Broccoli “Cheese” Spaghetti Squash Bake
on Sep 19, 2017, Updated May 14, 2024
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It’s spaghetti squash bake season and I am so ready for it!! Casseroles are the ultimate way to enjoy meals in the fall months and I get so excited when I find a healthy way to get them in our weeknight rotation. When my sister was visiting a couple of weeks ago we were brainstorming ideas for the blog and she said I should try to make a healthier broccoli cheese soup. Well I can’t leave well enough alone so I took that idea and basically poured a thick soup all over some spaghetti squash and baked it!
What makes up this “cheesy” mix without any dairy you ask? Well it is just a simple blend of roasted butternut squash, nutritional yeast, coconut milk, chicken stock and spices!! They all come together to make a flavorful yet creamy and comforting sauce that coats the spaghetti squash and broccoli perfectly. I think this dish would also be great with some protein in it to make a full meal. You can add in already cooked chopped chicken, rotisserie chicken or even chicken apple sausage! I kept it just as a side dish so you can dress it up any way you like.
I definitely amped up the savory meals this month as so many of you are doing the Septemeber Whole30.. but GET EXCITED.. because October is going to be jam packed with all of the fall baking goodies!! But for now… Whole30 meals will do our bodies some good!
Nutritional yeast is my new best friend! Love that they have it at Trader Joe’s now too!
Everyone loves a great dinner baked in one dish, yahoo:
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Pin this Broccoli “Cheese” Spaghetti Squash Bake to save it for later!
Broccoli "Cheese" Spaghetti Squash Bake
Ingredients
- 10 cups peeled and chopped butternut squash, about ½ inch cubes
- 1 tablespoon avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup nutritional yeast
- ½ cup full fat coconut milk
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- 1 teaspoon dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups broccoli florets, cut them into smaller florets, if you have a big ones, cut them in half!
- 1 cooked spaghetti squash, see below for cooking options
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place chopped butternut squash on the baking sheet and toss with avocado oil and salt. Roast for 30-35 minutes or until a fork can easily pierce through the chunks.
- Place cooked butternut squash in a high powered blender or food processor with nutritional yeast, coconut milk, chicken stock, dijon mustard, garlic powder and onion powder. Blend on high until smooth then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place both broccoli florets and cooked spaghetti squash strands in a large bowl and pour “cheese” sauce on top. Toss well to coat everything with the sauce. Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish and place back in the oven for 20-25 minutes.
Notes
- Instant Pot: Slice your spaghetti squash in half the short way and remove seeds. Place 1 cup of water in your instant pot then place the grate inside. Add the spaghetti squash, close the top, place it on sealing and turn it on manual for 6 minutes. Then once the timer is up turn the venting on to manually vent.
- Microwave
- Slow Cooker
- Roasting
Can’t wait to make this! Is 10 cups of butternut squash correct? That seems like A LOT!
It really isn’t that much.. about 1 large or 2 small butternut squash, they are big chunks before they cook down!
I think you mean spaghetti squash and not butternut. The pic and title show and say spaghetti squash.
You use both in the recipe!
Made this tonight for dinner with chicken apple sausage on the side. SO SO good. My cheese and salt-loving fiancé even approved! 🙂 Thank you!
Awesome!! So glad you both liked it!!
Hi there! Looking forward to trying this. Do you think this would freeze well?
Ooo I don’t know if it would, spaghetti squash can be temperamental with its water content! I bet you could freeze the sauce though!!
How many cans of butternut squash purée from Trader Joes should I use instead of roasting if I’m looking to save time?
Oh that is a good question, I am not sure!! I will have to try it that way… maybe 2-3 cans?!
Made this recipe twice in one week. It’s AMAZING! Sending it to my vegan friends as well
Awesome!!
How could you add a meat to this? maybe sausage? Would it affect the cooking time?
That would be tasty! Wouldn’t affect cooking time as long as you cook it before adding it in!
this recipe looks yummy! Trying it for dinner! special consideration if the brocoli is frozen? Thank you 🙂
Ooo haven’t tried it with frozen but I would defrost before adding… might be a bit soggy!
Hi! I am looking forward to making this as a side for our Christmas dinner. There will be other dishes made as well, but how many servings would you say this makes? Thanks so much!
This is about 6 servings!
Where I live we don’t have spaghetti squash. Do you think it could work with zucchini?
Ooo I am not sure! Zucchini releases a lot more water so i would suggest cooking the and then ringing out a bunch of the water before mixing with the “cheese” part!!
Do you par- cool the broccoli florets first or just mix them in raw? Thanx
Nope! Just mix in raw, they should be chopped kind of small!