This Garlicky Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs is a deliciously healthy fall or winter meal that is so quick and easy to make!

Overhead view of garlicky spaghetti squash in a white bowl with chicken pumpkin meatballs and parmesan cheese on top with sage and recipe title at the top

(This recipe for Garlicky Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs was originally published in October 2013, but was updated with new photos and content in 2019).

I have a major gripe in life. My husband doesn't like squash. He doesn't like squash of any kind. Helllooo. This absolutely kills me because in these dark, cold winter months, all I want to do is take advantage of seasonal produce and squash is a major part of that abundance.

Also, there are so many different kinds of squash that I just don't understand how you can harbor a dislike for them all. If you don't like butternut, maybe you'd like spaghetti? If you don't like spaghetti, maybe you'd like acorn?

Luckily, he hasn't quite realized that pumpkin and squash are in the same family (shhh! don't tell him. also, hi honey; I'm sure you're reading this and just pretend I didn't say that!) maybe because in my house, pumpkin mostly comes in a can and I also create all sorts of delicious desserts with it.

So, I guess you could say this Garlicky Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin Chicken Meatballs is kind of like a double squash dinner. Which to me is absolute heaven. And at least my husband will happily eat the meatballs... And he'll eat enough of the squash to keep me relatively happy.

This is a super easy recipe, with the most difficult thing about it being waiting for your squash to finish roasting so you can cut it in half and scoop all that delicious flesh out.

How to Cook Spaghetti Squash

Once you know how to prepare spaghetti squash, there's so much you can make with it... like these Spaghetti Squash Hash Browns.

Can we talk about how easy spaghetti squash is to prepare? Yes, let's talk about it. But if you Google "how to cook spaghetti squash," you'll get about a million results, each telling you to do something slightly different.

With enough experimentation you'll find your favorite way, but here's the spaghetti squash roasting method that's always worked for me.

I like this method best because it doesn't require slicing the squash in half before roasting it, which is always so difficult for me to do. With this method, you roast the squash whole and cut it in half when it's tender.

Use a sharp knife to pierce the spaghetti squash all over and then simply bake the entire squash on a baking sheet at 375 degrees for 70 minutes, rotating the baking sheet after 35 minutes.

If it's tender enough to be pierced with a knife, remove it from the oven. Otherwise, roast it for another 10 minutes. Once it's tender, slice it in half lengthwise, discard the seeds and then scrape out all that delicious spaghetti squash flesh.

Once you have the spaghetti squash flesh out, you'll sauté it with butter, garlic, sage, and crumbled bacon. Just until it's nice and tender.

Collage of photos showing spaghetti squash flesh in a bowl, spaghetti squash topped with bacon and sage, and spaghetti squash mixed with bacon and sage

If you're looking for a different technique for preparing it, try this grilled spaghetti squash.

How to Make Pumpkin Meatballs with Ground Chicken

I recommend starting the pumpkin meatballs when the spaghetti squash is almost done roasting in the oven. I crave meatballs basically ALL OF THE TIME. They're so super easy to make and so delicious.

Chicken meatballs can tend to be a little boring (but healthy!), so I decided to add some pumpkin and spices in to make them more exciting. Mission accomplished!

And much like the garlicky spaghetti squash, these pumpkin chicken meatballs are ridiculously easy. You really just need to put all the ingredients in a bowl and use your hands to combine and then roll into golf ball sized balls. Place in a baking dish and bake at 375 degrees for 25-30 minutes, until they register internally at 165 degrees on a thermometer.

One great thing is that if you overcook these meatballs a bit, they're still incredibly moist thanks to all that pumpkin. It's nice to have them a little bit crispy on the outside, too.

Collage showing meatball ingredients in a bowl and pumpkin meatballs formed in a baking dish

I served the pumpkin meatballs over a big serving of the garlicky spaghetti squash, with a little extra parmesan sprinkled over the top.

Hooray for everything about this meal. Every single thing.

Bird's eye view of white bowl of garlicky spaghetti squash with pumpkin chicken meatballs with parmesan and sage on a marble surface with colorful napkin and fork

I'm not going to lie and tell you spaghetti squash will fool you into thinking you're eating pasta… Let's be real here. But it is delicious.

And this one was packed with flavor thanks to all that butter, garlic, bacon, and sage.

Close-up of pumpkin chicken meatballs topped with parmesan cheese over garlicky spaghetti squash with sage

I've always been a fan of chicken meatballs, but the addition of pumpkin made them about a trillion times better and a billion times more exciting than regular old chicken meatballs.

This is a meal that will definitely make another appearance in my kitchen soon. In fact, I already have another spaghetti squash sitting in my fridge. And lots and lots of pumpkin.

Like I mentioned, I've only recently allowed pumpkin in my life after November. And I'm so happy I did. Pumpkin and bacon is one of my all-time favorite combinations.

Overhead view of garlicky spaghetti squash in a white bowl with chicken pumpkin meatballs and parmesan cheese on top with sage

Pssst… this garlicky spaghetti squash with pumpkin meatballs makes for some pretty fantastic leftovers and will make your workday Monday a little bit easier when you know you have this waiting for you for lunch.

Do you eat pumpkin outside of the fall months?

Some of my other favorite squash dishes include this Chipotle Butternut Squash Soup and this Moroccan Style Stuffed Acorn Squash. I also can't wait to try this Butternut Squash and Blue Cheese Crostini from SprinkleBakes!

📖 Recipe