Healthy Twice Baked Spaghetti Squash Marinara recipe « Running in a Skirt (2024)

FAQs

Is spaghetti with marinara sauce healthy? ›

Traditionally made with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil and herbs, this deceptively simple sauce has become a staple in Italian (and Italian-American cuisine). Its main ingredients even have some health benefits thanks to the antioxidants found in tomatoes and the heart-healthy fats found in olive oil.

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.

Spaghetti squash is a winter vegetable rich in vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Due to its low calorie content and high fiber content, it may aid weight loss and digestive health. Try roasted spaghetti squash as a low carb alternative to pasta, combined with veggies, protein, whole grains, and healthy fats.

If your squash is too hard to cut, soften it slightly in the oven or microwave before slicing it in half. Option 1: Roast the squash whole. Prick it all over with a fork and bake at 400°F for 10 minutes, or until it's soft enough to slice in two. Option 2: Microwave the squash.

If you are buying a jarred or canned sauce, choose a tomato-based (marinara) sauce rather than a creamy sauce. Creamy sauces usually have more saturated fat and calories. Eating too much saturated fat has been linked to heart disease.

Many marinara sauces use inflammatory vegetable oil, like Prego, which uses canola oil. For this reason, a no-sugar added marinara like Rao's is a much more blood-sugar friendly and nutrient-dense option. Rao's uses seven simple ingredients, one of which is olive oil, contributing 7g of healthy fats per ½ cup serving.

The squash is ready when you can easily pierce a fork through the flesh all the way to the peel. The flesh will also separate easily into spaghetti-like strands. You can also taste it right now — if the noodles are still a bit crunchy for your taste, put the squash back in the oven for 15 to 20 minutes more.

Roast it. That's it, that's all you need to know, ha! Truly, roasting spaghetti squash not only draws out the moisture from the squash but also caramelizes it for the very best flavor.

That's a long time, but it would be a mistake to use spaghetti squash once it's started going bad. Some small unsavory spots can be cut away, but you'll want to toss the squash if it feels mushy, soft, or hollow.

Colon Health

Because of the appearance of spaghetti squash, you might assume that it is rich in fiber. It has over 2 grams per serving, which is more than regular pasta but not as much as many other vegetables. Fiber in the diet contributes to colon health by increasing the regularity of bowel movements.

What is healthier spaghetti squash or zucchini noodles? ›

A look into essential Vitamins & Minerals, shows that Zucchini Pasta outdoes Spaghetti Squash on every one, except for Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium and Selenium. Information found from SELF's Nutrition Data calculator.

Yes! Spaghetti squash is healthy for your dog and is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, fiber, and potassium. These vitamins and minerals support the health of your dog's vision, immune system, colon, muscles, and more. Squash also helps kidney function and can decrease your dog's chances of heart failure.

Don't Overcook!

You know spaghetti squash is done when the flesh of the squash is fork-tender inside, the outsides are turning golden, and when you press on the outside of the squash, it gives a little. If you overcook the squash, it will be mushy.

A review of epidemiological evidence indicates eating tomato products rich in lycopene, like marinara sauce, may reduce your risk of heart disease. 10 High blood levels of lycopene may also lower your risk of having a stroke.

Pasta is made from grain, one of the basic food groups in a healthy diet that also can include vegetables, fruits, fish, and poultry. It's a good source of energy and can give you fiber, too, if it's made from whole grain. That can help with stomach problems and may help lower cholesterol.

Marinara can be used as a spaghetti sauce or with any other type of pasta, or it can be used as a dipping sauce for mozzarella sticks, breadsticks, and more. Spaghetti sauce uses all those same base ingredients and then takes it to the next level with proteins and/or vegetables.

There are 271 calories in 1 cup of Pasta with Marinara Sauce. * The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet.