January 21, 2016
21

Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash Boats

Spaghetti Squash Boats – stuffed with crispy chicken, melted cheese and marinara sauce. A healthier version of your favorite Italian dish. And the BEST spaghetti squash recipe ever.

Spaghetti squash boats with crispy chicken, marinara, and topped with fresh herbs

This is the best spaghetti squash recipe!!! It’s comforting and tastes like restaurant quality.

Recipe modifications

This recipe uses store-bought marinara sauce. This helps make the recipe easier. And it keeps the cooking time under and hour. Because the chicken part packs on so much flavor that you can’t even tell when the marinara sauce is store bought. But you can definitely make it from scratch if you prefer. Like my mom’s slow cooker spaghetti sauce.

I love doing spaghetti squash boats for this recipe. It’s like a personal pizza. But the portions can be very large depending on the size of your spaghetti squash. So you can make this in a 9×13-inch pan if a half spaghetti squash looks like more than you are wanting to eat. You would follow the same instructions. But you would scoop out the spaghetti squash strands into a 9×13 inch baking dish and mix with sauce instead of mixing it in the halves. Then you would top with the chicken + cheese and bake until melty.

Chicken parmesan spaghetti squash boats served in the spaghetti squash halves

What to serve with these spaghetti squash boats?

I love serving this with a caesar salad or garlic bread. And maybe some chocolate chip cookies for dessert?!

Chicken Parmesan Spaghetti Squash Boats

Yield: 4 servings

Stuffed with crispy chicken, melted cheese and marinara sauce. A healthier version of your favorite Italian dish. And the BEST spaghetti squash recipe ever.

 

Print Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 2 large spaghetti squash

For the chicken fingers (or use frozen chicken fingers):

  • 1 lb thin sliced chicken breast, cut into strips
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/4 cup cornmeal
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 3/4 teaspoon chili powder
  • 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika (or regular paprika)
  • 1/4 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

For the squash:

  • 4 cups marinara sauce
  • 8 oz fresh mozzarella
  • Grated Parmesan Cheese
  • Italian seasoning
  • Vegetable Oil for frying

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

With a sharp knife, slice the squash in half. If the squash is too tough – puncture in several places forming a dotted line around the squash. Microwave for 3-5 minutes to soften. Allow to cool before cutting in half – following the dotted line.
Scoop out the seeds – brush with oil, salt, and pepper, – and roast face down in a preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, until a fork can easily pierce the skin.

For the chicken fingers: (or bake the frozen chicken fingers according to package instructions)

Slice the chicken breasts into strips.
In a medium bowl, add the three eggs and beat.
In a separate medium bowl, combine the flour, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, onion powder, and pepper.
Coat each chicken strip with the flour mixture, then egg, and then back in the flour mixture.
Pour enough vegetable oil in to a medium-large skillet so that it is 1/4-inch deep and heat over medium high heat. Fry the chicken strips (in batches if necessary) until golden brown on both sides and cooked through. Set aside on paper towels to drain oil.

For the spaghetti squash:

Once the squash is out of the oven, let cool for about 10 mins. Flip over and shred the inside of each squash so that the spaghetti strands are loosened. Be careful not to poke a hole in the skin of the squash.

In each spaghetti squash half: pour 1/2 cup marinara sauce over shredded squash. Top with chicken strips, then 1/2 cup more marinara, and finish with mozzarella and parmesan cheese, and a pinch of Italian seasoning. Return to the oven to bake for 10-15 minutes until the cheese has melted. Enjoy!

[this isn’t a sponsored post, there are a few affiliate links above based on things I purchase on my own and love]

Chicken & Turkey, Dinner, Dinners, Fall, Valentine's Day
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