CHEESY BUFFALO CHICKEN SPAGHETTI SQUASH BOWLS
Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash is a totally crave-worthy lightened up version of the classic!
CHEESY BUFFALO CHICKEN SPAGHETTI SQUASH BOWLS
Why should appetizers have all the fun? This Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Spaghetti Squash is loaded with flavor and a totally crave-worthy dinner option.
COURSE MAIN DISH
CUISINE AMERICAN
KEYWORD BUFFALO CHICKEN SPAGHETTI SQUASH
PREP TIME 10 MINUTES
COOK TIME 50 MINUTES
TOTAL TIME 1 HOUR
SERVINGS 4 SERVINGS
CALORIES 405 KCAL
AUTHOR JENN LAUGHLIN - PEAS AND CRAYONS
Ingredients
- 2 medium spaghetti squash (6-7 inches long)
- 2 cups cooked shredded chicken*
- 1 cup freshly grated cheddar and/or mozzarella cheese
- 1/3 cup Frank's Red Hot sauce
- 2 TBSP melted butter
- 1/3 cup Greek yogurt
- 1 jalapeno, diced (seeds, stem, + veins removed)
- 1/4 cup chopped green onion (divided)
- salt and pepper to taste
- ranch or blue cheese dressing for drizzling (optional)
- extra grated cheese for topping
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Slice your spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds. For easy cutting, feel free to stick each squash in the microwave for 5 minutes to soften it up just a tad. The knife slides through way easier this way!
- Next grab a lipped baking sheet or a rimmed baking dish and line with foil.
- To prevent sticking, rub the cut side of the squash with a teeny bit of olive oil and place face down on your baking sheet.
- Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until tender and easily pierced with a fork. Cooking time will vary a bit depending on the size of your squash, and the exterior of the squash will be visibly softened.
- The squash can be roasted and stored in the fridge for a few days if you'd like to meal prep and plan ahead for a speedier dinner. You can also make the whole shebang one weekend and pop it in the fridge until about 30 minutes before dinnertime. Wind up with a little bit leftover? It reheats marvelously the following day! Now let's get back to the recipe!
- While the squash roast, cook chicken via your favorite method or squirrel away leftovers from the previous night's dinner.
- Shred your chicken and combine in a medium bowl with your cheese (I used cheddar and mozzarella), hot sauce, melted butter, Greek yogurt, jalapeño, green onion, salt, and pepper.
- Using a fork, scrape the spaghetti squash bowls to release the delicious strands of squash and mix with your cheesy buffalo chicken mixture.
- Top each squash with a little extra cheese and place face-up on your baking sheet. Cover the baking dish in foil, leaving a little room at the top (like a tent!) so the cheese doesn't stick.
- Bake at 350 degrees F for around 20 minutes or until hot and bubbly. For golden bubbly cheese, remove the foil at the end, then change oven setting to broil on high and broil for 2-3 minutes.
- Garnish with chopped green onion, a drizzle of your favorite dressing, and even extra hot sauce!
Recipe Notes
NOTE: I roasted 1lb of bone-in skin-on chicken thighs but you can use anything you have on hand and use your favorite method: crockpot, rotissere, baked, poached... this recipe is a great use for leftover chicken too!
Serve with celery sticks or a veggie salad for a delicious crunch and extra veggies!
Nutrition Facts are an estimate gathered using an online recipe nutrition calculator. Adjust as needed based on swaps and extras.