• Home
  • About
    • Privacy Policy
  • Blog
  • Prep-Ahead Meals Cookbooks
  • Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Gardening
  • Kid’s Activities
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Budgeting Tips
↑

Premeditated Leftovers™

Prep-Ahead Meals, Cooking Tips, and Frugal Living

  • Cookbooks
    • Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches
    • Prep-Ahead Meals From Scratch
  • Recipe Index
  • Members Area
    • Member Login
    • Join Us
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Recipes
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Lifestyle
  • Garden
  • DIY
  • Kids
  • Budget

You are here: Home / Recipes and Cooking Tips / How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

April 11, 2018 by Alea Milham 19 Comments

This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy here.
5849 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

It only takes 15 minutes (or less) in the microwave on high to make this Microwave Spaghetti Squash recipe!

Microwave Spaghetti Squash with a fork separating the squash strands.

This evening I did not feel like turning on the oven to roast a spaghetti squash for dinner. So I didn’t! I made microwave squash instead and was quite happy with the results.

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash in the Microwave

How do I cook spaghetti squash in the microwave without cutting it?

In this tutorial, we microwave spaghetti squash whole. Since we microwave spaghetti squash before cutting it in half lengthwise, you MUST pierce the squash several times with a knife making deep holes that reach to the center of the squash. You do not cut the squash in half or scoop out the seeds until the Spaghetti Squash is done cooking in the microwave. This is similar to putting holes in a potato before cooking it in the microwave. You will have to use a knife to pierce the spaghetti squash because a fork will barely break the skin. It is important to make several large holes in the squash to prevent it from exploding while it is cooking.

How long do you cook spaghetti squash in the microwave?

You microwave a whole spaghetti squash for 12 – 15 minutes on high power, depending on the size of the squash. If your microwave doesn’t have a rotating table, stop and rotate your squash every 5 minutes.

Microwave Spaghetti Squash Recipe

Ingredients:

1 medium spaghetti squash, approximately 3 1/2 – 5 pounds

Directions:

Poke several deep holes in a clean and dry squash.

Pierce the Spaghetti squash with a knife before putting it in the microwave on high

Put the squash in the microwave oven on full power for  12  minutes. If you do not have a rotating plate in your microwave, stop and rotate your squash every 5 minutes. Check the spaghetti squash after 12 minutes. If it isn’t soft to the touch cook it on high for another 2 – 3 minutes. The squash will become very soft to the touch when it is done.

Once the squash is cool enough for you to touch, cut off the end with the stem and then cut the squash in half length-wise. Cooking the spaghetti squash in the microwave first makes it easier to cut.

Cut the end of the cooked spaghetti squash off and cut the squash in half.

Scoop out the seeds and the pulp that easily comes out with the seeds. You don’t want to dig into the flesh though. (Save the seeds! You can roast squash seeds to make a delicious snack).

Stand the microwave spaghetti squash on end and scoop out the squash seeds

Use a fork to loosen the squash strands. Then pull the spaghetti-like strand out of the squash.

Use a fork to loosen the squash strands. Then pull the spaghetti-like strand out of the squash.

Once the noodles have been removed from the squash, they are ready to be topped with your favorite stir fry, pasta spaghetti sauce, pesto sauce, or Alfredo sauce.

Printable Recipe for Microwave Spaghetti Squash

Microwave Spaghetti Squash Recipe
 
Print
Prep time
5 mins
Cook time
15 mins
Total time
20 mins
 
This is a quick and easy method for cooking spaghetti squash in a microwave before cutting.
Author: Alea
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: American
Serves: 4
Ingredients
  • 1 medium spaghetti squash (3.5 - 5 pounds)
Directions
  1. Poke a couple of holes in a clean and dry squash. You will have to use a knife to pierce the spaghetti squash because a fork will barely break the skin.
  2. Put the squash in the microwave on full power for 12 minutes. Check it after 12 minutes. If it isn't soft to the touch cook it on high for another 2 - 3 minutes. The squash will become very soft to the touch when it is done.
  3. Once the squash is cool enough for you to touch, cut off the end with the stem and then cut the squash in half length-wise.
  4. Scoop out the seeds and the pulp that easily comes out with the seeds. You don't want to dig into the flesh though.
  5. Use a fork to loosen the squash strands. Then pull the spaghetti-like strand out of the squash.
  6. Serve the squash noodles and top with your favorite sauce.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 60
3.5.3229

If you want another quick and easy low-carb recipe, then try this Microwave Mashed Cauliflower recipe.

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes

Spaghetti Squash Pie

Garlic Pesto Spaghetti Squash

Italian Baked Spaghetti Squash

Jalapeno Popper Spaghetti Squash

Orange Ginger Stir Fry over Spaghetti Squash Noodles

This recipe was originally published August 12, 2010. It was updated on April 11, 2018.

5849 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

About Alea Milham

Alea Milham is the owner of Premeditated Leftovers and the author of Prep-Ahead Meals from Scatch. She shares her tips for saving money and time while reducing waste in her home. Her favorite hobby, gardening, is a frugal source of organic produce for her recipes. She believes it is possible to live fully and eat well while spending less.

Comments

  1. Martha says

    January 31, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    What about if I already cut in half can I still microwave

    Reply
    • Alea Milham says

      February 1, 2019 at 7:04 pm

      Yes, you can. Just put it cut side down in a microwave-safe container with a little water in the container.

      Reply
  2. Jane Sharpe says

    October 3, 2018 at 2:08 pm

    I love this, it took so long in the oven. Have you ever tried a butternut squash?

    Reply
  3. Alvin Sobeck says

    January 30, 2013 at 8:45 pm

    I like this. It is the best job I ve seen.

    Reply
  4. Lisa says

    August 17, 2011 at 2:33 pm

    It’s cool that you can actually cook spaghetti squash in the micro oven. I’ve tested it and it works great!

    Reply
  5. Tami (Pixeltrash) says

    August 21, 2010 at 11:10 pm

    Oh, I love spaghetti squash! I will have to try it in the microwave. So much easier!

    Reply
  6. Alea says

    August 15, 2010 at 10:53 pm

    Oh My! That is why I used a knife to make the puncture holes. Perhaps I should add a picture of the holes I made…

    Reply
« Older Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Rate this recipe:  

Search

Prep-Ahead Breakfasts and Lunches by Alea Milham

Recent Articles:

spicy lentil soup recipe in a white bowl

Spicy Lentil Soup

balsamic glazed salmon recipe

Balsamic Glazed Salmon

apple cinnamon trail mix recipe

Apple Cinnamon Trail Mix

Prep-Ahead Meals from Scratch Where to Buy

BROWSE:

  • Blog
  • Cookbooks
  • Recipe Index
  • Members Area

ABOUT:

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclosure

Welcome. I'm Alea!

On Premeditated Leftovers I share simple recipes made with whole foods, practical shopping tips, time saving techniques, and meal planning strategies. I also share tips for minimizing food waste, so more of the food that is purchased ends up on the table.

While volunteering as a budget counselor, I realized that food is the element of most people’s budgets where they have the greatest control. I set out to develop low-cost recipes from scratch to prove it’s possible to create delicious meals on a limited budget. Eating well while spending less is about more than just creating recipes using inexpensive ingredients; it’s about creatively combining ingredients so you don’t feel deprived and are inspired to stick to your budget.

Copyright ©2023, Premeditated Leftovers™. All Rights Reserved.
Design by Pixel Me Designs