Description
This Spaghetti Squash Au Gratin is a creamy, cheesy, low-carb side dish that transforms humble squash into an indulgent casserole. With 79% fewer carbs than traditional pasta and only 42 calories per cup of squash, it’s a guilt-free comfort food that’s both nutritious and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large spaghetti squash (3–4 pounds)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 3 cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 cup Gruyere cheese, grated (divided)
- 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, grated (divided)
- ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated (divided)
- ¼ cup panko breadcrumbs
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line baking sheet with parchment.
- Cut spaghetti squash in half, remove seeds, brush with 2 tbsp melted butter, season with salt and pepper. Roast cut-side down for 45-60 minutes until tender.
- While squash roasts, melt 2 tbsp butter in saucepan. Cook onion 5-7 minutes until soft. Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Stir in flour and cook 1-2 minutes to form roux. Slowly whisk in milk, stirring constantly. Simmer 5-7 minutes until thickened. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
- Remove sauce from heat. Stir in ¾ cup Gruyere, ¾ cup cheddar, and ¼ cup Parmesan until melted.
- Shred squash into strands with fork and fold into cheese sauce. Transfer mixture to greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Top with remaining cheese and breadcrumbs. Bake 20-25 minutes until golden and bubbling.
- Rest 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with parsley if desired.
Notes
Use freshly grated cheese for the smoothest sauce. Avoid overcooking squash to maintain texture. Makes 8 servings of creamy, cheesy spaghetti squash au gratin.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 65 minutes
- Category: Side Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 285
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 420mg
- Fat: 19g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 18g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
Keywords: spaghetti squash, au gratin, low carb side dish, cheesy casserole