Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash–this is hands down the easiest and fastest way to cook spaghetti squash. Spaghetti squash is a healthy, low calorie alternative to regular pasta and because it has a neutral flavor it soaks up whatever seasonings or sauce you serve with it.
Get the SLOW COOKER version of the recipe here
Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
I’ve been dancing around my kitchen because I found out a super easy and fast way to cook spaghetti squash. You see I love spaghetti squash but it always felt a little intimidating to me to cook. I used to cut it lengthwise (which is a feat in and of itself) and place it on a cookie sheet with a cup of water and then bake it in the oven for an hour. I’ll never make it that way again! I am totally converted to the Instant Pot for cooking up spaghetti squash which literally takes about the same amount of time as boiling pasta noodles on the stove top!
The first thing you’ll want to do is pick out a smallish to medium spaghetti squash. The huge ones won’t fit in your Instant Pot. I did use a 6 quart Instant Pot, so if you have an 8 quart Instant Pot that will open up your options a little more. Then you’ll cut it in half crosswise instead of lengthwise. Just use a small, sharp paring knife for this…it is so much easier than cutting lengthwise. Use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds and gunky stuff in the middle of the squash. This is not dissimilar to getting the stuff out of the middle of a pumpkin. You’ll pour a cup of water in the bottom of your Instant Pot and then place the trivet in the bottom. Place the squash halves on top of the trivet. You may have to maneuver them around a bit to get them to fit. You can place them on top of each other if needs be. It doesn’t matter if they are facing up or facing down. Then you’ll just pressure cook them for 7 minutes. You can totally do a quick release and then use a fork to shred the flesh of the squash. Didn’t I tell you it would be easy?
Ways to eat your Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
I’ve been eating my spaghetti squash with a little butter, salt and pepper and some feta. Oh yum it my favorite thing ever right now. My husband prefers serving his instant pot spaghetti squash with a red sauce that has italian sausage it in. I even made a chicken parmesan spaghetti squash recipe that was a total hit in our house. That recipe will be coming soon. Here are some other ways you may want to eat your spaghetti squash:
Easy slow cooker spaghetti sauce
Slow cooker meat and veggie sauce
Skinny chicken alfredo from Spend with Pennies
Marinara sauce from Add a Pinch
What Pressure Cooker Did You Use?
To make Instant Pot spaghetti squash I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1. I also own the 6 quart Instant Pot IP-LUX60 V3 Programmable Electric Pressure Cooker. They are both great pressure cookers! The first one I mentioned has a yogurt making function but other than that they are fairly similar. The price difference between the two is about $20.
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Instant Pot Spaghetti Squash
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Total Time: 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Description
This is hands down the easiest and fastest way to cook spaghetti squash. Spaghetti squash is a healthy, low calorie alternative to regular pasta and because it has a neutral flavor it soaks up whatever seasonings or sauce you serve with it.
Ingredients
- 1 small to medium spaghetti squash
- 1 cup water
Instructions
- Use a paring knife to cut your spaghetti squash in half crosswise (not lengthwise).
- Use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds and gunk.
- Pour a cup of water into the bottom of your Instant Pot. Place the trivet in the bottom of the pot.
- Place the squash halves on top of the trivet. They can face up or down. You may have to maneuver them around to fit.
- Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and make sure the valve is set to “sealing.” Set the manual (high pressure) timer to 7 minutes. Once the timer beeps remove the pressure quickly by moving the valve to “venting.”
- Remove the lid and use a towel or hot pad to remove the squash. Use a fork to shred the flesh of the squash into long spaghetti-like strands. Serve the squash with any sauce or topping you enjoy.
Notes
I used my 6 quart Instant Pot Duo 60 7 in 1. I think an 8 quart Instant Pot would be even better for this recipe because you’d be able to fit a bigger squash in it.
Click here for the SLOW COOKER version of this recipe.
- Method: Instant Pot
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Love this new IP way to do the squash! Wanted to share the topping I’ve been putting on ours for many years now. While the squash is cooking & cooling, saute a lb roll of turkey breakfast sausage with sliced bell peppers (any colors), sliced onion & mushrooms. Add dab of butter & season with Montreal steak seasoning. Scoop out the squash into bowl or on plate, add the meat mixture & sprinkle with grated pepper jack cheese. Ooo-la-la!
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Wow this sounds really good and now I want it for dinner!!
I’ve been using this method to cook spaghetti squash for a couple of years now, ever since I found this post. Hubby, who is not a big veggie eater, has learned to love it when I top it with Ikea meatballs and spaghetti sauce (i prefer Rao’s tomato basil) and some grated parm cheese. Yummy! I like leftovers mixed with pesto sauce.
Now I want this for dinner tonight Patti!
I have my squash in the oven now 400 degrees for 40 minutes. I just happened to find this recipe for the instant pot. Definitely next time will do it in my pot. QUESTION If I have a bigger squash I was thinking just do half at a time. This would still be quicker than the oven. What is your opinion on this?
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Yes great idea!
Couldn’t you put squash on sling easier to lift out?
Totally!
Had to cook mine a total of 12 minutes (8+3+2) and it still was still crunchy. It wasn’t a large squash…. Definitely on the small to medium size. It has been sitting in my pantry for a while so maybe that had something to do with it.
Oh interesting. I have had similar results when cooking one from my mother-in-law’s garden. The good thing is is that you can easily bring the pot back to pressure.
I tried it tonight..It turned out great.I well eat more spaghetti squash now.Thank you.
★★★★★
We love it at our house! A great meal that’s low cal!
I’ve always done my squash in the microwave I got the pot today for Mother’s Day.
I am doing chicken Alfredo over squash…
Prepared sauce and rotisserie chicken.
I’ll let you know if I blow up the kitchen
I bet you did just fine Dawn!
I did my fresh out of garden spaghetti squash for 8 minutes because it was huge. I did have to cut it into quarters so maybe that made a difference in cook time. My thinking was it was so big it would need extra time. Well it was over done. Still delicious but not spaghetti like.. will do 6 min next time.
What do you think? Do yu think the squash being cut into quarters made it cook faster?.
Thank you for the directions anyway
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Yes that is possible! I would do 6 minutes next time.
I love spaghetti squash, and this is, by far, the easiest and fastest way to cook it. So much easier to cut the squash crosswise, and it fits in the instant pot perfectly that way. I will even eat MORE spaghetti squash now!
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I know I do too!!!
Can’t find the links. Want to get that knife sharpener!
Also, don’t throw out the seeds. Put the seeds and gunk on a rimmed baking sheet, marinate with avocado oil and any seasoning you want, and bake for 30 minutes. Crunchy and healthy!!
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Here is the sharpener: https://amzn.to/2TvnKkm*
Thanks for the seeds tips!
What temp did you bake the seeds at?
Love this. Healthier. Using 6 qt. Question: we did 7 minutes= not done= total 10 minutes. Better BUT ended up putting in left over squash next day in oven to cook some more to get soft squash- not crunchy. So – in your opinion, how long shoul we cook? TIA Wades in Texas
I would add a few more minutes. I bet it was a big squash. Am I right?
My instant pot doesnt seem to have a trivet that goes in the lower position. Just to the top. Any ideas?
You can just put the squash in the bottom of the pot. It should work fine. Either that or ball up some pieces of foil.
I hate to cook spaghetti squash and this was so fast and easy. So excited!
I know! I used to hate it too but now I love it!
This method worked out GREAT! It was super fast and the spaghetti squash was cooked to perfection! The squash was super easy to get out of the squash, all the way down to the skin! My husband was even excited because I was so excited! Thanks for sharing, I will always cook my spaghetti squash this way in the future. Oh, and cutting it in half instead of lengthwise was so much easier too!
I know, right?! It’s the best!!
Turned out great. Way better than a crock pot and half the time of the oven. Thanks.
★★★★★
Awesome! I just made this again yesterday and was so happy with how easy it was 🙂
The time in the Instant Pot was perfect! Thank you so much.
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Awesome! thanks for sharing 🙂