shredded cheese.
• Place your Spaghetti Squash and Meatball Bowls bake in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes until the cheese is melted.
• Enjoy!

Notes

My husband was able to eat a whole "half", my mom and I split a "half"

Nutrition

Calories: 484kcal | Carbohydrates: 57g | Protein: 37g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 122mg | Sodium: 1300mg | Potassium: 1542mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 1470IU | Vitamin C: 22mg | Calcium: 257mg | Iron: 7mg

I hope you enjoy this Spaghetti Squash and Meatballs Bowl Recipe with your family as much as we did!

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Before you go, be sure to check out a few more Inspired by Beef recipes:

• Balsamic Steak and Grilled Peach Salad by Casa de Crews
• Beef and Cheddar Risotto by My World Simplified
• Beef, Brie and Onion Jam Canapes by Family Around The Table
• Grilled Steak Fajita Quinoa Bowls by Katie’s Cucina
• Korean Bibimbap by The Crumby Cupcake
• Steak & Farro Rainbow Salad by Go Epicurista
• Steak and Eggs Benedict Crostini by Life Tastes Good
• Steak Frites by April Golightly
• Vaca Frita Rice Bowl by Love and Confections