Roasted Spaghetti Squash With Sausage and Kale

Turkey sausage keeps this roasted spaghetti squash with sausage and kale recipe on the healthier side. The strands are tossed with sautéed onions, kale, and Parmesan cheese.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 17, 2022
Elise Bauer
Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Kale

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

Spaghetti squash is winter squash unlike any other. When you cook it and scrape it with a fork, the flesh peels away like ribbons of pasta, hence the name. The taste is light and texture almost a little crunchy.

Spaghetti squash's best friend? Sausage. They just like each other, like pasta and meatballs.

So when I saw this recipe in my friends Todd Porter and Diane Cu's stunning cookbook Bountiful, with recipes inspired by their garden, I couldn't wait to dive in!

how to make Spaghetti Squash with Sausage and Kale

Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer

I changed it ever so slightly, adding a cup of sliced kale for some green, and using minced red onions instead of shallots. Score! Thank you Diane and Todd, this recipe is fabulous.

Roasted Spaghetti Squash With Sausage and Kale

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 75 mins
Total Time 90 mins
Servings 4 servings

Recipe adapted from, and published with the permission of the authors of Bountiful: Recipes Inspired by Our Garden by Todd Porter and Diane Cu.

Ingredients

  • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1 (3-pound, 1.4kg) spaghetti squash

  • 3/4 pound (340g) turkey sausage (or any favorite sausage), bulk or removed from casings

  • 1/2 cup minced red onion

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 to 2 cups thinly sliced kale

  • 1 cup (100g) coarsely grated Parmesan cheese

  • 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh oregano

  • Kosher or sea salt

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Preheat the oven and prepare the pan:

    Preheat oven to 375°F (190°C). Oil a sheet pan with one tablespoon of the oil, or line the sheet pan with Silpat.

  2. Prep the spaghetti squash:

    With a sharp chef's knife, slice off 1/2-inch from the ends of the spaghetti squash. Then stand the squash up on one of the ends to stabilize it, and cut the squash in half, top to bottom.

    Scoop out any seeds and stringy bits inside, and place the squash halves cut-side down on the oiled or lined sheet pan. Poke the tops of the halves with the tip of a sharp knife.

    How to prep spaghetti squash to roast

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
    how to scoop out spaghetti squash

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
  3. Bake:

    Bake at 375°F (190°C) for 35 to 45 minutes until you can easily poke the sides of the squash with a fork. Remove from oven and let sit until cool enough to handle. Then using the tines of a fork, scrape out the "spaghetti"-like strands of the squash to a bowl.

    roasted spaghetti squash on a pan

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
    using a fork to shred spaghetti squash

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
  4. Sauté the onions, garlic, and kale:

    In a large sauté pan, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil on medium heat. Add the onions and cook until soft, 2 to 3 minutes. Then add the garlic and cook for a minute more.

    Add the sliced kale and cook for a minute or two.

    sautéing onions and garlic in a pan

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
    sautéing kale in a pan

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
  5. Add the sausage:

    Add the sausage and cook without stirring, until the sausage starts to brown, then stir and continue to cook, stirring occasionally, until the sausage bits are cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes.

    browning sausage in a pan with kale and onion

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
  6. Add the spaghetti squash strands:

    to the sausage mixture and stir to combine, cook until the squash is heated through, about a minute.

    spaghetti squash added to the skillet with sausage

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
    spaghetti squash and sausage topped with Parmesan

    Simply Recipes / Elise Bauer
  7. Add the Parmesan and oregano:

    Remove from heat and add the grated Parmesan cheese and oregano. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
492 Calories
27g Fat
34g Carbs
32g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 492
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 7g 37%
Cholesterol 100mg 33%
Sodium 1241mg 54%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 12%
Dietary Fiber 7g 25%
Total Sugars 11g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 43mg 213%
Calcium 368mg 28%
Iron 3mg 19%
Potassium 924mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.