Ham and cheese spaghetti squash boats

 

Cheesy and delicious ham and cheese spaghetti squash boats are a yummy way to enjoy spaghetti squash and to use up leftover ham. 

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Winter squash season is here and we always stock up on them to enjoy all fall and winter long. Spaghetti squash is one have a lot of some years because my father often grow it. This recipe is a twist on this Cheesy Spaghetti Squash recipe. You can't go wrong with a cheesy golden top!

These ham and cheese spaghetti squash boats are a great way to use up leftover ham. If you don't have leftover ham, you can diced up a small ham steak instead. Ham and cheese go so well together and by mixing it with the spaghetti squash you have a complete meal. 

 

It's a great way to re-purpose leftovers into something completely different, especially as we get into the holiday season when many people have leftover ham.

If you don't want to use ham, you can use a bit of cooked and crumbled sausage (such as Italian sausage), or some cooked and diced chicken. If you are using chicken, you may need a bit more salt and pepper to give the dish more flavor. You can use some cooked and crumbled bacon as well.

This recipe will feed about two adults, but you can easily double it to make more. Use a larger baking pan, or another smaller one to bake all four halves. You can also add side dishes like a tossed salad, steamed broccoli, and/or some crusty bread to stretch this further as a main dish for more people.

 

If you are on the fence about spaghetti squash, this recipe is a good way to try it. I wasn't a big spaghetti squash fan for a while and I think it was because people were telling me to use it as a pasta replacement. I just couldn't get into it. But, once I got that out of my head and starting appreciating it in its own right, I've found that I really do like it. We don't eat spaghetti squash because of the low-carb trend, but rather because we enjoy it. 

 

Our kids like it, too, so it's a great way to incorporate more vegetables into our diet. They love how it turns to strands and since it's relatively bland on its own, there are so many ways to flavor it up and make it delicious.

 

Yield: 2 servings

Author: Amy (Savory Moments)

Ham and Cheese Spaghetti Squash Boats

Cheesy and delicious ham and cheese spaghetti squash boats are a yummy way to enjoy spaghetti squash and to use up leftover ham.

Ingredients

• 1 medium spaghetti squash
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 green onions, sliced, whites and greens separated
• 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 cups milk (I used 2%)
• salt and freshly ground black pepper
• pinch of cayenne pepper
• 2-1/2 cups grated sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese (white or orange)
  
• 2 cups diced cooked/leftover ham

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
2. Cut the spaghetti squash in half lengthwise and remove the seeds. Place in a baking dish and bake for 45-60 minutes, until fork tender. Set aside to cool.
3. In a medium sauce pan, melt the butter over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and white portions of the green onion. Cook until softened, about 1-2 minutes. Whisk in the flour and cook for another minute. Whisk in the milk until no clumps remain. Cook, whisking often, until thickened. Stir in the cayenne, salt, and pepper, to taste.
4. Remove from the heat and whisk in 2 cups of the cheese and stir in the ham. Use a fork (be careful to not break through the skin) to remove the spaghetti squash and break it into strands. Stir it right into to warm cheese sauce mixture. Place the spaghetti squash skins back into the baking dish. Divide the mixture evenly into each half.
5. Bake for about 15 minutes and then broil until the top is golden and bubbly. Garnish with the green portions of the green onion.

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Note: This recipe was originally published in 2016. It has been completely updated in 2021 with new text, a recipe card, and more to improve reader experience.

Check out these other winter squash recipes:

Roasted Smoked Paprika Delicata Squash Sticks

Cheddar Butternut Squash & Black Bean Chowder

Pumpkin Alfredo Pasta w/ Chicken

Butternut Squash Macaroni & Cheese w/ Hazelnut Crumble

Pepperoni Pizza Stuffed Spaghetti Squash