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Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce

Spaghetti squash & meat sauce is a healthy, one-pot alternative to a classic spaghetti dish. Everything cooks together in this easy slow cooker or Instant pot recipe. 

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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.

uncooked spaghetti squash

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.

before

Ingredients for Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce

I make this all the time when I’m not feeling creative because it only uses a few key ingredients: spaghetti squash, tomatoes, Italian seasoning. I usually keep it simple but I encourage you to make this recipe your own. 

  • 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 meet for the meat sauce. What you see in the pics is ground beef.
  • Tomatoes: Crushed or diced tomatoes, what you see here is crushed tomatoes.
  • Garlic: One garlic, use more if you like garlicky meat sauce. 
  • Seasonings: Keep it simple. Italian seasoning, salt & pepper. Substitute your preferred herbs for Italian seasoning. Suggestions include parsley, basil, or oregano.

after

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

Making spaghetti squash & meat sauce is easy, especially when you use the slow cooker or Instant Pot. 

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

  • Use your preferred ground meat whether it be beef, turkey, chicken, or pork.
  • 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. 

overhead shot of cooked spaghetti squash with meat sauce on top on a white plate side, close up shot of cooked spaghetti squash with meat sauce on top on a white plate

Other Spaghetti Squash Recipes

Chicken

Meatballs

Meat Sauce

Pizza

Shrimp Scampi

You will need a large 6-quart slow cooker or Instant Pot for this recipe. 

Print
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overhead shot of cooked spaghetti squash with meat sauce on top on a white plate

Slow Cooker Spaghetti Squash & Meat Sauce

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

5 from 2 reviews

  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 mins
  • Yield: 3-4 servings 1x

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 spaghetti squash (approximately 2 pounds)
  • 1 pound ground meat
  • 24 ounces crushed tomatoes or marinara sauce
  • 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)

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.

  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 mins
  • Cook Time: 3 hours

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Recipe rating 5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

Peri

Friday 22nd of March 2024

This is SO good and the leftovers just tasted better the next day!

Jessica R

Friday 14th of October 2022

For the instant pot version, when pressure cooking the spaghetti squash, do you leave the meat sauce in the instant pot?

CatW

Sunday 12th of June 2022

Love this - how creative and easy to make the squash in the slow cooker. Yumm!!! Thx for the great way to make healthy spaghetti and meat sauce.

Lorenzo

Sunday 12th of June 2022

I love this healthy carb free recipe!

Loretta

Thursday 21st of November 2019

Hi Sorry that i am asking again but I dont know if my questions to you went thru, I would like to add onion and mushrooms ,How much of each should i add? Thanks

Fit SlowCooker Queen

Thursday 21st of November 2019

Hello! I like to use 80/20 ground beef but 90/10 works as well. For the onion I would use 1/4 cup and 2 ounces of mushrooms. Enjoy!