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Taking a classic white lasagna and making it just a touch healthier with this Spaghetti Squash 4 Cheese Pesto Lasagna. Seasonal spaghetti squash stuffed with a creamy 4 cheese béchamel sauce, basil pesto, and fresh herbs. All baked together until the cheese is melted and perfect. This is an easy, delicious, and healthier way to enjoy the classic flavors of a white lasagna.
One of my favorite autumn squashes to roast is spaghetti squash. It always makes me think of the year my family first moved to Colorado when I was an early teen. So think Tieghan in eighth grade…
I went through a major spaghetti squash phase that year. It was so frigid cold and snowy during the months of November and December. All I wanted was something roasted and warm. This was way back, before I really began experimenting in the kitchen. But since those days, spaghetti squash has always been a favorite fall vegetable. My mom would roast it simply with a sliver of butter and salt. But over the years I’ve experimented with spaghetti squash in so many fun new ways. They’re not only good, but make comfort food just a little healthier. Here are some others from the HBH archives.
If you’ve never roasted spaghetti squash, it’s kind of a magical thing. Just as it sounds, it’s squash that, once roasted, can be scraped into spaghetti like strands. It’s slightly sweet, naturally buttery, and so delicious. I’m not huge on pasta alternatives, but with spaghetti squash it’s so satisfying that I actually don’t miss the pasta. Then again, I think because this is something my mom would make, it always feels like cozy fall comfort food to me. Because everything mom’s make is better.
During the first year of writing HBH, I made these roasted garlic spaghetti squash lasagna boats. To this day they are one of the more popular recipes on the blog. If you’re looking for a meatier option, I highly recommend checking out that version. I was taking a scroll back through old recipes and came across those lasagna boats. I was then inspired to create a vegetarian friendly, white lasagna version.
Lasagna is one of those dishes that I love making, especially during the colder days of the year. But it can be time consuming and a little heavy for an everyday, weeknight dinner.
Enter the spaghetti squash lasagna. It has all the flavors of lasagna, but minus the noodles, and minus the layering. So it’s actually easier to make, and healthy..ish.
Here are the details.
Start out by pre-cooking your spaghetti squash in the microwave. Cooking the squash for a few minutes will soften the outside shell and make it easier to cut and remove the seeds. For the last three years I have not had a microwave in the kitchen and honestly never wished for one. I don’t really do any microwave cooking. But then KitchenAid offered to put this microwave in the studio. I must say, it’s really nice for small tasks (like heating up coffee). But it’s also great for things like softening squash. Microwaving the squash makes it so much easier (and therefore safer) to cut open.
Of course, if you don’t have a microwave, you can just skip that step. Just be careful, and be sure to use some force when cutting the squash in half.
While that’s happening, mix up the “béchamel” sauce. Instead of using butter, flour, and cream, I decided to go the simpler route and just mix together milk with basil pesto, ricotta cheese, fontina cheese, and provolone cheese. This is a little easier than cooking a sauce on the stove, and it’s truly just as good.
Spoon the white “béchamel” sauce into the cavities of the spaghetti squash. Then bake until the squash is soft, and the cheese is bubbly and melty. As the squash bakes, the cheese melts into a creamy sauce that coats the squash. When you pull everything out of the oven, don’t be worried that the sauce looks soupy. Once you scrape the squash into strands of spaghetti and mix it together with the sauce it’s perfect. And so good.
This recipe is really easy to make, but it does take time for the squash to roast, so plan for a little longer cooking time.
This is a great recipe for busy weeknights when you just need to come home and throw something in the oven. Or for when you just want comfort food, but you’re looking for something semi healthy too.
And yes, I know there’s still plenty of cheese in this recipe, but it’s all about balance. And the addition of spaghetti squash and spinach totally makes this healthy…ish.
Also, I have to note that as these are baking your house is going to smell like homemade lasagna, and it’s going to be amazing. Everyone who walked into the studio the day I was testing this recipe all said the same thing, “wow, it smells incredible in here”. It’s all about that combo of buttery spaghetti squash, basil pesto, and cheese. Too good.
If you make this stuffed spaghetti squash lasagna please be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to also tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Stuffed Spaghetti Squash 4 Cheese Pesto Lasagna
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 558 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 2 medium spaghetti squash, halved and seeds removed
- 1 cup whole milk or heavy cream
- 1/3 cup basil pesto, homemade or store-bought
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 8 ounces frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dried
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 1 1/2 cups shredded fontina cheese
- 1 cup shredded provolone cheese
- 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- kosher salt and pepper
- fresh oregano, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.2. Place the squash on a plate and microwave 3 minutes. Let cool slightly, then cut in half lengthwise, scoop out the seeds and discard. 3. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, mix together the milk, pesto, oregano, spinach, and ricotta cheese. Season with red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. Stir in 1 cup fontina cheese and 1/2 cup provolone cheese. 4. Place the squash in a baking dish and season the cut sides with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the remaining fontina cheese in the bottom of each squash, then evenly divide the milk mix among the squash cavities. Top with the remaining provolone cheese. Cover the squash loosely with foil. 5. Transfer to the oven and bake 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking another 15-20 minutes or until the squash is tender and the cheese is golden brown on top. The squash will seem a little soupy, this is OK. 6. Let the squash sit 5 minutes, then use a fork to scrape the squash into strands, mixing the cheese with the squash. Serve topped with fresh oregano.
Can you substitute Greek yogurt for the milk? I just always have that on hand and usually need to use it up before it goes bad. Let me know! Thanks.
I made this tonight and really enjoyed it! I love a healthier Italian inspired recipe. I did make just a couple adjustments for me, I used low-fat cottage cheese instead of ricotta and eliminated the milk. Saved me a few calories and it was just as delicious. I did forget the oregano though…ugh!! Next time!! Thank you for all your wonderful recipes! I look forward to each and every one of your emails, especially your “Nine Things” newsletter on Sunday. You always have the best fashion, beauty and home links to share! Keep it up! xx
Thank you for trying this Lynn! I am so glad it turned out amazing for you! xTieghan
Love this blog! This wasn’t my favorite recipe, but still nice to try something different. I appreciate all of the new ideas you bring into our kitchens!
Hi Ingrid! I am so glad you love my blog, you’re too sweet! Is there anything I can do to help you with this recipe? I hope you love others on my blog! xTieghan
I made this recipe the other night and absolutely loved it! Even my kiddos liked it! Will definitely be on the dinner menu rotation. Thanks for sharing
Thank you so much Kathy! I am so glad you loved this! xTieghan
This was…OK. For how much cheese is involved, I didn’t love it as much as I hoped I would. It was decent, but given the indulgence with all that cheese- I probably wouldn’t make it again. Not enough bag for my buck in the carelorie Dept:) Something I can’t say for every other recipe I’ve tried here!
Hi Gwen! I am so sorry this did not turn out as well as you hoped! Are there any questions I can help you with? I hope you love all of the other recipes you try! xTieghan
Delicious! The kids loved it too
Thank you Marion!
Hi! I’m going to make this tonight, but I’m trying to cut back on my dairy intake. Would you be able to recommend a good milk alternative for this? I’ve already got the “cheeses” I’ll need, but I’m not sure if there’s a alt-milk that works better than others.
Thank you!
HI! I would use coconut milk. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much!! xTieghan
My friend grew spaghetti squash in her garden this year! After making your recipe tonight, I am thrilled to have 5 spaghetti squash! Using heavy cream, my husband and I loved this dish! Creamy, a little spice from the pepper flakes, but definitely a comforting meal! Thank you! Awesome recipe!
Wow! I am so glad you and your husband loved this recipe! Thank you!
Hi,
I’d love to try this recipe, it sounds delicious .
It says “serves 6” but the recipe calls for only 2 spaghetti squash. So, do you recommend serving half a spaghetti squash per person or just a small scoop out of the baking sheet?
HI! You can serve 4 big eaters or 6 smaller eater with this. If serving 6, scoop the spaghetti squash out of the shells and then serve. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
This recipe was so delicious! I made it with Kale Pesto from your recipe link and it could not have been any tastier. That pesto recipe is a keeper too. Sadly, garlic does not really agree with me so I love finding recipes that don’t contain that often over-used ingredient.
Hi Pam! I am so glad you loved this recipe! Thank you so much!
This was something completely new for me. I made it for lunch and felt like a queen dining on a gourmet meal! Another win for your recipes!!
I am so glad you tried this and loved it Danica! Thank you so much!
If I do not need all of the servings do you suggest I save the milk/spinach mix and then prepare fresh squash again the next night, or bake the entire recipe and reheat squash and all? Unsure how it will reheat all together. Thanks!
Hey Jen! I would just bake the recipe as directed and then reheat the next day. This reheats really well in the oven (at 350 for 20 minutes) or in the microwave. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Question: 2 squash -cut in half, but the recipe says 6 servings. So, does each squash half get scraped into one bowl or does the guest take a half of a squash? The squash boat is a great presentation but step 6 isn’t clear. Thanks and looking forward to making this for Thanksgiving.
Hey Wendy, if you are serving as a side dish I recommend scooping the squash into a serving bowl and serving that way. If you are serving as a main, you can leave the squash as halves. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
My husband made these for dinner tonight. They were fantastic! Thanks for another great recipe and a delicious new way to serve squash.
Thank you Bridget!
Just made this tonight it was delicious! Next time I will add some salt and pepper to the milk/cheese mixture. My sister liked it so much she wants to have it for her birthday dinner!
I am so glad you all loved this! Thank you so much Steph!