Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2024)

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You are going to love this quick and easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe. It is healthy and delicious while being very simple to prepare.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (1)

Spaghetti Squash Instant Pot Recipe:

My family has grown to love Spaghetti Squash. It seems scary at first on how to make this vegetable. It is large in size and figuring out to cut and season it always seemed hard.

But once I figure out that I could make it in the Instant Pot, it became easy to fix for my family. Cooking with an Instant Pot has saved me so much time in the kitchen.

This is the easiest way to fix spaghetti squash and so incredibly tasty. You will love it! This is my go-to spaghetti when I am watching my carb intake.

If you don’t have an Instant pot check out How to Roast Spaghetti Squash.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2)

Cooking Spaghetti Squash in the Instant Pot:

Now normally I would roast this spaghetti squash in the oven, but I wanted to try it in the Instant pot because Summer is just around the corner. With temperatures are in the 100s, I definitely will not be wanting to heat up the kitchen.

Thanks to the Instantpot, I won’t have to worry about that and I can still enjoy yummy Spaghetti squash. This is such a great way to cook squash and not heat up your kitchen.

The cooking time is about 5 minutes and you will have a delicious side or part of your main dish.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (3)

Ingredients for Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash:

  • Spaghetti squash
  • water
  • salt and pepper

See how simple it is? It is really so easy to make spaghetti squash in the pressure cooker. I start off piercing the squash before cutting.

How to cook Spaghetti Squash in Instant Pot:

Before you purchase a spaghetti squash make sure you know what size will fit in your instant pot. We have found that a small to medium size with fit in a 6 qt size instant pot and the larger ones won’t.

  • You will need to cut the Spaghetti squash in half lengthwise. Use a small sharp knife to cut the squash. It really is the safest way to cut rather than a larger knife.
  • Make sure to remove the seeds with a giant spoon. We use a knife to cut around the inside of the squash to loosen up the seeds.
Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (4)
  • Place squash halves in the electric pressure cooker cut side up on top of each other.
  • Next, add the 1 cup of water to the Instant Pot.
  • Add the lid making sure it is set to sealing.
  • Click the manual button, cooking on high pressure and set the timer for 5 minutes.
  • Once it is complete, do a quick release and release all the steam from the pressure cooker. Then remove the lid.
Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (5)
  • In just 5 minutes you will have tender and delicious spaghetti squash.

Once it is finished cooking, shred the al dente squash so that it looks like spaghetti. You might need to let it cool slightly. Just use a fork to do this and it is so easy.

Total time from start to finish is about 15 minutes to make this Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash recipe.

My kids love this part because they think it is so cool how it looks like “real” spaghetti.

Do I need to drain any moisture?

Spaghetti squash tends to have a lot of moisture after cooking. I would take a few minutes and properly drain off the moisture so you don’t have a mess when trying to serve them.

Just like you would with regular spaghetti noodles, place the noodles in a strainer and let them rest. This allows the moisture to remove any steam and allows them to rest for a bit.

How to cut a Spaghetti Squash?

The easiest way is to cut the spaghetti squash down the middle so you will end up with 2 halves. This makes it easier toscoop out the seeds andget it prepared to cook.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (6)

You need a pressure cooker to make Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe.

I am using an8 quart Instant pot but you can use a 6 quart.I personally have anInstant Potand so far I am loving it. You can find theInstant pot on sale here. It’s really changed dinner time around here.

How to store:

Depending on the size of spaghetti squash that you get, we always seem to have leftovers. You will be surprised just how much spaghetti squash you will get.

We like to store our leftovers in a covered glass container for when I need an easy side for lunch or dinner. It can easily be reheated in the microwave. My husband will usually take some to work as part as his lunch.

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (7)

How to serve spaghetti sauce?

Spaghetti squash is a great side or great topped with your favorite spaghetti sauce. It is a great low-carb option for any recipe that calls for noodles. Here are some of our favorites:

  • We love spaghetti sauce with Instant Pot Spaghetti Sauce. It is amazing and even the kidslove spaghetti squash.
  • Make a low-carb casserole with spaghetti squash.
  • Sometimes we have even just sprinkled it with cheese and butter for a great side dish. This is such a versatile dish.
  • You can also serve it with pesto or alfredo sauce.

The options are endless when making spaghetti squash. After baking the spaghetti squash and making the noodles, toss it with some sauce and put it back in the spaghetti squash shell and top with cheese.

This has become one of my favorite ways to spaghetti squash and it is easy clean-up too!

Print this Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash recipe below:

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (8)

Review

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Spaghetti Squash

5 from 8 votes

You are going to love this quick and easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe. How to make Spaghetti squash in minutes in the electric pressure cooker.

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 10 minutes mins

Servings 1

Cuisine American

Course Side Dish

Calories 302

Author Carrie Barnard

Ingredients

  • 1 Spaghetti squash
  • 1 cup water
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp pepper

Instructions

  • cut the Spaghetti squash lengthwise. Scoop out the seeds with a giant spoon.

  • Place in the Electric pressure cooker on top of each other (cut sides up).

  • Pour 1 cup of water in the pressure cooker.

  • Add the lid making sure it is set to sealing.

  • Click the manual button (high pressure) and set the timer for 5 minutes.

  • Once it is complete do a quick release.

  • Use a fork to “shred” the squash so it looks like spaghetti.

  • Season with salt and pepper and enjoy!

Nutrition Facts

Calories 302kcal, Carbohydrates 67g, Protein 6g, Fat 6g, Saturated Fat 1g, Polyunsaturated Fat 2g, Monounsaturated Fat 1g, Sodium 1339mg, Potassium 1056mg, Fiber 15g, Sugar 27g, Vitamin A 1164IU, Vitamin C 20mg, Calcium 234mg, Iron 3mg

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Try these easy Instant pot recipes:

  • Quick and Easy Instant Pot Potatoes Recipe {ready in 10 minutes}
  • Brown Sugar Carrots Pressure Cooker recipe
  • Quick and Easy Instant Pot Potatoes

More Spaghetti Squash Recipes to try

  • Crockpot Spaghetti Squash
  • How to Roast Spaghetti Squash
  • How to Cook Spaghetti Squash
Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (9)

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About the Author

Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (18)

Hi, I’m Carrie. Welcome to Eating on a Dime!

I’m on a mission to help you cook delicious meals without busting your budget. Together we are going to cook real food… for real families!

About Carrie Page
Easy Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you have to cut spaghetti squash in half before cooking it? ›

Your squash is cooked when the outside can easily be pierced by a fork. The downside to cooking a squash whole is that it is easy to mistake the stringy seeds for the edible (and delicious) squash strands. So, I opt to cut and deseed my spaghetti squash before cooking when time allows.

How do you keep spaghetti from sticking together in the instant pot? ›

Yes, I always recommend adding olive oil to the Instant Pot when cooking pasta. This helps make sure the noodles don't stick together and, as an added bonus, helps prevent starchy water spewing everywhere when you release the pressure. About 1 tablespoon per 8oz should do the trick.

How to can squash in pressure cooker? ›

Place the filled jars into a pressure canner, processing the pints at ten pounds of pressure for twenty-five minutes and the quarts for thirty minutes. Let the pressure drop to zero after the processing time elapses, then remove the hot jars with a jar lifter or tongs. Set the jars on a towel to cool.

Why does spaghetti squash make me so full? ›

Spaghetti squash is a low-calorie food. Its fiber content makes it filling. Since people use it as a substitute for high-calorie foods, it can be a valuable part of a weight-control regimen.

Why is my spaghetti squash soggy? ›

Give the slices a touch of salt, but not too much! Adding too much salt can cause the squash to get too watery as it cooks. And then you'll be left with mushy strands. You're only seasoning to cook the squash here, and you can add more salt once it has cooked to actually season it to your taste.

How do you soften spaghetti squash to make it easier to cut? ›

Cook in the microwave for 4 to 5 minutes on high to soften (you MUST make slits before putting it in the microwave to let steam escape). Remove the squash from the microwave, using a dish towel or oven mitt. Cut the squash in half lengthwise along the slits you made, and slice off the stem.

Why does my Instant Pot keep burning spaghetti? ›

Lai says the most common cause for a burn notification is not adding enough liquid to the pot or using thick ingredients like a thick tomato sauce. "If you sauté prior to pressure cooking and you do not properly deglaze the bottom of the pot, food stuck to the bottom can cause the burn notification," says Lai.

Why is my pasta too soft in the Instant Pot? ›

First, you're going to want to nail down exactly how much liquid to use in your recipe. If you add too much, the pasta will likely turn out mushy. If you add too little, the pasta will be too dry, or even set off the appliance's BURN error, per Kitchn. America's Test Kitchen recommends a specific ratio of 5:1.

Why did my spaghetti sauce burn in Instant Pot? ›

Instant Pot Recipe contains dense or starchy ingredients

These ingredients are not thin enough to build steam and some contain fillers like cornstarch, flour, or cheese which tend to scorch. Starches such as rice and pasta, and dairy products like cheese and heavy cream can also cause the Instant Pot to say food burn.

What is the fastest way to cook spaghetti? ›

Boiling your pasta in less water in a large, shallow pan, will allow you to get the water boiling in 2-4 minutes, which gets you cooking faster. I use a large, wide pan that is only about 3 inches deep, instead of a large stockpot, and use only as much water as I will need to just cover the pasta.

Is it better to cook spaghetti in sauce or water? ›

Cooking pasta in the sauce instead of in boiling water will increase the amount of time it takes to cook through. It's a good technique to use if you want to delay serving your pasta for a few minutes. Make sure to keep the sauce thinned out with pasta water as the pasta finishes cooking if you use this method.

Why is my spaghetti squash so hard to cut? ›

Tips for how to easily cut it

Spaghetti squash is very firm, so cutting it isn't always easy. Here are our tips for how to safely and more easily cut it: Make sure your cutting board is sturdy and not sliding around (we like to lay a flat kitchen towel between the counter and cutting board to give it more grip!)

How do you pressure squash? ›

To can pumpkin or squash:
  1. Cut the flesh into 1-inch cubes.
  2. Boil the cubes in water for 2 minutes.
  3. Fill the jars with cubes and cooking liquid, leaving 1-inch of headspace.
  4. Pumpkin and squash are low-acid vegetables and must be pressure canned. ...
  5. For either method, process pints for 55 minutes and quarts for 90 minutes.

Does spaghetti squash make you go to the bathroom? ›

Spaghetti squash contains 2.2 grams of fiber for each cup of cooked squash. Fiber adds bulk to your stool, helping prevent constipation. Fiber also helps you feel full for longer after your meal.

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