Cacio e Pepe Spaghetti Squash

The simplest recipes are often the best. Cacio e Pepe is our favorite pasta dish, which is what we like to call "adult Mac and Cheese." Cacio e Pepe literally means "cheese and pepper" in Italian and is typically made with Bucatini or Spaghetti. We decided to try making it with Spaghetti Squash to maintain great flavors while cutting down on calories. The results were amazing, and it was incredibly easy to prepare. 

Cacio e Pepe made with Squash!!!

Usually, the easiest recipes are the best. . .less time in the kitchen and more time with your family and friends!!! With this recipe, swapping the Pasta with spaghetti squash, we not only saved calories it was even easier to make!!!! And the dinner was fantastic!!! The Spaghetti squash was buttery, cheesy and of course a little spicy. We added a little twist to this recipe by using Roasted Garlic. So amazing with the squash!!

I'm going out here and saying it..... this was my FAVORITE way to have Spaghetti Squash. It still isn't something you can have every night when on a diet but you won't feel guilty after dinner!

Making the Spaghetti Squash

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the Squash length-wise. Spaghetti squash is much easier to cut than acorn squash or butternut squash.

Spoon out all the seeds. Save the seeds for later if you want to bake them for a salad topping or snack.

Spread ¼ teaspoon olive oil on each half of Spaghetti Squash

Place the squash face down on a non-stick foil or parchment paper

Bake for 40 minutes or until the squash is tender. You want the spaghetti strands to be a little firm

Let Squash cool for a few minutes. Don't be like me and burn your fingers!

Using a fork, scrape the squash, giving you long strands

The squash can be cooked ahead of time.

This method of baking the Squash can be used for any Spaghetti Squash recipe. It's so simple and works every time!!!