Stuffed Spaghetti Squash Recipe

One of my favorite dishes during the fall is stuffed spaghetti squash.  Below is my recipe for making stuffed spaghetti squash.  The squash is first baked until tender and then stuffed with a mixture of onion, bell pepper, garlic, spaghetti squash, ground chuck, Italian sausage, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, oregano, basil and seasonings.  It is then topped with some mozzarella cheese and baked in the oven.

Ingredients:

2 medium-sized spaghetti squash
1 tablespoon of olive oil
1 tablespoon of butter
1 sweet onion, diced
2 red bell peppers, diced
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1/2 pound of ground chuck
1/2 pound of sweet Italian sausage, casing removed
1 (28 oz.) can of diced tomatoes
1 teaspoon of dried leaf oregano
1/2 teaspoon of dried leaf basil
1 teaspoon of salt
1/4 teaspoon of ground black pepper
1 pinch of ground cayenne pepper
1/4 cup of finely grated parmesan cheese
8 ounces of mozzarella, shredded

Instructions:

You will want to preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Now you should cut your spaghetti squash in half, lengthwise, and then scoop out the seeds.   Then take a shallow roasting pan or baking dish and place your spaghetti squash, cut sized down into the pan and add in one inch of water into the pan.  Now place your roasting pan into your preheated oven and bake until your spaghetti squash is soft when pierced with a fork.  This should take 45 to 55 minutes.  When done, remove your pan from the oven and then place them on a wire rack to cool.

You will want to make your filling while your spaghetti squash is roasting.  To do so take a large skillet and place your olive oil and butter into your skillet and then place it over a medium heat until the skillet is hot.  Once the skillet is hot add in the onion and red bell pepper into your skillet and then sauté for about 5 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender.  You will want to add in your garlic in about the last 1 minute of cooking.  Then add in your ground chuck and Italian sausage and cook until your meat has browned, making certain to break up your Italian sausage as it cooks.  Once your meat is browned you will want to add in your tomatoes, oregano, basil, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper.   Bring it to a boil and then reduce your heat and let it come to a simmer.  Then let your sauce simmer until your vegetables are tender and your sauce has thickened nicely.  This should take 30 to 45 minutes.

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.

Now take your spaghetti squash and take a fork and shred out the flesh from inside of them but leave about 1/2 of an inch of the flesh inside of the spaghetti squash.  Now take a large mixing bowl and place the flesh of the spaghetti squash into the bowl along with 2 1/2 cups of your meat sauce and your parmesan cheese and then gently mix them together.   Now, stuff each half of the spaghetti squash shells with the meat mixture and then top with your mozzarella cheese.  Then place them in a large shallow roasting pan or baking dish and place them in the preheated oven and bake them until your cheese has melted and has slightly browned on top.  This should only take 8 to 10 minutes.