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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

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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