Spaghetti Squash Taco Bake
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Published Mar 04, 2020, Updated Jul 11, 2023
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This spaghetti squash taco bake combines low-carb spaghetti squash with ground turkey, taco seasoning, salsa and cheese for a delicious, healthy and easy dinner.
I have been dying to share this recipe with you ever since I created it! It’s such a fun weeknight dinner idea that is packed with veggies and protein. If you need a new meal train idea, add this to your list! This is sure to be a favorite with kids and adults alike.
Here’s What You Need
- vegetables – spaghetti squash, yellow onion, garlic, fresh cilantro, jalapeño
- ground turkey – you can also make this taco bake vegetarian by using ground vegetarian meat crumbles in place of turkey
- black beans
- salsa
- seasonings – taco seasoning, tomato paste, chili powder, salt and pepper
- shredded Mexican cheese
- toppings – green onions, avocado and plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
Simple Weeknight Dinner
This recipe is really quick and easy, especially if you roast your spaghetti squash as part of your weekly meal prep! I highly recommend using my spaghetti squash roasting technique where you chop the squash into rings. It makes for spaghetti squash that’s perfectly cooked, but not watery.
Once your squash is roasted (or at least in the oven) you can start cooking up the other ingredients.
Heat oil in a large sauté pan and add the garlic and onion. Cook until onion has softened and the mixture is fragrant. Add the ground turkey and taco seasoning to the pan and cook until turkey is cooked through. Add in the black beans, salsa, cilantro, tomato paste, jalapeño, chili powder, salt and pepper to the pan. Stir and cook until everything is well combined. Remove from heat.
Once the squash is done roasting, carefully remove the spaghetti strands from the peel and add the squash to the ground turkey mixture. Toss to combine and transfer to a baking dish. Top with cheese and bake for 15-20 minutes or until the mixture is warm throughout and the cheese is melted. Remove from the oven and serve.
Serving Suggestions
For this taco bake I recommend topping it with fresh cilantro, green onions, tomatoes, avocado, sour cream/Greek yogurt and jalapeño slices if you like a little spice.
This is a definitely a full meal on its own, but you can’t go wrong pairing it with a simple side salad tossed in my tomatillo avocado dressing. You could also make some additional sides like black bean dip or healthy guacamole with chips or this avocado corn salad.
More Mexican Inspired Dinners You Might Enjoy
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Mexican Quinoa Casserole
- Mexican Sweet Potato Chicken Soup
- Healthy Chicken Enchiladas
- Deconstructed Guacamole Salad
- Tofu Sofritas
- Vegan Burrito Bowl
More Spaghetti Squash Recipes
- 21 Spaghetti Squash Recipes
- Creamy Walnut Pasta Sauce
- Spaghetti Squash Baked Feta Pasta
- Spaghetti Squash Tuna Noodle Casserole Boats
- Spaghetti Squash Pizza Crust
Spaghetti Squash Taco Bake
Ingredients
- 1 spaghetti squash, roasted
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- ½ yellow onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound ground turkey
- 2 Tablespoons taco seasoning
- 1 cup black beans, drained and rinsed
- ¼ cup salsa
- ¼ cup fresh chopped cilantro + more for garnish
- 2 Tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 Tablespoon chopped jalapeño + more for garnish
- ½ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 cup shredded Mexican cheese
- Toppings: green onions, avocado, plain Greek yogurt/sour cream, cilantro, jalapeño
Instructions
- Roast spaghetti squash. (Instructions for how to cook spaghetti squash can be found here.)
- While squash is roasting, heat oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add onion and garlic and cook until fragrant, about 4-5 minutes. Add ground turkey and taco seasoning to the pan and cook, breaking meat apart with your spatula. Once turkey is cooked through and no longer pink, add black beans, salsa, cilantro, tomato paste, jalapeño, chili powder, pepper and sea salt to the pan. Stir until combined. Remove from heat and set aside.Â
- One squash is roasted and cool enough to touch, remove spaghetti strands from the peel and add the squash to the pan with ground turkey mixture. Toss to combine then transfer to a 8×8 or 9×9 square baking dish. Sprinkle cheese on top.
- Bake in the oven for 15-20 minutes at 375°F, or until spaghetti squash bake is warm throughout and cheese is melted.
- Serve topped with fresh cilantro, jalapeño, green onions, chopped tomatoes, avocado and/or sour cream.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This dish turned out amazing! I served it to two unsuspecting not-so-healthy eaters and they were shocked when I told them the ingredients. I also added a diced bell pepper in with the turkey and beans for just one more vegetable. Can’t wait to make this again!
Yay!! So glad this taco bake was a hit! Thanks for trying it and for taking the time to leave a comment and star rating. It’s super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it. <3
This may be my favorite meal overall right now. We’ve done this a couple times and the leftovers haven’t lasted a day. It’s SO GOOD. The cheese really makes it. We top with pico and guac!
Yay!! I’m so glad you have been enjoying this recipe, Emily. Thanks for taking the time to come back to leave a comment + star rating. I really appreciate it. <3
Oh my goodness – so delicious! And thank you for the easy method to roast spaghetti squash! My husband even thought this was a really good dish. Next potluck I go to…this will be this dish!
Ahh I’m so glad this dish was a hit, Becky!! Thanks so much for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it!
I made this last night with some vegan subs! Here’s what I did …
Found a recipe for tempeh taco “meat” which called for using a box grater to a ground meat like texture. This method was a game changer and totally worked! I followed the rest of that recipe for cooking and seasoning.
I proceeded accordingly with the rest of the EBF original recipe until the end when I omitted the cheese and poured about 1/4 cup of salsa over the top of the casserole for it’s final 15 minute bake in the oven.
The final product was super tasty! Will definitely make again with my vegan subs 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing these subs you made, Samantha!! It’s super helpful to other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed the vegan version!
Thank you for the recipe. I had to improvise because I didn’t have some of the ingredients, and I made it a little milder. However, the concept of this dish is so yummy! And it is toddler approved. I used grass fed ground beef (instead of ground turkey), a green tomatillo salsa from our local store (heb), corn (instead of beans). This was an instant hit! Garnished with some Salvadoran cream and avocado. Thank you for the inspiration.
You’re so welcome, Mariana! I’m so glad this dish was a hit. Thanks for trying it and for sharing the subs you made. It’s super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it. 🙂
Another great recipe! I can’t wait to make this again and again with different ingredients subbed in. Came together quickly and easily-just what we needed for a weeknight meal.
Woo-hoo!! That makes me so happy to hear, Becky. I’m so glad this recipe was a hit. 🙂 Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. The reviews are super helpful for other readers, so I appreciate it.
I made this tonight for dinner & it was so easy and so fun! i was very surprised! What a healthy treat! You know I love it when I leave a review, I don’t ever do but this is a must have staple recipe!
Ahh yay! That makes me so happy to hear, Alyssa. I’m so glad this recipe was a hit. Thanks for making it. 🙂
This recipe is excellent. I had to microwave the spaghetti squash for a few minutes in order to cut it (a tip you suggested) and it worked great. This was a hit, everyone loved it and I will definitely make this again!
Ahh yay!! I’m so glad this recipe was a hit, Karly. Thanks for making it and for coming back to leave a comment + star rating. I so appreciate it. 🙂
This was so delicious!!!! Thank you!!
This was so delicious and easy to make! Thank you so much!