Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash and Meat Sauce

Slow cooker spaghetti squash and meat sauce is a healthy alternative to a classic spaghetti dish. The best part? Everything cooks together in the same crockpot. The low-carb, paleo, and Whole30 compatible recipe is an easy and tasy one-pot meal. Instructions to make this spaghetti squash and meat sauce in the Instant pot are also included. 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash And Meat Sauce  

• Spaghetti Squash: Purchase a spaghetti squash that will fit your appliance. Most 6-quart slow cookers or Instant Pots can hold a 2-pound squash. 
• Ground meat: Use your preferred ground meat for the sauce. I use ground beef.
• Tomatoes: Crushed or diced tomatoes, what you see here is crushed tomatoes. You can also use a store-bought sauce.
• Garlic: One garlic, use more if you like. 
• Seasonings: Italian seasoning, salt & pepper. Substitute your preferred herbs for Italian seasoning. Suggestions include parsley, basil, or oregano.

How To Make Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce In The Slow Cooker

Prepare The Spaghetti Squash:

Cut spaghetti squash in half, crosswise. Scoop out the seeds.

Slow Cooker

1. In a large skillet, add ground meat and cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain grease. Add the ground meat to the slow cooker.
2. Add the crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix well. Add the prepared spaghetti squash the slow cooker, hole side down.
3. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6, or until the spaghetti squash is soft.
4. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash from the slow cooker, it will be hot.
5. To serve – using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with the meat sauce from the slow cooker.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot  add the oil and ground meat. Cook 5-7 minutes until the ground meat is browned. Crumble the ground meat as it cooks. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Drain excess grease from the pressure cooker if needed.
2. Turn off the pressure cooker. Pour in the broth & deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Place the trivet in the base of the pressure cooker.  Place the prepared squash pieces on top of the trivet, hole side up or down.
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 7 minutes. 
5. When cooking  time is complete, quick release the pressure. If the squash is tender to the touch, it’s done. If this is the case, cook an additional 2 minutes.
6. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash (it will be hot) from the Instant Pot and let cool.
7. To serve – using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with the meat sauce from the Instant Pot.

FAQs & Tips

What is spaghetti squash?

Spaghetti squash is a cucurbita pepo vegetable. In other words, it’s a squash. The seeds inside spaghetti squash are similar to pumpkin seeds. When cooked, the inside flesh is scraped into spaghetti-like strands. Hence why spaghetti squash exploded on the scene a few years ago as a popular, healthy,  alternative to spaghetti. You can cook spaghetti squash several ways, including in the slow cooker; either by itself or as a part of a recipe like you see here.

What Is Meat Sauce?

Meat sauce is a tomato-based sauce that has a spice blend and ground meat (usually meat, pork, or Italian sausage) added to it to make it heartier. This sauce is great on pasta, veggie spirals, or rice when you need to make something quick and easy.  You can make meat sauce in the Instant Pot for a quick sauce or you can let it cook low & slow in the slow cooker.

Can you make this vegetarian?

Absolutely! Swap the ground meat for ingredients like mushrooms or plant-based crumbles.

How do you store leftovers?

Store leftover crockpot spaghetti squash and meat sauce in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. 

What size slow cooker should you use?

I used a 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot.

Spaghetti Squash Recipes

• Chicken

• Meat & Tomatoes

• Meatballs

• Pizza

• Shrimp Scampi

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash Meat Sauce

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5 from 2 reviews

• Author: Shannon Epstein
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 3 hours
• Total Time: 3 hours 10 mins
• Yield: 3-4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units USM Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 spaghetti squash (approximately 2 pounds)
• 1 pound ground meat
• 24 ounces crushed tomatoes
• 1 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon salt (or more)
• 1/2 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon oil (for Instant Pot only)
• 1 cup broth (for Instant Pot only)

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Instructions

Prepare The Spaghetti Squash:

Cut spaghetti squash in half, crosswise. Scoop out the seeds.

Slow Cooker

1. In a large skillet, add ground meat and cook over medium-high heat until browned. Drain grease. Add the ground meat to the slow cooker.
2. Add the crushed tomatoes, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir to mix well. Add the prepared spaghetti squash the slow cooker, hole side down.
3. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours or LOW 4-6, or until the spaghetti squash is soft.
4. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash from the slow cooker, it will be hot.
5. To serve – using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with the meat sauce from the slow cooker.

Instant Pot

1. Turn on the pressure cooker and select sauté. Once hot  add the oil and ground meat. Cook 5-7 minutes until the ground meat is browned. Crumble the ground meat as it cooks. Add garlic and cook an additional minute. Drain excess grease from the pressure cooker if needed.
2. Turn off the pressure cooker. Pour in the broth & deglaze the bottom of the pressure cooker by scraping all the bits off with a wooden spoon. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper.
3. Place the trivet in the base of the pressure cooker.  Place the prepared squash pieces on top of the trivet, hole side up or down.
4. Close lid and seal valve. Set high pressure and cook for 7 minutes. 
5. When cooking  time is complete, quick release the pressure. If the squash is tender to the touch, it’s done. If this is the case, cook an additional 2 minutes.
6. Carefully remove the spaghetti squash (it will be hot) from the Instant Pot and let cool.
7. To serve – using a fork, scrape the side of the spaghetti squash so you have long, spaghetti-like strands. Top with the meat sauce from the Instant Pot.

Notes

• Cook time will vary depending on the size of your spaghetti squash.
• Be careful when you go to remove the squash once it’s done cooking. It will very hot. I recommend using tongs or oven mitts.
• This makes for a meaty meat sauce. If you want more tomatoes, add in an additional 15 ounces of crushed or diced tomatoes.

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