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    Home / Dinners / Spaghetti Squash Mexican Boats

    Spaghetti Squash Mexican Boats

    Published: May 27, 2020 Modified: Mar 1, 2022 by Jillian This post may contain affiliate link. This blog generates income via ads

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    Spaghetti Squash Mexican Boats on a wooden board with a blue and white striped napkin

    When in doubt it's always Mexican, whether it's quesadillas, tacos, burritos, salads, guacamole with chips, margaritas 😉 I want one now, literally anything I am down!  I'm also always trying to get my kids to eat more veggies and I feel like with spaghetti squash you can try and sneak it into other dishes. 

    Both of my kids do love brown rice, but of course I have to load it with butter (I use unsalted), so I mixed the spaghetti squash in with the rice and they actually ate it.  Adding this veggie to my weekly shopping list from now on. 

    It's also super easy and fun to make.  Once it's cut open and cooked, your kids can help you scrape out the inside.  Even though my children are young, I really do try and include them when I'm making dinner because I am a strong believer that if a toddler helps make their meal they will more likely want to eat it.  Taylor loves to help with almost everything and Luke is slowly getting into it.  

    This dish also includes the one and only CHEESE!  I could seriously live off cheese.  In the future I am going to try and only let myself put it in one (probably two 😉 meals throughout the day because when I actually paid attention to the amount I was eating, I realized I ate it in almost every meal. I am 31 weeks pregnant at the moment, so there will be none of that anytime soon.  

    close up of spaghetti squash mexican boats on a wooden board

    Ingredients for this dish

    You will need 2 small spaghetti squashes (will make 4 boats) or just 1 to make 2 boats, avocado or coconut cooking spray, ½ white onion, diced, ¼ clove garlic, minced, 1 pound of ground turkey, ¾ cup low sodium chicken broth ( or organic), ¼ cup 1% milk, ¹⁄8 tsp ground black pepper, ¹⁄8 tsp kosher salt, 2 tsp oregano, ½ tsp. paprika, 2  tsp. cumin, ¾ tsp. chili powder, 1 tsp. garlic powder, 1 tsp. onion powder, ¼ cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella, and 1 tbsp avocado oil.  If you aren't sure where to get avocado oil or what brand to use I've been a fan of Chosen Foods Avocado Oil! 

    spaghetti squash mexican boats on a wooden board

    How to make these spaghetti squash boats

    First, preheat oven to 350°. Cut spaghetti squash right down the middle, lengthwise.  Scoop out all seeds and place face down on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Cook for 45 min. Meanwhile, heat oil in a skillet.  Cook onion, and garlic until fragrant.  Throw in ground turkey and cook until browned. 

    Pour in chicken broth and milk.  Add all spices and mix well.  Bring to a boil.  Cover and reduce heat to simmer until squash in done.  Remove squash from oven and scrape out all spaghetti squash using a fork and add to the ground turkey mix.  Add cheese and cook until the cheese is melted.  Scoop ground turkey mix into squash boats and top with more cheese 🙂  Cook for another 5 min. or until cheese melts.

    ENJOY!!!!!! 🙂 My family certain did!

    Why should you eat spaghetti squash

    Well, first and foremost squash is a vegetable so it's a great way to get your daily veggie intake w/out eating plain old veggies.  A standard portion size of squash is ½ a cup.  The amount of calories in a standard portion is 58 calories and the amount of fiber in a portion size is 2.9. 

    Spaghetti squash, also known as calabash squash or, "vegetable spaghetti", is really quite unique because when cooked looks like thin translucent strands of thin spaghetti.  It has a mild, delicate flavor, but can totally be spiced up with the right ingredients, aka Spaghetti Squash Mexican Boats!

    spaghetti squash mexican boats on a wooden board

    Spaghetti Squash Mexican Boats

    A healthy and fun twist on your average Taco Tuesday!
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    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: Mexican
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 1 hour hour
    Servings: 4 people
    Author: Jillian Schneider

    Equipment

    • baking sheet
    • medium non-stick skillet

    Ingredients

    • 2 small spaghetti squash cut lengthwise and seeds removed
    • avocado or coconut oil cooking spray
    • ½ white onion diced
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 lb ground turkey
    • ¾ cup low sodium beef broth or organic
    • ¼ cup 1% milk
    • ⅛ tsp ground black pepper
    • ⅛ tsp kosher salt
    • 2 tsp oregano
    • ½ tsp paprika
    • 2 tsp cumin
    • ¾ tsp chili powder
    • 1 tsp garlic powder
    • 1 tsp onion powder
    • ¼ cup reduced fat shredded mozzarella cheese
    • 1 tbsp avocado oil

    Instructions

    • Preheat oven to 350°F. Cut spaghetti squash right down the middle, lengthwise. Scoop out all seeds and place face down on a baking sheet sprayed with cooking spray. Cook for 45 min.
    • Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium non-stick skillet. Cook onion and garlic until translucent and fragrant. Add ground turkey and cook until browned mixing with the garlic and onion.
    • Pour in beef broth and milk. Add all spices and mix well. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to a simmer until squash in done. About 15 min.
    • Remove squash from oven and scrap out all spaghetti squash using a fork and add to the ground turkey mix. Add cheese and cook until cheese is melted.
    • Scoop ground turkey into squash boats and top with more cheese, if desired. Put back in oven for another 5 minutes, or until cheese is melted.

    Notes

    What can my kids help with?
    Have them scrape out all the spaghetti squash from the boats using a fork.  Help them measure out all ingredients 🙂
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @JilliansHealthfulEats or tag #jillianshealthfuleats!
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