Italian Sausage Spaghetti Squash Recipes

ITALIAN SAUSAGE & SPAGHETTI SQUASH CASSEROLE

Steps:

• This casserole will require a 9x13 inch casserole dish (you may prep it with non-stick cooking spray if desired).
• Preheat the oven to 400-degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or tin foil. Halve the squash (lengthwise or widthwise) and scoop out the seeds. Sprinkle the halves with a bit of salt. Place squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet.
• Bake squash in preheated oven for about 35-40 minutes or until it's easily pierced with a knife. Remove from oven and cool until easily handled. Use a fork to scrape out the "spaghetti" into a mixing bowl.
• To the squash, add egg (beaten), Parmesan cheese, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and salt. Mix well. Set aside. Reduce oven temperature to 375-degrees in preparation for the casserole.
• In a large to medium pot, over medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausage until just done. Do not drain. Add the onion, bell pepper, and garlic. Cook for another 3-5 minutes until the onions become translucent. Remove from heat. Add the 24 oz jar of pasta sauce. Mix thoroughly. Set aside.
• Grab your casserole dish and begin layering. First, add about 2/3 cup of meat sauce to the bottom of the dish, and spread evenly. Next, layer half the spaghetti squash mixture on top of the meat sauce using a fork to evenly press it into a uniform thickness, almost as if it's acting as a lasagna noodle. Top the squash layer with half of the remaining meat sauce, and spread evenly. Now sprinkle 2 cups of the shredded mozzarella cheese over the meat sauce.
• Spread the remaining squash mixture using the same technique as above, followed by the rest of the meat sauce. Sprinkle the last 2 cups of mozzarella cheese evenly over the meat layer.
• Bake in preheated, 375-degree oven until cheese is bubbly and golden brown, about 25-30 minutes.
• Let cool for at least 10 minutes. This allows the casserole to be set up so that each serving comes out clean and beautiful. Enjoy!

SAUSAGE-STUFFED SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Cover a baking sheet with foil.
• Drizzle the squash flesh with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place both halves, cut-sides down, on the prepared baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until tender when pierced with a fork, 30 to 40 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook and stir sausage, onion, and garlic in the hot skillet until sausage is browned and crumbly, 7 to 10 minutes. Add bell pepper and mushrooms and saute for 3 minutes. Drain and discard any grease and excess liquid.
• Stir in tomato sauce, black and green olives, and Italian seasoning, and bring to a simmer, about 5 minutes.
• Remove the squash from the oven. Flip over so flesh is facing up. Sprinkle 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese into each half, then divide sausage mixture evenly between the two. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella over top.
• Return to the oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly, about 10 more minutes.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI SQUASH

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Place squash, cut sides down, on baking sheet.
• Bake squash in the preheated oven until it starts to soften, about 25 minutes. Reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and continue baking until easily pierced with a knife, about 25 minutes more. Remove from the oven and cool until easily handled.
• Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until browned, about 5 minutes; remove from skillet. Add onion, celery, and carrot to the skillet; cook and stir in sausage drippings until starting to soften, about 5 minutes. Stir cooked sausage, diced tomatoes, chicken broth, tomato paste, and garlic into the skillet. Simmer sauce until flavors combine, about 15 minutes.
• Use a fork to scrape insides of squash into spaghetti strands. Transfer strands to a 9x13-inch casserole dish. Spoon sauce over strands and stir to combine. Cover with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake in the preheated oven oven until bubbly and golden brown, about 25 minutes.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE SPAGHETTI

Steps:

• Heat olive oil in a saucepan over medium heat. Transfer sausage links into the hot pot. Cover with a lid and cook until beautifully browned and just barely cooked through, about 5 minutes per side. You can increase the heat a little if you like, but make sure the oil does not smoke. Turn off the heat and remove sausages to a plate to cool completely.
• While the sausages are cooling, add wine to the same pot over medium-high heat. As it comes up to a simmer, stir the caramelized bits on the bottom of a pan with a spoon or spatula. Simmer until it reduces by about half, 1 to 2 minutes.
• Add marinara sauce. Pour water into the jar of pasta sauce, seal, and shake to rinse out the jar. Pour that liquid into the pot and return to a simmer. Reduce heat to low.
• Slice each fully cooled sausage into 4 pieces. Transfer sausage and any accumulated juices into the simmering sauce. Stir and increase heat to just between low and medium-low. Cook at a gentle, steady simmer, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour. Taste and adjust seasonings. Skim about 1/2 of the fat from the surface, and continue to cook until reduced and thick, about 30 minutes longer.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti in the boiling water, stirring occasionally, until almost tender yet firm to the bite, 10 to 11 minutes. Drain spaghetti and transfer it directly into the pot of hot sauce. Mix until thoroughly combined. Cover with the lid and let sit for 1 minute so the pasta can absorb some of the sauce.
• Evenly divide pasta onto 4 plates and top each serving with 4 pieces sausage. Sprinkle with Parmigiano-Reggiano and parsley.