How To Make Instant Pot Chicken Spaghetti:
How To Use Cooked Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash has a slightly nutty mild flavor which allows it to be used in many different ways. Its often used as a pasta substitute, but it also makes an easy side dish. Once the Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash is cooked, deseeded, and scooped out of the skin add some butter, garlic, sea salt, pepper, and top with parmesan cheese. To serve as the main course, top prepared squash with your favorite spaghetti sauce and ground beef.
Using A Slow Cooker Or Crockpot
To cook spaghetti squash in a slow cooker, follow these easy steps:
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Spaghetti Squash Is A Great Pasta Substitute
It wasnt til I went Paleo that I finally sampled a spaghetti squashbut I undercooked it and turned my nose up at the squeaky, bland vegetable strands. But heyIm open-minded. I gave spaghetti squash a second chance at a swanky vegetarian restaurant, and thats when I finally had an epiphanythis gourds pretty awesome if its properly cooked and smothered in a delicious sauce. Its not quite a pasta substitute, but this noodle-y veggie is a fabulous vehicle for an umami-packed sauce.
Instant Pot Recipes Made Simple
Do you wish you could find one-pot meals that are simple and easy to make and your family will love?
Youre about to find out how simple it is to make healthy, one-pot meals with your Instant Pot or electric pressure cooker with my cookbook Instant Pot Recipes Made Simple. You can download it instantly to your phone, computer or e-reader, so its portable and can go with you anywhere!
With this book, youll get:
- Tried-and-true recipes the whole family will love including pot roast, spaghetti, tacos, carnitas, soups, and easy breakfast meals
- Instant Pot starter guide on how to use the buttons, tips and tricks, and more
- Printable shopping lists for ingredients
- Step-by-step video lesson on how to use your Instant Pot, pressure cooker safety, and some of my favorite tips and tricks
- Two-week meal plan that you can put into action for no-stress weeknight dinners
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Time To Make Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
Makes 2 servings
- Steamer Insert
Method:
With a paring knife, cut the spaghetti squash in half, crosswise.
Youll get longer strands of spaghetti squash if you cut it in half crosswise instead of lengthwise. See how the strands run in concentric circles around the core?
With a large spoon, scoop out the seeds in the center of the squash and discard the gunk.
Place the steamer insert/trivet into your pressure cooker.
Add 1 cup of water to the pot.
Place the squash halves on the steamer insert. I put them cut-side up, but it doesnt really matter which way is up.
Place the lid on the pressure cooker
and cook under high pressure for 7 minutes. On an Instant Pot, press the Manual button or Pressure Cook and hold the + or – button until the display changes to 7.
When the squash is finished cooking, release the valve at the top of the pressure cooker to rapidly lower the pressure.
Remove the lid from the pot and tip the squash halves to pour out the collected liquid. Check on the doneness by poking the squash with a fork. I like my spaghetti squash to be tender, but still toothsomenever squeaky.
Take the squash out of the pot and shred with a fork.
Whee! Instant Pot spaghetti squash!
Remember: spaghetti squash is bland until you add your favorite topping and sauce, so try topping it with the pork filling from my Vietnamese Lettuce Cups !
Whats The Big Deal About Spaghetti Squash
Spaghetti squash is a winter squash. It can be grown year round, but prime growing season begins in the early fall and continues through the cold winter months. Much like a pumpkin or acorn squash.
Spaghetti squash is very rich in antioxidants and vitamins, and one cup of cooked squash only contains 6 grams of carbohydrates so it is easy to fit into almost any diet. The high fiber and water content means you will stay satisfied longer.
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How To Cook Whole Spaghetti Squash In The Instant Pot
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Wondering how to cook a whole spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot? Its easier to cut and only takes a few extra minutes. I love that its an easy and hands-off vegetable that I can prepare quickly, and the entire family loves it!
Its seriously the best, a vegetable that can feel and even look like pasta. I love spaghetti squash to get extra vegetables into our favorite meals.
It might seem intimidating to cook spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot, but I assure you the pot makes it fool proof. Steaming spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot is fast and fuss free.
You could cook your spaghetti squash in the microwave or oven, but I love that I can set it in the Instant Pot and walk away while it cooks. Its my favorite part of using the Instant Potwalking away while something is cooking.
I love that the squash comes out more tender in the Instant Pot. Squash in the oven has always been stressful for me because I feel like it dries out a bit.
How To Cook A Spaghetti Squash In Your Instant Pot In Just 7 Minutes
You’re likely familiar with spaghetti squash in its roasted or baked form, you may even have cooked the squash in your microwave, but if you are the owner of a pressure cooker such as an Instant Pot, you may want to know how to make Instant Pot spaghetti squash. After all, roasting the squash can take nearly an hour at which point you may still need to add it to a recipe like this casserole or these mini pizzas, to cook even more. Well, there’s good news, you can cook spaghetti squash in your pressure cooker. In general, your pressure cooker gets things done much faster. Our Test Kitchen tried a couple different methods to find the one that works best so you can speed up the cooking time and not have to worry about your oven being on for an hour or more.
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Is Spaghetti Squash Truly Low Carb
So the next time you get the craving for a spaghetti dish, save yourself the calories and carbs and make this delightful vegetarian Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash recipe!
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Step By Step Directions:
Using the tip of a sharp knife, cut a slit in the middle of the squash.
Put 1 cup of water into the Instant Pot. Place a steamer rack into the pot. Place the spaghetti squash on the rack cut side up.
Close the lid and set the Instant Pot to MANUAL or PRESSURE on HIGH PRESSURE for 8 minutes. Keep the valve at SEALED. After Instantpot does cooking and goes to keep warm timer, let it sit for 10 minutes. Then release the leftover pressure by moving the valve from SEALING to VENTING.
After the silver pin drops, open the lid.
Remove the squash and rest it on the solid surface. Once it cools down, using a knife, cut it open.Using a spoon, remove the seeds and surrounding membrane in the middle.
Drag a fork along the squash to get noodle like strands of spaghetti squash. Save the squash shells for serving, if you wish
Season with oil, fresh herbs, salt and pepper and red chili flakes
The noodles are subtle in flavor so season it well according to your liking. I like it savory, but a drizzle of cinnamon, butter and maple syrup also tastes amazing.
If the strands are too chewy or crunchy for you, put them in microwave dish, cover and cook for a minute. They will soften and become tender.
Cooked Spaghetti Squash can be frozen. Put the strands into a zip-lock bag and squash the bag flat while taking the air out as much as possible. This makes it easier stacking in the refrigerator as well as evenly defrosting the noodles.
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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Easy Low Carb Paleo And Gluten Free
Now are you looking for a great way to enjoy your spaghetti squash from the Instant Pot? Ive got some ideas for you. Basically, spaghetti squash is an easy low-carb, Paleo and gluten-free option to pasta that tastes delicious with butter and parmesan or a dollop of homemade chili or Bolognese sauce.
One of my favorite ways to enjoy it is in this Spaghetti Squash Aglio E Olio recipe. All you need is garlic, olive oil, crushed red pepper flakes and some Parmesan cheese, and voila! Dinner is ready!
For Years I Roasted My Squash But Recently I Found A Better Method I Started Cooking It In My Instant Pot Pressure Cooker No Need To Cut Or Deseed Before Baking Just Stick It Whole Inside Of The Pot And Cook
The skin can be rather tough to cut through making roasting a less than preferable method. The skin peels right off and youre left with a bunch of yummy stringy squash! I usually eat my spaghetti squash under my homemade spaghetti sauce. It is the perfect easy dinner I have always been on the hunt for.
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Can Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Be Cooked Whole
I wondered if the squash could be cooked whole. However, after reading information online, it seems like cutting it in half results in a better texture and faster cooking time.
I was a little nervous about cutting it raw as Ive had trouble before. Thats why I preferred cooking it whole in the slow cooker as shown in my post for crock pot spaghetti squash.
Turns out that I was making the cut a lot harder by doing it lengthwise rather than in the middle. My knife went right through the center.
If you go for the average size, its tough to cook spaghetti squash whole in the Instant Pot because it doesnt fit. And, cutting it lengthwise would have difficult to squeeze into the pot with the cut side up. So, it makes sense that you need to cut the squash in half through the middle.
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash With Duck Fat Apple Juice Glaze
I feel a recipe is only a theme, which an intelligent cook can play each time with a variation.~ Madame Benoit
5 Reasons I Love This Recipe
Recipe
- 1 spaghetti squash
- 3/4 cup apple juice
- Real salt, to taste
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Why You Need This Recipe
- Spaghetti squash are found during the fall and winter months in North America. They are renowned for having long spaghetti-like strands that often serve as a low-carb and fiber-rich alternative to cooked pasta.
- The only problem with cooking spaghetti squash is that they are really hard to cut open. If you want to bake a spaghetti squash in the oven, you need to cut it open first. I always get really nervous about cutting myself because the squashes tend to be really hard and dense. See my related recipe for Crockpot Spaghetti Squash.
- This is the easiest way to cook a whole spaghetti squash because you dont have to cut it, poke it, or even prick it first. You literally just pop it into the Instant Pot electric pressure cooker and let the appliance work its magic. I created very similar recipes for Instant Pot Whole Butternut Squash, Instant Pot Whole Acorn Squash, and Instant Pot Whole Kabocha Squash.
Cook It On High Pressure For 6 Minutes Then Do A Quick Pressure Release
There is no exact science on how long to cook spaghetti squash in the Instant Pot. I find 6 minutes is good for a 3-pound squash to end up not too soft/mushy and not too âal denteâ. However, if you prefer it to be slightly firmer, give it 5 minutes. Adjust by a minute or two either way depending on the size of your squash. Keep in mind that anything much bigger than a 3-pound spaghetti squash likely wonât fit in a 6-quart Instant Pot. Also, be sure to do a quick release or the squash will keep on cooking.
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The Benefits Of Steaming Squash Whole
If you pressure cook spaghetti squash halves, it will result in a quicker cooking time. However, steaming a whole squash is much easier. For one thing, you dont have to work on cutting the spaghetti squash in half if that makes you uncomfortable. For another, the interior stays protected from the steam, which can make spaghetti squash watery and less appealing to eat.
The one disadvantage is that the whole squash will take longer to cook than squash halves, even under high pressure. However, a lengthier cook time is a reasonable trade-off for easier prep and less watery results.
What Makes This Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash Recipe So Good
- The Instant Pot or pressure cooker makes spaghetti squash so tender, making it a perfect substitute if youre not eating pasta.
- This easy recipe is vegan, paleo, Whole30-compliant, gluten free, and dairy free, so its easy to fit into your dietary needs! 1 cup of spaghetti squash has 5g net carbs, so you can easily make this dish keto and low carb, too!
- Spaghetti squash is absolutely delicious with a ton of pasta sauces and toppings.
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How To Make Spaghetti Squash In Instant Pot
Learn how easy it is to cook Spaghetti Squash in Instant Pot. You will love this effortless and quick 30 minutes method to cook this hardy vegetable without even cutting it. Once you make Spaghetti squash in the Instant pot, you will never make it another way.
Spaghetti Squash looks hard to cook and even harder to cut. But simply putting it in pressure cooker and letting it cook under pressure yields fork tender and soft squash. You can make spaghetti like long strands that you can be used in multiple dishes replacing regular pasta.
The delicate noodle like stands from cooked spaghetti squash are comparable to angel hair pasta. It has very subtle flavor. I like to pair the spaghetti squash noodles with a variety of different savory sauces including marinara, Bolognese, pesto, Makhani, chimichurri, curry and more.
Spaghetti squash noodles are nutrient full of vegetable. They also are vegan, gluten free and keto friendly low carb option for your dietary needs.
Even though, it is considered a winter vegetable, spaghetti squash is available throughout the year in most grocery stores. I like to use it throughout the year since you can serve the noodles hot, cold or warm depending upon the mood of the season.
